Thornley Parish Council wants to ensure residents have all the information they need to plan ahead and be prepared.

Severe weather, flooding, power cuts and other emergency situations can have a significant impact on our lives, as we saw in 2021 when the country was hit by severe storms.

While we can’t prevent such incidents, there are steps we can take as individuals and households to make sure we are as prepared as possible for these situations. On this page is information to help you be prepared and links to organisations which can provide help in an emergency or urgent situation, followed by some useful links.

Plan Ahead

  • Write down key information about you and your family such as contact numbers, insurance numbers and medication lists. Share this with family and friends and store in an accessible place.
  • Download apps and bookmark websites you think may be useful in the case of an emergency so that they are easy to find.

Important Items to Store in Your Home

Make sure you always have certain items available in your home in case of a power cut or severe weather, which may result in restricted access to services for a period of time. Such items may include:

  • Wind up torches or torches with a stock of batteries
  • Other battery powered lights such as lanterns
  • Tinned food with long use by dates
  • Ready to eat food which doesn’t require heating up
  • Antibacterial wipes
  • Fully charged portable power bank
  • Extra blankets or foil blankets
  • Hot water bottles
  • Bottled water
  • An electric fan or small air conditioning unit
  • First aid kit

Priority Services Registers

All utility companies should have a priority services register. This is a list of people who are considered vulnerable and who will, therefore, receive additional help in an emergency situation. There is no charge to be included on a priority services register. If you would struggle without your gas or electricity supply, even for a few hours, and you meet the criteria, you can sign up at: 

For more information on priority registers, visit: www.ofgem.gov.uk/getting-extra-help-priority-services-register

Useful contact numbers and websites for emergencies and urgent situations

Emergency Services Only in emergencies 999
Police Report anti-social behaviour or other non- emergency incidents, advice about crime prevention and household security 101 www.durham.police.uk
Fire and Rescue Advice about household fire safety 0845 3058383 www.ddfire.gov.uk/
NHS Health advice fast but not a 999 emergency 111 111.nhs.uk/
Durham County Council General enquiries 03000 260 000 www.durham.gov.uk/
Emergency social care and child welfare concerns, including foster carer support 03000 267 979
If you are homeless, or facing homelessness 08081 968 406
Care Connect (community alarm service) 03000 262 195
Births, deaths and marriages service 03000 266 000
Gas- National Grid If you smell gas 0800 111 999
Gas- Northern Gas Networks Customer enquiries 0800 040 7766 www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk/
Electric Report a power cut 105
Electric- Northern Powergrid General enquiries 0800 011 3332 www.northernpowergrid.com/
Water Emergency leakline 0800 393 084
Water Floodline 0800 328 7648
Water- Northumbrian Water Water and sewerage services 0345 717 1100 www.nwl.co.uk/

Useful Links

Believe Housing building and providing homes to suit a range of needs.

Citizens Advice County Durham provides a range of advice services.

County Durham Drug and Alcohol Service provides support to people with drug and/or alcohol problems and their families.

Information provided by Durham County Council and other organisations. Links open in new tabs. Please note Thornley Parish Council bears no responsibility for the content of other organisations’ websites.