The UK government is asking every household to be ready to manage on its own for 3 days if storms, power cuts or outages knock out everyday services. It's called Be Ready, and it comes with a simple checklist.
You don't need to buy it all at once. Start with what's already in your cupboards, then add a few things each time you shop. Below is the checklist in plain English, with a printable tick-list and the gaps we think it leaves.
How much water do you need?
The checklist says 3 litres per person, per day, for drinking alone. Washing, cooking and flushing need more.
| Household | Drinking water for 3 days |
|---|---|
| 1 person | 9 litres |
| 2 people | 18 litres |
| 3 people | 27 litres |
| 4 people | 36 litres |
| 5 people | 45 litres |
The checklist
Print this page and tick things off as you go.
Water and food
- ☐ Bottled water: 3 litres per person per day, for 3 days
- ☐ 3 days of food that needs no fridge and no cooking: tins, dried fruit, nuts. Buy things you normally eat
- ☐ A tin opener
Light, power and news
- ☐ A torch and spare batteries (torches are safer than candles)
- ☐ A battery or wind-up FM radio, with your local and national station frequencies written down
- ☐ A charged power bank for phones or medical devices
Warmth
- ☐ Blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing; homes cool down fast when the heating goes off
Health and hygiene
- ☐ A first aid kit
- ☐ Your essential medication. Order repeat prescriptions at least 5 working days before you run out
- ☐ A written list of medicines and doses for everyone in the house
- ☐ Hand sanitiser, wet wipes and bathroom products
Money, documents and contacts
- ☐ Cash in coins and notes, in case card machines and cash points are down
- ☐ Copies of ID and important documents
- ☐ Key phone numbers on paper, including 105 for power cuts
If you need them
- ☐ Baby supplies: ready-to-feed formula (you may not be able to boil water), nappies and wipes
- ☐ Pet food and water
What the checklist leaves out
The official list assumes three days of cold food in a house where the taps and toilets still work. In a longer outage, these make the biggest difference:
- A toilet plan. If mains water fails, wipes won't cut it. An emergency toilet is the thing most people forget.
- Hot food and drink. A camping stove, used outdoors or with good ventilation, makes day two and three far easier.
- A carbon monoxide alarm. If you add any stove or heater, add a battery CO alarm first.
- Extra water for washing and flushing, not just drinking.
- Room light. A torch lights a spot; a lantern or area light lights the room.
Shop the checklist
We're starting with the things that matter most when the power goes off: light, power and news. More of the checklist is on its way.
- Power cut essentials: head torch, room light and power bank
- Emergency radio: wind-up and solar, with torch and phone charger built in
Get a reminder every 6 months
The government suggests checking your kit twice a year to replace anything out of date. Pop your email in and we'll remind you, with no spam.
Hunker Bunker is an independent shop and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by the UK government. For the official advice and checklist, visit Be ready for emergencies. To register for extra help during power, gas or water cuts, see the Priority Services Register.