Emergency planning glossary
What each term means, in a few plain words, with the words of an official body beside it. We add terms as our guides use them.
72 hours · Blackout · Boil water notice · Digital landline · Food-grade container · Medically dependent consumer · NOAA Weather Radio · Non-perishable food · Power bank · Priority Services Register · Ready-to-feed formula · Sodium hypochlorite · Tone alert (tone alarm) · Vulnerable customer register · Water butt
72 hours
Three days. Many governments ask households to be able to look after themselves for about this long. Some ask for longer, and our comparison page shows each one.
"Be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for at least 72 hours."
Blackout
A power outage that takes the power from a whole area, not only one home or street.
"A blackout is a type of power outage involving the loss of power to an entire area."
How to prepare for a power outage
Boil water notice
A notice from your water supplier that tap water must be boiled and cooled before you drink it. Other countries call it a boil water alert or advisory.
"A Boil Water Notice tells you that it is not safe to drink water from your tap. Before you drink it, you must boil and cool it."
If your tap water is not safe to drink
Digital landline
In the United Kingdom, a home phone line that carries calls over a broadband connection in place of the traditional phone network. It needs electricity in the home to work.
"Digital landlines need mains electricity and will not work in a power cut unless there is a battery back-up."
How to charge a phone without electricity
Food-grade container
A container made to hold food or drink. United States advice from the CDC says it is best to store water in one, because it will not pass toxic substances into the water.
"FDA-approved food-grade storage containers will not transfer toxic substances into the water."
Which containers to store water in
Medically dependent consumer
The New Zealand term for a person at home who relies on electricity to prevent serious harm to health. The power company helps the person to register.
"If you or someone at home relies on electricity to prevent serious harm to health, let your power company know."
Emergency medication supply and medical needs at home
NOAA Weather Radio
A United States network of radio stations that broadcasts weather information and official warnings. It needs a special radio receiver or scanner that can pick up its signal.
"NWR requires a special radio receiver or scanner capable of picking up the signal."
Non-perishable food
Food that keeps for a long time without a fridge, such as tinned (canned) and packaged food.
"Pack food that will not go bad without a refrigerator, such as canned and packaged food."
Power bank
A portable battery that you charge from the mains and then use to charge a phone or other small device when there is no mains power.
"A battery power bank can recharge your devices if the severe weather lasts for a long time."
How to charge a phone without electricity
Priority Services Register
A list that a water company keeps of customers who might need extra help. The Consumer Council for Water says that all water companies have one.
"All water companies have a Priority Services Register (PSR) where they hold details of people who might need extra help"
Health and hygiene in your kit plan
Ready-to-feed formula
Baby formula that is sold as a liquid and needs no water added. The UK government's Be Ready page says it is best, because you may not be able to boil water.
"Ready-made or ‘ready-to-feed’ formula is best, as you may not be able to boil water to make up powdered formula safely."
Sodium hypochlorite
The active ingredient of household chlorine bleach. Official instructions for treating water name a strength of it, and the strength differs by country.
"If the label does not have instructions, check the "active ingredient" on the label to find the bleach's concentration of sodium hypochlorite."
Each country's own instruction
Tone alert (tone alarm)
A feature of some United States weather radio receivers. The Weather Service sends a tone before most warnings, and the receiver sounds an alarm when it hears the tone.
"The alarm will activate all the receivers equipped to receive it, even if the audio is turned off."
Vulnerable customer register
In Ireland, the list that Uisce Éireann keeps of customers whose health needs a safe water supply. It contacts them directly when a notice starts.
"Customers with health conditions that need a safe water supply should register with Uisce Éireann as a vulnerable customer."
Health and hygiene in your kit plan
Water butt
A barrel that stores water outdoors. The Consumer Council for Water names it for flushing a toilet when the water supply stops.
"In the event of a water supply interruption, you can use the water it stores to flush your toilet."