Emergency kit checklist (UK): the government's Be Ready list, explained

Updated on 26 October 2026How these pages are written (in French)

This page is for households in the United Kingdom. It is an independent summary of the UK government's Be Ready guidance, developed by the Cabinet Office, and of its downloadable Be Ready checklist. The guidance and the checklist are free at beready.campaign.gov.uk.

Be Ready aims for 3 days: "Being ready for 3 days helps you manage while support reaches those most in need."

The checklist suggests five steps to get started:

1. See what you already have: check your cupboards first.
2. Plan for your household: note down what you still need, including items your family relies on, such as medical supplies, baby formula or pet food.
3. Build it gradually: pick up missing items during regular shopping trips to spread the cost.
4. Check it regularly: set a reminder every six months to check expiry dates and swap out items, or update your kit if your household's needs have changed.
5. Connect with your community: talk to your neighbours about what support you could share during an outage, and swap contact details.

The checklist asks for bottled water for 3 days: 3 litres per person per day for drinking. It adds that more would be needed for other tasks such as cooking and washing.

For drinking alone, over three days, that means at least:

• One person: 9 litres.
• Two people: 18 litres.
• A family of four: 36 litres.

The Be Ready checklist, by category:

• Water: bottled water for 3 days, 3 litres per person per day for drinking.
• Food: non-perishable food for 3 days, with a long shelf life and no need for refrigeration or cooking (for example tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts). The checklist adds that it's best to buy food you'd usually eat.
• Hygiene: hand sanitiser, wet wipes, hygiene and bathroom products.
• Light and warmth: a torch and spare batteries; blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing. The guidance notes that homes can become cold very quickly when the heating goes off.
• Communication and information: an FM radio (battery or wind-up), and a charged power bank to charge phones or compatible medical devices.
• Money and documents: cash (a mix of coins and notes) and cards, in case electronic payments or cash machines are disrupted; printed copies of important documents such as passports, birth certificates, insurance policy details and instructions for any medical equipment you rely on; a written list of emergency contacts and of regular medication and doses.
• Medical and health: a first aid kit (the guidance lists waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings and gloves, medical tape and tweezers), and essential medication and medical supplies.
• Baby products: baby formula, and nappies and wipes.
• Pet products: pet food and bottled water.

The checklist does not give a figure for cash: the amount depends on your family's needs for essentials.

Because powdered formula needs boiled water. The checklist says: "Ready-made or 'ready-to-feed' formula is best, as you may not be able to boil water to make up powdered formula safely."

Be Ready lists a torch with spare batteries and states: "Torches are safer than candles." Its checklist does not include candles. Other countries' official lists, such as those in France, Belgium and Luxembourg, include candles alongside a torch. If you keep candles, the UK guidance is a reason to rely on the torch first.

Beyond the kit, the guidance suggests:

• Medication: always leave enough time to request repeat prescriptions; the guidance says it's important to request them up to 5 working days before you need your medicine.
• A household plan: work out your escape route in case of fire or what to do if your home floods, and agree a meeting point with family members in case you cannot return home or contact each other.
• Neighbours: agree a backup plan with anyone who might need extra support, particularly if they live alone. If an outage happens and you cannot call, you or another trusted person could visit them in person.
• Your phone: add emergency contacts or medical information (often called "ICE" or "Medical ID") so emergency services can see it without unlocking the phone. The guidance points out that anyone with access to your phone could see it too.
• Your radio: write down the frequencies of the national or local radio stations you use for news.
• The Priority Services Register: it lets your electricity, gas and water providers know you need additional support, including during an interruption. According to Be Ready, many households are eligible, including those with children under 5. In Northern Ireland, these are called Customer Care Registers.
• Your home: know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water, and check your smoke alarms at least once a month.

The Be Ready guidance says:

• Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger.
• Depending on the incident, you may be asked to "Go in, Stay in and Tune in" to local or national radio stations, or check official sources online. Unless there is an obvious risk to a building, going inside and seeking further information is often the safest thing to do. It is never safe to return to a building that is on fire.
• Do not delay evacuating if the authorities ask you to: delaying or refusing may put your life at risk, as well as the lives of emergency responders.
• Do not go to the scene of an emergency if you are not already there.
• Pay attention to official sources, including messages to your mobile phone from the UK Government Emergency Alerts Service, and be careful with information shared online.

• 999: emergency services.
• 105: report a power cut in England, Scotland and Wales.
• 03457 643643: report a power cut in Northern Ireland.

• UK Government (Cabinet Office), Be ready for emergencies: checklist, plan, home, Priority Services Register, power cut numbers (accessed 26 October 2026)
• UK Government, Be Ready checklist, PDF (accessed 26 October 2026)
• UK Government, Be informed about hazards: what to do during an emergency, "Go in, Stay in and Tune in", evacuation (accessed 26 October 2026)
• UK Government, About this website and UK resilience (accessed 26 October 2026)

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