If you are not in immediate danger, your priorities are to stay safe and stay informed.
During a major incident, the emergency services and your local council will provide updates on what is happening and what you should do.
How to Stay Informed
During a major incident, information can change quickly. The most reliable, up-to-date information will come directly from the emergency services, your local council, and local radio.
Tune In to Local Radio
In an emergency, especially during a power cut, local radio is one of the most reliable ways to get updates.
- BBC Radio Stoke
- Signal 1
Follow Live Updates Online
Your local public services will post live updates on their social media accounts. We recommend following them on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
- Staffordshire Police
- Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service
- West Midlands Ambulance Service
- Staffordshire County Council
- Stoke-on-Trent City Council
- National Highways (West Midlands)
Check for Specific Warnings
- For Flooding: Check the live flood warning service
- For Weather: Check the Met Office weather forecast
- For Weather Health: Check the UK Government Weather Health Alerts
- General Alerts and Warnings: Check the UK Government Alerts service
Go In, Stay In, Tune In
If there is a major incident outside, such as a large fire with a smoke plume or a chemical leak, the official advice from the emergency services may be: "Go In, Stay In, Tune In". This is to protect you from any dangerous substances in the air.
Here is what you must do:
GO IN
- Go indoors immediately and stay there.
STAY IN
- Close all windows and doors.
- If you have air vents, close these too.
- This will help stop any smoke or chemical vapours from getting inside.
TUNE IN
- Tune your radio to a local station (like BBC Radio Stoke) or follow your local emergency services online (see our 'How to Stay Informed' page).
- They will tell you what is happening and, most importantly, when it is safe to go outside again.
- Do not leave your home until you are told it is safe to do so.