If a storm is forecast and time is short, organise the next half-hour around people, information and easy protective tasks. This is a planning example, not a reason to delay an evacuation.
First ten minutes: connect
Check the official forecast and any local instructions. Contact people who may otherwise travel into the worst conditions, including someone collecting children or visiting a relative. Keep the conversation concrete: where everyone will be, who has keys and when you will check in again.
- Charge phones while power is available.
- Write one backup contact on paper.
Next ten minutes: gather
Bring torches, power banks, a radio if you have one, essential medicines and accessible food into an agreed place. Check what you already own before making purchases. Put water where it can be lifted safely and keep passageways clear, especially where someone uses a walking aid or wheelchair.
- Keep keys beside essential documents.
- Check that torch batteries actually work.
Final ten minutes: reduce exposure
If conditions remain safe, bring loose outdoor items into storage and close accessible doors and windows as appropriate. Do not start maintenance at height. Leave time to check on neighbours remotely and review transport information. After the routine, stop unnecessary outdoor activity and keep monitoring official advice.
- Avoid last-minute shopping journeys in deteriorating weather.
- Set a reminder for the next update.
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