In Advance:
• Make sure you’ve signed up to the latest information for your area, https://ready.scot/prepare/stay-informed
• Review your household emergency kit here, https://ready.scot/prepare/emergency-kit
• Check on vulnerable neighbours or relatives and help them to prepare. Make sure they’re aware of the support available to them during cold weather here, https://ready.scot/prepare/get-and-offer-support
• Keep up-to-date with the latest weather warnings, travel advice and road conditions with the Met Office here https://tinyurl.com/4sdhh2t6 and Traffic Scotland here https://www.traffic.gov.scot/
• Follow Ready Scotland's advice on preparing for travel disruptions here https://ready.scot/respond/travel-disruption
In Cold Weather:
• If you lose power, call 105 – it’s free of charge and will put you through to your local network operator who can give you help and advice;
• Make sure you can keep as warm as possible, wearing layers, and keeping at least one room in the house heated as much as you are able to;
• If you’re out walking e.g. returning home from a night out, make sure someone knows your route and when you should be expected at your destination. This is especially important if you are walking home alone;
• If your pipes freeze or burst, follow our advice, https://ready.scot/prepare/skills and watch Scottish Water's film, https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/.../What-to-do-if-a-pipe...
After Snowfall/Ice:
• Take extra care when cycling, walking or driving. Leave a safe distance when driving - your stopping distance is increased by 10x in snow and ice;
• Check your vehicle before driving, especially lights and tyres. Traffic Scotland have further guidance on travelling during severe weather at https://www.traffic.gov.scot/winter-driving.
• Stay off frozen waterways. Make sure children are aware of the possible dangers, and keep pets off icy water too. SFRS have more safety information at, https://www.firescotland.gov.uk/news/
• Make sure that vulnerable neighbours or relatives are safe and help them make arrangements for any repairs;
• Before attempting to thaw out your pipes, check for leaking joints or bursts. If there are none, and if it’s safe to do so, gently warm any frozen sections with a heated cloth wrapped around the pipe. Never apply a direct flame or attempt to thaw pipes by switching on your immersion heater or boiler;
• If you’re fit, well and able; clear and grit paths and pavements (clearing fresh snow is easiest). Avoid using hot water, which could quickly turn to ice, and be careful not to cause obstructions or conceal a hazard with piled up snow.
Find Out More:
• Scottish Water has further winter advice https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/.../Cam.../Winter-Wrapped-Up
• If you’re concerned about flooding, sign up to SEPA's free Floodline direct warning service, https://beta.sepa.scot/flooding/prepare-for-flooding. We also recommend SEPA's advice on preparing for and reacting to flooding, https://www.sepa.org.uk/.