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Know the risks in your area

A flooded area where services are present
Nowhere is without risks. Natural phenomena such as thunderstorms, heavy rain or hail can occur anywhere. A major fire or gas leak can also occur anywhere. However, some locations present specific risks. For example, a chemical company or a forest or nature zone. It is important to be aware of the risks in the region where you live or work.

Learn more about your environment

To be well prepared and able to react quickly and appropriately in an emergency, you need to know what the risks are near your home or workplace.

It is therefore important to inform yourself about these risks, the possible consequences and how to protect yourself. In particular, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do you live or work near a company that uses or stores dangerous substances (Seveso company)?  You can check at www.seveso.be
  • Do you live or work near a nuclear facility? Visit nuclearrisk.be
  • Is your home or workplace in a flood zone? You can check this on:
  • Is there a fire hazard in a natural or forest area near your home or workplace?  Find out about the fire danger and the colour code (green, yellow, orange, red) at
  • Does a railway line or motorway cross your municipality?  These are also risks to be taken into account. Think of a train accident involving dangerous substances, or a collision with a truck carrying fuel.
  • And don't forget the other risks that are present everywhere, such as a storm, pandemic, cyber attack or power failure. Are you aware of these risks and their potential consequences?

Visit our "Risks in Belgium" page for an overview of all the risks in our country.

Keep each other informed

Do you know the risks in your region? Share this information with your family, neighbours and friends. Talk together about what you can do to keep everyone safe. Think in particular about vulnerable people in emergency situations, for example people with reduced mobility, people with reading or writing difficulties... They may not yet be aware of the potential risks in the region and how to best prepare themselves.

By discussing it together, you can also prepare together. For example, you can make certain arrangements, help each other draw up an emergency plan, or put together an emergency kit.

Preparing for an emergency

If you know the risks in your environment, you can prepare yourself more effectively by:

  • knowing what to do to be better prepared or to better manage a risk or emergency situation. See our risk pages for practical information on what to do before, during and after a specific emergency; 
  • knowing how to evacuate and get to safety; 
  • knowing where to find information in an emergency; 
  • subscribing to BE-Alert, the alert system of the authorities; 
  • drawing up an emergency plan for your family, neighbourhood, business, etc.; 
  • setting up an emergency kit at home or on site.

Being prepared gives you and those around you a sense of security and peace of mind.