In short: Greater Manchester's emergency planning is coordinated by the Greater Manchester Resilience Forum, chaired by Greater Manchester Police, with support from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. It plans for severe weather, flooding, power cuts, cyber attacks, major fires, pandemics and other infectious diseases, and terrorism, and says an updated Community Risk Register will be published in autumn 2026. Sign up for free Environment Agency flood warnings online or on Floodline (0345 988 1188), call 105 for a power cut (Electricity North West), and contact United Utilities about water.
Key facts
- The Greater Manchester Resilience Forum was set up in 2005, is chaired by Greater Manchester Police and has more than 80 member organisations. Source
- The forum's risks page names severe weather, flooding, terrorism, cyber attacks, major fires, pandemics, power outages and infectious diseases. Source
- The published Greater Manchester Community Risk Register is dated 2019, and the forum says an updated accessible version will be published in autumn 2026. Source
- The forum's loss of essential services page names United Utilities for water and gives 105 as the number to report a power cut. Source
- The forum describes two main types of flooding in Greater Manchester: surface water flooding from intense rain, and river flooding. Source
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Greater Manchester has ten councils, but its emergency planning is joined up across the whole city region. This page gathers the official local sources in one place so you know where to look before you need them. Prepared, not panicked.
We are an independent guide. We don't run any of these services or show live information. For current incidents, use the official links below.
Who to contact locally
Planning is coordinated by the Greater Manchester Resilience Forum, the area's Local Resilience Forum (LRF). It was set up in 2005, is chaired by Greater Manchester Police and has more than 80 member organisations. Its public pages sit on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) website.
The ten councils are Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. The forum's flooding page says to contact your own council for help such as emergency accommodation.
| What you need | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Anyone in immediate danger | 999 |
| Local preparedness advice | GMCA: Prepare yourself |
| Your council | GOV.UK council finder |
| Flood warnings | Environment Agency: sign up online or Floodline 0345 988 1188 |
| Power cut | 105 (Electricity North West) |
| Gas leak | 0800 111 999 (listed on the forum's Prepare yourself page) |
| Water supply problem | United Utilities |
Local risks the forum lists
The forum's Our risks and plans page names the risks it plans for:
- severe weather
- flooding
- power outages
- cyber attacks
- major fires
- pandemics and other infectious diseases
- terrorism
The published Greater Manchester Community Risk Register linked from that page is dated 2019. The forum says an updated accessible version will be published in autumn 2026, so check back there for the latest list.
How to sign up for local flood warnings
The forum's flooding page describes two main types of flooding here: surface water flooding after intense rain, and river flooding after prolonged rain or snowmelt.
- Check your long-term flood risk on GOV.UK. It covers rivers and the sea, surface water, reservoirs and, where data exists, groundwater.
- Sign up for free flood warnings from the Environment Agency, online or on Floodline, 0345 988 1188 (24 hours; text 0345 602 6340).
- Make a personal flood plan. The forum links to the GOV.UK template.
Our guide to what flood alerts and warnings mean explains each level.
Power cuts in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester's local electricity network is run by Electricity North West, whose area stretches from the Lake District to Manchester. The forum's loss of essential services page gives 105 as the number to report a power cut.
Our Electricity North West power cut page explains how to report a cut, check live faults, join its Extra Care register and claim compensation.
Water supply
The forum names United Utilities as the water company, with links to its Priority Services and contact pages. Check your bill to confirm, or use the Water UK postcode checker, as CCW suggests.
The forum also asks residents to join their energy and water Priority Services Registers if eligible, and to register anyone they care for. Our Priority Services Register guide explains who qualifies, and our no water supply guide covers what to do during an outage.
A short Greater Manchester checklist
- Check your flood risk and sign up for Environment Agency flood warnings.
- Save 105 (power cuts), 0800 111 999 (gas) and Floodline 0345 988 1188.
- Bookmark your council's website and the forum's Prepare yourself page.
- Join the Electricity North West and United Utilities Priority Services Registers if eligible.
- Learn how to turn off your water, gas and electricity.
- Pack a grab bag. The forum has a grab bag checklist template.
- Agree how your household will stay in touch, and remember: go in, stay in, tune in.
Next steps
Put it all on one page. Our free household plan builder takes about 10 minutes and fills in your power network operator from your postcode. Then try the readiness quiz to see what's left to do.
Limitations
This page is general information based on the official sources listed below, checked on 29 October 2026. The forum plans to publish an updated risk register in autumn 2026, so check its site for the latest version. This isn't a replacement for instructions from the emergency services. In any emergency where someone is in danger, call 999.
Turn this guide into a written plan
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Frequently asked questions
Who plans for emergencies in Greater Manchester?
The Greater Manchester Resilience Forum, a partnership of more than 80 organisations chaired by Greater Manchester Police. Its secretariat is the Greater Manchester Resilience Unit, part of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Where can I read the Greater Manchester Community Risk Register?
It's linked from the forum's Our risks and plans page. The published version is dated 2019, and the forum says an updated accessible version will be published in autumn 2026.
How do I get flood warnings in Greater Manchester?
Sign up free with the Environment Agency on GOV.UK, or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 (text 0345 602 6340).
Who do I call in a power cut in Greater Manchester?
Call 105, free. Electricity North West runs the local network across North West England, from the Lake District to Manchester.
Who supplies water in Greater Manchester?
The forum names United Utilities. Check your bill to confirm, or use the Water UK postcode checker.
Sources
- GMCA: About Greater Manchester Resilience (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- GMCA: Our risks and plans (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- GMCA: Prepare yourself (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- GMCA: Loss of essential services (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- GMCA: Flooding (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Sign up for flood warnings (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Check your long term flood risk (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- Electricity North West: About us (checked 29 Oct 2026)
- CCW: Which water company supplies my area? (checked 29 Oct 2026)