Domestic Civil Defence -
Roads Blocked !

The writer has been snowed in for three days on two occasions, even in comparatively gentle southern Scotland. The knock-on effects lasted as long as a week.

Flooding, landslip, avalanche, heavy snow or the effects of a war, can suddenly isolate your household, street, neighbourhood or township. Bridges washed out are notorious for causing problems. It is broadly similar to being on an island isolated by a storm. The effects are as follows. :-

• Isolation from Fire, Police, Doctor and Ambulance services : This can be a severe problem if fires, medical emergencies and disorder occurs.
• Isolation from deliveries of food, fuel and (sometimes) water supplies : Perhaps the most feared problem, particularly if the isolation starts at the 'wrong' time of the week, just before the weekly shop or the quarterly coal, gas or oil delivery.
• Financial loss through being unable to do business : Self-employed tradesmen and professionals can get insurance for interruptions to business, but anyone unable to reach their place of work and clients risks severe financial loss.
• Isolation from assistance by local authority staff and tradesmen needed to help with repairs : Lack of access to plumbers, electricians, repairers of electrical equipment, can cause misery or even genuine hardship.
• Refuse collection is the invisible service. If it fails, then be prepared to sort and process your refuse to reduce its bulk. Keep food wastes separate, to reduce risks of vermin infestation.
• Other associated factors : Floods can pollute water mains with sewage, or even sever cables and pipes crossing washed-away bridges. Landslips can sever cables and pipes. Heavy snow can bring down telephone and power cables, whilst frost can freeze water piping systems and cause flooding during a thaw.

Solutions to the Problems :

1. Use the telephone to inform the Police of the situation and its progress - this will help to mobilise assistance.
2. Aim to have an additional week of supplies in hand.
3. If flooding, high winds or heavy snow have taken place, these may cause phone service failures in communities for days or weeks. In that case :-
   • Have First Aid kit to hand and fire extinguisher in case you cannot summon Emergency Services assistance (Fire, Police, Ambulance).
   • If you can, drive or walk to the nearest public telephone and report the service loss in your area to the Police. Alternatively, leave a message with someone who can take that message in for you.
   • If television and radio work, tune in to the local station to see if any official advice is being given.
   • If you have Citizens' Band (CB) or Amateur Radio equipment, contact another operator and get them to contact the Police on your behalf. In country areas, your CB radio may be used with others in your Community to relay emergency calls and top receive official advice. Discuss such arrangements beforehand with your Community Policeman or the local council's Emergency Planning Department.
4. Check your insurances in case of domestic flood or other disaster. If self-employed, check business interruption insurance and have a recovery plan.
5. Keep in touch with neighbours and help them so they will help you.
6. If all else fails, be prepared to help dig a way out or otherwise re-establish road contact.
7. Check elsewhere on this site for advice on problems that may occur through factors associated with the cause of isolation. Power, food, water, phones and Refuse Disposal, may rely on services from which you are cut off for days or (rarely) weeks.

Improvised Equipment and Emergency Information :-

[Basic First Aid] [Fire Plans] [Crisis Travel]