At A Glance:
This practical guide explains the UK Be Ready campaign and the steps households can take to manage three days of disruption. It covers building a basic emergency kit (water, food, lighting, first aid and personal items), creating a grab-and-go bag, and preparing a simple vehicle kit. It also links to official guidance for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Cheshire, plus practical first aid training.
Emergency Preparedness: What Every UK Household Needs to Know
[Updated 5 November 2026]
The government has launched its Be Ready campaign. It asks households to be ready for three days of disruption to power, water or communications. A simple downloadable checklist is available on the site. This brings the UK into line with Ireland, France and the Netherlands. Ireland recently posted a practical Be Emergency Ready booklet to every household.
Preparation is not about panic buying. It is about taking a few sensible steps now so that you and your household can manage short-term disruption. Checking what you already have in the cupboard and adding a few items during your normal shop is often enough to get started.
Get home. Be ready for 3 days. Get out in 20 minutes.
We’ve put together a free Household Emergency Plan you can download, print and fill in. It covers:
- What to keep in a bag in your car so you can get home
- How to be ready for 3 days at home (water, food, contacts, utilities and more)
- What to pack in a grab bag at home if you need to leave in 20 minutes
Table of contents
- Emergency Preparedness: What Every UK Household Needs to Know
- Get home. Be ready for 3 days. Get out in 20 minutes.
- Why Prepare?
- Official Guidance and Local Support
- What Should Be in Your Emergency Kit?
- Building a Grab-and-Go Bag
- Don’t Forget Your Car Kit!
- Beyond the Kit: A Holistic Approach to Preparedness
- Final Thoughts
- Related Links
Why Prepare?
Emergencies come in many forms. Severe weather, flooding, power cuts, fires, cyber incidents, disease outbreaks and water or phone outages can happen without much warning. Some are over quickly. Others can last for days.
One problem often leads to another. A storm can cause a power cut. A power cut can affect water supplies or phone and internet services. Being prepared for one type of disruption often helps with others.
Governments across Europe, the UK and the USA recommend that households have enough supplies to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours (three days). This allows emergency services to prioritise those in greatest need. The UK’s new Be Ready guidance now sets out the same three-day target clearly, matching the approach already taken in Ireland, France and the Netherlands (see the official Denk vooruit site and information booklet).
Official Guidance and Local Support
The UK’s Be Ready campaign includes a downloadable checklist and practical steps for households. Ireland recently took a similar approach: from late September 2026 the Department of Defence sent a Be Emergency Ready booklet to every household. The Irish guide uses three simple steps (Be Aware, Make a Plan, Stay Connected) and includes its own checklist.
In England, Local Resilience Forums bring together emergency services, local authorities, the NHS and other partners to plan for local risks. You can find contact details for every forum on GOV.UK. For local advice tailored to people living in Scotland or Northern Ireland, visit the Ready Scotland and NI Direct websites.
If you are in Cheshire, the Cheshire Resilience Forum publishes local advice and a Community Risk Register. It also has a dedicated page for businesses: Prepare Your Business. Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service hosts additional household guidance at Be Ready for Emergencies.
Businesses of any size can benefit from a simple continuity plan. Useful starting points include the Cheshire Resilience Forum business page above and the free resources available from the Business Continuity Institute. Small practical steps (offline contact lists, tested backups, and a basic grab bag of documents) often make the biggest difference.
What Should Be in Your Emergency Kit?
An emergency kit does not have to be complicated or expensive. You probably already have many of the items. Check what you have first, then build the rest gradually. The official Be Ready checklist covers the essentials below.
Water
The Be Ready guidance recommends at least 3 litres of drinking water per person per day. You will need more if you have babies, pets or medical needs, and extra for cooking or basic hygiene. Store bottled water in a cool, dark place and check expiry dates. Having a way to purify water is also useful.
Food
Choose non-perishable food that needs no refrigeration or cooking. Tinned meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, dried fruit, nuts and energy bars work well. Include a manual tin opener. Remember food for pets and any ready-to-feed baby formula. Rotate stock so nothing goes past its expiry date.
Lighting
Power cuts can leave you in the dark. A battery-powered or wind-up torch is safer than candles. Keep spare batteries.
Communication
A battery-powered or wind-up radio lets you hear official updates if the internet or phone networks are down. A mobile phone with a charged power bank is also useful.
First Aid
A basic first aid kit is listed on the official checklist. Useful items include:
- plasters
- bandages
- antiseptic wipes
- wound dressings
- sterile gloves
- a thermometer
- eyewash
Knowing how to use the kit is just as important as having it. Our online Family First Aid e-learning course is a practical starting point.
Hygiene and Sanitation
Hand sanitiser, wet wipes, soap, rubbish bags and disinfecting wipes help if the water supply is interrupted. Include feminine hygiene products if needed.
Tools and Safety Items
Useful extras include:
- Manual tin opener
- Dust masks (FFP3 if possible)
- Duct tape and plastic sheeting
- Whistle
- Waterproof matches or a lighter
Check that your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working. A multi-tool is handy in a grab-and-go bag.
Clothing and Shelter
Blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing matter in a power cut, even in milder weather. Sturdy shoes and spare clothes are useful if you need to leave the house. High-visibility jackets help if you are outdoors or by the road.
Personal and Medical Needs
Tailor the kit to your household:
- Prescription medicines and a note of doses
- Over-the-counter medicines
- Glasses or contact lens solution
- Ready-to-feed baby formula, nappies and wipes
- Pet food and water
Documents and Money
Keep some cash in a mix of notes and coins. Store paper copies of important documents (ID, insurance, bank details) in a waterproof bag. Write down key phone numbers and medication details so you still have them if your phone runs out of battery.
Comfort and Entertainment
Books, puzzles, paper and pencils help pass the time, especially with children.
Building a Grab-and-Go Bag
If you need to leave home quickly, for example during a flood, a small grab-and-go bag is useful. Pack a torch, power bank, snacks, water, medication and important documents. Keep it somewhere easy to reach, ideally near the front door.
Don’t Forget Your Car Kit!
If you are caught on the road, a few items in the boot can help:
- Warm clothing and blankets
- High-visibility jacket
- Snacks and water
- Shovel (useful in winter)
- First aid kit
Beyond the Kit: A Holistic Approach to Preparedness
Be Informed
Know the risks in your area. Sign up for emergency alerts where available. Learn basic first aid and keep a list of emergency contacts. If you are eligible, register with your utility providers’ Priority Service Registers for extra support during outages.
Make a Plan
Agree meeting points and how you will contact each other. Make sure everyone knows how to call 999 and knows the home address. Download a household emergency plan or use this alternative template.
Prepare Your Home
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms regularly. Know how to turn off gas, electricity and water. Check your insurance. Take extra steps if you live in a flood-risk area.
Talk to Others
Share plans with neighbours. Agree how you might help each other. A simple messaging group can be useful. Community support strengthens personal preparedness.
Final Thoughts
Being prepared is about confidence, not fear. The Be Ready checklist and the recent Irish booklet both show that small, practical steps make a difference. Start with what you already have, add a few items over time, and review your plan once a year or when your circumstances change.
You can download the official checklist at beready.campaign.gov.uk.