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Frequently asked questions

1. Who runs the Preparing for Emergencies website?
This website is run by the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in the Cabinet Office, and managed by Cabinet Office Communication Group.

2. What is it for?
The site provides easily understandable guidance for the general public, businesses and voluntary and community groups on how to prepare to cope during an emergency or disaster. It also provides information on what the Government is doing, and on the various mechanisms that exist for engagement and dialogue on civil protection issues.

3. How frequently is it updated?
The website's emergency pages are updated as new material becomes available. Please see the What's New page for the latest information. The sections on What Businesses Can Do and What Voluntary and Community Groups Can Do are expected to evolve over time, with new business continuity case studies and further information.

4. How can I get copies of the Preparing for Emergencies booklet?
There are several ways to order copies, alternative formats or alternative languages:

• Download a PDF version from this website.
• By phone: call 0870 241 4680
• By post: send off the form at the back of the booklet; or
• download the printable order form from this website.

Organisations requiring bulk supplies of leaflets can also use these methods to place an order.

5. Does this website mean that there is a specific threat to the UK?
This website has not been created in response to a specific threat faced by the UK.
It provides information on all types of emergencies, from natural disasters to industrial accidents and, indeed, terrorism. It is intended to provide information to the general public, businesses and voluntary and community groups about how to prepare to cope during an emergency or disaster. Public safety is the Government's first priority in all decisions about public information or warnings. We would not hesitate to issue warnings to the public so you can take action in response to a specific or credible threat.

6. Who in Government is responsible for preparing for emergencies?
The Home Secretary has overall Ministerial responsibility for safety and security, and hence for emergency preparedness and response.
Supporting him, lead Ministers in lead departments have clear ownership of specific issues - for example, the Secretary of State for Health is in the lead on planning for infectious diseases. This makes sense because it builds on departmental expertise and ensures that emergency preparedness and response are central to departments' work. The Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) in the Cabinet Office co-ordinates the work of departments, ensuring that the Government takes a joined-up and effective approach to enhance the country's resilience to the full range of emergencies.

7. Where can I find more information about........?
This website provides general information targeted at the general public, businesses and voluntary and community groups.

• If you are looking for more information about specific emergencies (eg. terrorism or severe weather events) the Advice on Specific Emergencies pages provide more information and links to key documents and websites.

• The Business Continuity Advice page provides information about business continuity. If you need more information about business continuity, the Sources of Support section has links to useful documents and other websites.

• If you are looking for the meaning of a term used on this website, the Glossary provides definitions and links to more comprehensive glossaries.

• The More links and further information page provides further sources of information and support on the range of topics on this website.

• The UK Resilience website, which is run by the Cabinet Office and targeted primarily at civil protection practitioners (such as emergency planners), provides more detailed information on the full range of topics mentioned here.

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