Emergency kit checklist for UK homes

On 22 October 2026 the government launched Be Ready, the first stage of a three-year campaign encouraging households to take small, simple steps in case everyday services such as power, water, phones or the internet are disrupted. The headline ask is calm and modest: be ready to manage at home for 3 days. As the British Red Cross puts it, you don't need to stockpile. The aim is simply to be ready for short-term disruption.

Start with what you already have

GOV.UK's first step costs nothing: look in your cupboards. Most homes already have a torch, blankets, tins and a first aid box somewhere. Note down what's missing, remembering anything your household relies on, such as medical supplies, baby formula or pet food. Then build the rest up gradually during your normal shopping, an item or two at a time, so the cost is spread out.

The checklist, item by item

Water

GOV.UK recommends 3 litres of drinking water per person per day, so 9 litres each for 3 days. More is needed for cooking and washing. For two adults that's 18 litres, or four 5-litre bottles. Our water guide covers storage and how much extra to keep.

Food

Non-perishable food for 3 days that doesn't need refrigeration or cooking, such as tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts. GOV.UK's tip is to buy food you'd usually eat. See our food guide for a simple 3-day plan.

Light and warmth

A torch and spare batteries. GOV.UK notes that torches are safer than candles. Add blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing, because homes can get cold quickly when the heating goes off. Our suggestion: one LED torch for every two people, all running on AA batteries so spares are simple, and one blanket or sleeping bag per person.

Information and charging

An FM radio that runs on batteries or winds up, so you can hear updates if the internet and phone networks are down. Write the frequencies of your local and national news stations on paper. Keep a power bank charged for phones or compatible medical devices. Our estimate for a phone you use carefully is about one full charge a day; for two phones over 3 days that works out at about 42,000 mAh, which the calculator rounds up to a 26,800 mAh and a 20,000 mAh power bank, because real-world output is lower than the number on the label.

Money and documents

GOV.UK suggests a mix of coins and notes as well as cards, in case card payments or cash machines are disrupted. The amount depends on your needs; our starting suggestion is around £100 per household in small notes and coins. Keep printed copies of passports, birth certificates, insurance details and instructions for any medical equipment you rely on, plus a paper list of key phone numbers and your regular medication and doses.

Health

A first aid kit, which GOV.UK suggests should include waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash, sterile dressings, gloves, medical tape and tweezers. For prescriptions, GOV.UK advises requesting repeats up to 5 working days before you need them, so you are less likely to run out.

Babies and pets

Ready-made or "ready-to-feed" formula is best for babies, as you may not be able to boil water to make up powdered formula safely. Add nappies and wipes. For pets, GOV.UK lists pet food and bottled water. Our estimate for pet water is around 1.2 litres a day for a medium dog and 0.25 litres for a cat; check with your vet.

What a 3-day kit looks like for two adults

Running our calculator for two adults and a power cut gives a list like this. Official figures are marked; the rest are our practical suggestions.

Free steps that matter just as much

• Priority Services Register: check if you're eligible at thepsr.co.uk. It tells your electricity, gas and water companies you need extra support during an interruption. Lots of households qualify, including those with children under 5.
• Know your shut-offs: learn how to turn off your gas, electricity and water, in case you have to leave because of flooding or a leak.
• Write numbers down: include 105 to report a power cut (England, Scotland and Wales; 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland).
• Talk to neighbours: swap contact details and agree to check on anyone who might need help.
• A grab bag: GOV.UK suggests keeping a few essentials in a spare bag in case you're asked to leave quickly.

Keep it fresh

Set a reminder every six months to check dates, swap out anything that's expiring and update the kit if your household has changed. Eat the food you rotate out, so nothing goes to waste.

For situation-specific advice, see what to do in a power cut, storms and flooding or our Survival For pages.

Questions people ask