Disaster or crisis

What to do.

• Enter the nearest building as quickly as possible.
• Close all doors and windows. Also switch off any ventilation systems.
• Let people who ring your doorbell take shelter.
• Warn people who do not notice the siren.
• Listen to the emergency broadcast station. This station will provide you with information and instructions from the government. In the event of a disaster in your area, this will be the regional radio or TV station. In the event of a national disaster, this will be Nederland 1 or Radio 1.
• Visit Crisis.nl. During an emergency, you will find all the information about the disaster here.

If you have to leave your home and surroundings

• Turn off the gas, water, and electricity.
• Only take the essentials with you.
• Lock up your home and make sure your neighbors know that an evacuation is taking place.
• In the event of a major fire, stay low to the ground and leave the building as quickly as possible. If this is not possible, stand by a window where the fire department can see you.

Transportation

• Bring as many others as possible.
• Listen to traffic information on the radio.
• Follow the route indicated by the police.
• Go to the reception center or go to family or friends outside the disaster area.
• Special transportation is available for people in need of assistance, the elderly, and students during a disaster or crisis. The institutions (nursing homes, retirement homes, and/or schools) where these people are located at the time will arrange this.

What should I not do when the siren goes off?

• If the siren sounds, never call the national emergency number 112. Do not call the local police, fire department, or ambulance service either. The telephone exchanges may become overloaded. This can have serious consequences for the arrival of emergency services.
• Do not take your children out of school. Children who are at school must remain there and will be looked after by the school.