Most emergencies in the UK mean staying at home. But floods, fires, gas leaks or a police cordon can mean being asked to leave with very little warning. The UK government's Be Ready advice is simple: keep the essentials in a spare bag so you can go quickly.
A grab bag isn't about surviving in the wilderness. It's about getting through a night or two at a friend's house, a rest centre or a hotel without losing your documents, your medicines or your phone signal.
Choose the right bag
Pick something you can carry on your back with your hands free, and that keeps the contents dry. If flooding is the risk, a roll-top waterproof backpack is ideal. Keep it somewhere everyone in the house knows about, near the front door or in a hall cupboard, not in the loft.
The checklist
Documents and money
- ☐ Copies of ID: passports, driving licences, birth certificates
- ☐ Insurance policy numbers and the claims phone number
- ☐ A list of medicines, doses and allergies for everyone
- ☐ Instructions for any medical equipment
- ☐ Key phone numbers on paper: family, GP, work, school, 105 for power cuts, Floodline 0345 988 1188
- ☐ Your household emergency plan and meeting point
- ☐ Some cash in notes and coins
Keep these together in a fire- and water-resistant document case, so you can grab one thing and know it's all there.
Health
- ☐ A few days' supply of essential medication (rotate it so it doesn't go out of date)
- ☐ A small first aid kit
- ☐ Glasses or contact lenses
- ☐ Hand sanitiser, wipes and a few face masks
- ☐ Toothbrush, toothpaste and basic toiletries
Light, power and contact
- ☐ A head torch, so your hands are free
- ☐ A charged power bank and phone cables
- ☐ A small wind-up radio for local news
- ☐ A personal alarm or whistle to attract attention
Warmth and comfort
- ☐ A change of clothes and warm layers
- ☐ Thermal socks (wet feet make everything worse)
- ☐ A lightweight waterproof jacket
- ☐ An emergency foil blanket or bivvy bag
- ☐ Hand warmers
Food and water
- ☐ A bottle of water per person
- ☐ Snacks that last: cereal bars, nuts, dried fruit
For children and pets
- ☐ Nappies, wipes and ready-to-feed formula
- ☐ A favourite toy, colouring book or pack of cards
- ☐ Pet food, lead, carrier and vet details
Before you leave the house
- If it's safe and you have time, turn off your gas, electricity and water.
- Lock the doors and windows.
- Follow the routes and instructions given by the emergency services.
- Let family know where you're going.
Keep it ready
A grab bag only works if it's packed before you need it. Check it every 6 months: swap out medicines and food that are close to their dates, recharge the power bank, check the torch and update your documents. Setting a reminder when the clocks change makes it easy to remember.
Want it done in one go? The Hunker Down Mega Bundle includes the waterproof backpack, document case, torch, radio, power bank, warmth kit and more, so you only need to add your documents, medicines, food and water. Tick everything off with our free Be Ready checklist.
Source: UK Government Be Ready. Hunker Bunker isn't affiliated with the UK government. In an emergency, always follow the advice of the emergency services and call 999 if life is at risk.