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The Defence Department's Be Emergency Ready programme will hand out more than two million guides to help homes across the country plan for storms, flooding and power outages, equipping families with checklists, essential items and communication advice.
The Department of Defence has announced that more than two million copies of a new emergency‑preparedness guide will be sent to homes across the country later in September under the Be Emergency Ready programme.
The objective of the distributed leaflets is to give families a ready‑to‑use set of instructions for tackling anything from severe weather to prolonged power cuts and other crises. The hand‑out outlines simple actions, checklists, and essential items that residents should have on hand. It covers a range of triggers such as storms, flooding, heat waves and extended outages, and includes realistic examples of what people might need to survive in their immediate surroundings.
Each booklet is meant to be reviewed with a partner or neighbour so that people can identify potential hazards early and create a customised household plan that keeps everyone safe and connected. The guide gives practical advice on maintaining warmth when generators fail, securing a reliable supply of food and drinking water, charging mobile phones and backup batteries, and protecting important documents in the event of evacuation.
It also emphasises the importance of a communication strategy: setting up a family contact list, choosing a consistent meeting point, and learning to use alternative communication methods when the phone network is down. To reinforce these points the leaflet includes visual icons and short QR codes that link to online resources, making the otherwise dense advice more accessible to all ages and abilities.
The Department's aim is to equip every Irish household with basic knowledge before the next wave of unpredictable weather hits the island, turning preparedness from a hopeful idea into practical action. During the launch ceremony on Friday, Minister for Defence Helen McEntee spoke beside a live audience of local officials and residents. She cited recent events such as the flooding in Midleton caused by Storm Babet as a stark reminder that Britain‑Irish islands are increasingly exposed to extreme conditions.
'A few hours of preparedness can save lives,' she said, urging people to read the booklet, tick every item on the checklist, and store the finalised version in a conspicuous place. Kieran Kehoe, chairman of the County and City Management Association and chief executive of Meath County Council, underlined that frontline local‑authority staff are often the first responders during emergencies. He praised the booklet for offering common‑sense, evidence‑based recommendations that the public can apply immediately.
The programme will also make digital copies available through public libraries and community buildings for those who prefer an electronic format or cannot receive a paper copy. By proactively reinforcing emergency literacy, the Department hopes to build a more resilient society capable of withstanding the unforeseen shocks that are likely to come in the slow‑turning autumn storms
Emergency Preparedness Defence Department Be Emergency Ready Storm Babet Evacuation Plans
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