UK household emergency preparedness checklist.
Plan drinking water, food, light, power, information, first aid, warmth and the personal supplies your household may need for three days.
A practical list for a UK household.
This independent Be Readyford checklist turns the UK Government’s household preparedness themes into ten clear checks. It is a starting point, not a guarantee that every household need is covered.
Work through the ten checks.
Progress stays in your browser when storage is available. No checklist can account for every medical, accessibility, caring or equipment need; follow relevant provider advice.
Build a plan that fits your household.
Quantities and choices depend on your household. Check instructions, expiry dates and compatibility instead of treating a product label as proof that it is suitable.
Drinking water for three days
Use 3 litres of drinking water per person per day as a starting point: 9 litres per person for three days. Store it safely, check dates and allow separately for cooking, hygiene, pets and individual needs.
- Count everyone who may be at home.
- Keep suitable containers you can lift and pour.
- Follow your water provider’s instructions during an interruption.
Familiar food that works without power
Choose food your household normally eats, including options that do not depend on a fridge, freezer or electric cooker. Check dietary, allergy, baby and pet needs.
- Plan simple meals rather than buying random tins.
- Keep a safe manual can opener where you can find it.
- Rotate supplies into normal meals before they expire.
Torches and safe emergency lighting
Know where your torches are before the lights fail. Match each torch to the correct batteries or charging method and check it regularly.
- Prefer torches or lanterns to unattended candles.
- Keep spare batteries in their original packaging.
- Put a light where it can be reached safely at night.
Power banks and compatible charging cables
Keep a charged power bank for essential phones or small devices and store the cable that actually fits each device. Capacity figures do not guarantee a particular number of charges.
- Check USB connector and charging requirements.
- Recharge stored power banks according to the maker’s instructions.
- Do not treat a consumer power bank as medical-equipment backup.
Radio, alerts and trusted information
Plan more than one way to receive reliable information. Mobile Emergency Alerts, local radio and official warning services perform different jobs.
- Check radio reception before an emergency.
- Write down trusted local information sources.
- Use official warnings for current instructions.
First aid, medicines and personal care
Keep suitable first-aid supplies and the personal medicines or equipment your household relies on. This checklist cannot replace advice from a clinician or equipment provider.
- Check expiry dates and replace used contents.
- Keep instructions with specialist equipment.
- Ask the appropriate provider about continuity arrangements.
Warmth and shelter
Plan how everyone will stay warm during a power cut or severe-weather disruption. Start with dry layers, blankets and a safe room before considering additional equipment.
- Include babies, older people, pets and anyone with additional needs.
- Never use outdoor fuel-burning equipment indoors.
- Know where blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing are stored.
Hygiene, babies and pets
Add the everyday supplies that are easy to overlook when shops, water or travel are disrupted. Tailor the quantities to the people and animals in your household.
- Include sanitary, continence and washing supplies.
- Plan nappies, formula and sterilising needs where relevant.
- Keep food, medication and safe transport for pets.
Contacts, documents and accessible money
Keep essential contact information somewhere that does not rely on one unlocked phone. Decide which documents or copies you may need and store them securely.
- Write down household and service-provider contacts.
- Protect sensitive copies from loss or casual access.
- Consider a modest amount of accessible money for your circumstances.
Your household plan and neighbours
Agree what your household will do, where useful supplies are kept and who may need extra help. Review the plan whenever circumstances change.
- Choose a sensible place for supplies.
- Agree alternative contact and meeting arrangements.
- Check on neighbours safely and respect their choices.
UK emergency checklist: useful answers before you start.
Is a three-day emergency kit the same as a 72-hour kit?
Yes. Three days and 72 hours describe the same planning period. The label does not make a kit complete: your household still needs suitable drinking water, food, medicines, personal supplies and a practical plan.
Is this the official UK Government Be Ready checklist?
No. This is an independent Be Readyford checklist based on the themes in the official campaign. We link to the original government guidance so you can check current advice at the source.
Can I print the emergency preparedness checklist?
Yes. Use the one-page PDF or print this page. The interactive version also lets you tick each check on this device without creating an account.
What should I check first for a power cut?
Start with safe lighting, charged phones and power banks, a way to receive trusted information, warm layers and any household-specific medical or caring arrangements. Follow current instructions from your electricity network operator and official services during an incident.
Sources, method and limits.
We grouped the official campaign’s household themes into ten practical checks, then added links to our independent planning guides. We review the wording against official publishers and avoid presenting shopping selections as complete government-approved kits.
- UK Government Be Ready: be ready for emergencies ↗
- UK Government Be Ready: power cuts ↗
- GOV.UK Emergency Alerts ↗
Official campaign themes and source titles are used under the Open Government Licence v3.0 ↗. Be Readyford is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the UK government.
This is general planning information, not a live warning service or medical advice. For immediate danger, call 999.