Be ready for 3 days

Store enough drinking water for everyone at home for 3 days. Keep it somewhere cool and dark.

Read the guide: How much water do you need?

• Bottled water for 3 days

  Allow at least 2 litres per person per day for drinking, cooking and hygiene. Store more if you can.

  For 1 person: 6 litres

  • Bottled water, 24 pack (opens Amazon in a new tab)Small bottles are easy to share out and to carry if you have to leave.
  • Alternative: Collapsible water container, 20 L (opens Amazon in a new tab)Fill it from the tap if you're warned the supply may be cut.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Water storage containerRecommended

  A clean, food-grade container lets you store tap water. Label it with the date and refill it every six months.

  • Water container with spigot, 20 L (opens Amazon in a new tab)The spigot lets you pour without lifting the whole container.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Water purification tablets or a filterRecommended

  Useful if the supply is cut or you are told to boil water and can't. Always follow the instructions on the pack.

  • Water purification tablets (opens Amazon in a new tab)Small, light and keep for years.
  • Alternative: Personal water filter straw (opens Amazon in a new tab)Filters as you drink, with no waiting.

  Read the guide Not needed

Choose food your household already eats, that keeps without a fridge and needs little or no cooking.

Read the guide: Food that needs no cooking

• Canned meat or fish

  Tuna, salmon, chicken or ham. Pull-tab lids are the easiest to open.

  • Canned tuna, multipack (opens Amazon in a new tab)High in protein and fine to eat straight from the can.
  • Alternative: Canned chicken breast (opens Amazon in a new tab)A good choice if you don't eat fish.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Canned vegetables, beans and soup

  Beans, chickpeas, corn and soup can all be eaten cold if you have to.

  • Canned beans, multipack (opens Amazon in a new tab)Filling, cheap and fine eaten cold.
  • Canned soup, multipack (opens Amazon in a new tab)Warming if you can heat it, still safe cold.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Ready-to-eat meals that need no cooking

  Pouches and pots that are safe to eat without heating. Check the label says ready to eat.

  • Shelf-stable ready-to-eat meals (opens Amazon in a new tab)No water, heat or washing up needed.
  • Alternative: 72-hour emergency food supply (opens Amazon in a new tab)Keeps for years. Try a meal first to check you like it.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Dried fruit, nuts and granola bars

  Plenty of energy in a small space. Good for kids and for a grab-and-go bag.

  • Granola bars, variety pack (opens Amazon in a new tab)Individually wrapped and easy to share out.
  • Trail mix, individual packs (opens Amazon in a new tab)Lots of energy in a small bag. Check for allergies.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Shelf-stable milkRecommended

  Keeps unopened for months without a fridge. Once opened, use it within a day.

  • Shelf-stable milk cartons (opens Amazon in a new tab)Handy for cereal, coffee and kids.
  • Alternative: Shelf-stable oat milk (opens Amazon in a new tab)For anyone who doesn't have dairy.

  Not needed
• Manual can opener

  Not every can has a pull-tab, and an electric opener won't work in a power outage.

  • Manual can opener (opens Amazon in a new tab)Simple, sturdy and needs no power.

  Not needed

Only use a camping stove or barbecue outdoors or in a very well ventilated space, never indoors. They give off carbon monoxide, a gas you cannot see or smell that can kill.

Read the guide: Cooking without power

• Portable camp stove with fuelRecommended

  For heating food and water when the power is off. Use it outdoors only, never inside a home, garage or tent, and store the fuel somewhere cool.

  • Portable butane camp stove (opens Amazon in a new tab)Stable, with a simple push-button ignition.
  • Butane fuel canisters, 4 pack (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check they fit your stove before you buy.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Matches or a lighter in a waterproof containerRecommended

  Keep them dry and out of reach of children.

  • Waterproof matches (opens Amazon in a new tab)Light even when damp.
  • Alternative: Waterproof match case (opens Amazon in a new tab)Keeps ordinary matches dry.

  Read the guide Not needed

Keeping clean helps stop illness spreading, especially when water is short.

• Hand sanitizer

  For when you can't wash your hands with soap and water. Choose one with at least 60% alcohol.

  • Hand sanitizer gel, 70% alcohol (opens Amazon in a new tab)A large bottle for home use.

  Not needed
• Wet wipes

  For washing when water is too precious to use.

  • Wet wipes, bulk pack (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cheap and useful for almost anything.

  Not needed
• Toilet paper and garbage bags

  Strong garbage bags can also line the toilet if there is no water to flush.

  • Toilet paper, bulk pack (opens Amazon in a new tab)Keeps well and takes up a closet shelf.
  • Heavy-duty garbage bags (opens Amazon in a new tab)Strong enough for waste and to line a toilet.

  Not needed
• Toothbrush, toothpaste and period productsRecommended

  A spare set for everyone, so nobody goes without.

  • Travel toothbrush and toothpaste kit (opens Amazon in a new tab)Compact and sealed.
  • Period products, multipack (opens Amazon in a new tab)Keep a spare pack with your kit.

  Not needed

Power outages often happen in cold, dark weather. Battery lights are much safer than candles.

Read the guide: What to do in a power outage

• Flashlight and extra batteries

  Ideally one per person. A wind-up flashlight needs no batteries. Both are much safer than candles.

  • LED flashlight (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bright, and batteries last far longer than with old bulbs.
  • AA batteries, bulk pack (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check which size your flashlight and radio take.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Headlamp or battery lanternRecommended

  A head light keeps your hands free. A lantern lights a whole room.

  • LED headlamp (opens Amazon in a new tab)Hands free for cooking, reading or caring for someone.
  • Alternative: Battery LED lantern (opens Amazon in a new tab)Lights up a whole room safely.

  Not needed
• Blankets or sleeping bags for everyone

  Enough to keep each person warm overnight with no heating.

  • Fleece blanket (opens Amazon in a new tab)Warm, light and quick to dry.
  • Alternative: Three-season sleeping bag (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds heat well on cold nights.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Warm clothing and hats

  Layers trap heat better than one thick sweater. A warm hat, gloves and wool socks make a big difference.

  • Thermal underwear set (opens Amazon in a new tab)A thin, warm layer under everyday clothes.
  • Winter hat and gloves set (opens Amazon in a new tab)Keeps heat in where you lose it fastest.

  Not needed
• Foil emergency blanketsExtra

  Cheap, light and help hold in body heat. Handy for a bag or the car.

  • Mylar emergency blankets, pack of 10 (opens Amazon in a new tab)Fold down to the size of a phone.

  Not needed

If phones and the internet go down, a radio may be the best way to hear news and advice.

• Battery or wind-up radio

  Local radio carries emergency updates if cell networks and the internet go down. A wind-up model needs no batteries.

  • Wind-up emergency radio (opens Amazon in a new tab)Charges by hand. Many also have a flashlight and phone charger.
  • Alternative: Battery AM/FM radio (opens Amazon in a new tab)Simple to use, but needs spare batteries.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Charged power bank

  Top it up every few months so it is ready to keep a phone going.

  • Power bank, 20,000 mAh (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for several full phone charges.
  • Alternative: Solar power bank (opens Amazon in a new tab)Slow, but can top up with no mains power.

  Not needed
• Write down the radio stations you use for news

  Note the frequencies of your local news stations and keep them with your radio.

  Not needed
• Whistle to signal for helpRecommended

  A whistle carries further than a voice and takes less effort.

  • Emergency safety whistle (opens Amazon in a new tab)Loud, light and needs no power.

  Not needed

Debit machines and ATMs may not work in a power outage, and you may need to prove who you are.

Read the guide: Make a household plan

• Keep some cash at home

  A mix of small bills and coins, kept somewhere safe.

  Not needed
• Keep spare keys for your home and car

  Keep a spare set with your kit, so you can get in or drive away even if your main keys are lost or left behind.

  Not needed
• Print copies of important documents

  IDs, passports, birth and marriage certificates, citizenship papers, health card numbers and insurance policies.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Waterproof document walletRecommended

  Keeps paper copies dry and together, ready to grab.

  • Waterproof letter-size document pouch (opens Amazon in a new tab)Fits documents without folding.
  • Alternative: Fireproof document bag (opens Amazon in a new tab)Also protects against heat.

  Not needed
• Write important phone numbers on paper

  Family, an out-of-town contact, doctor, school, work and insurers. Include your electricity company's outage line, which is on your bill.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Notebook and penRecommended

  For messages, notes and keeping track of what you have used.

  • Waterproof notebook (opens Amazon in a new tab)Pages survive rain and spills.
  • Pencils, multipack (opens Amazon in a new tab)Pencils still write when wet or cold.

  Not needed

Keep basic first aid supplies and enough of any medicine you rely on. For anything clinical, ask a pharmacist or doctor.

• First aid kit

  Check it has adhesive bandages, gauze, tape, antiseptic wound cleanser, disposable gloves, a thermometer and tweezers.

  • First aid kit for home (opens Amazon in a new tab)Covers everyday cuts, burns and sprains.
  • Digital thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Often missing from cheaper kits.

  Not needed
• Keep enough of your essential medication

  Ask your pharmacist about refilling early so you never run low, and keep a written list of what you take, the dose and what it's for.

  Not needed
• Keep spare glasses and contact lens solutionRecommended

  An older pair of glasses is fine. Keep them in a hard case with your kit.

  Not needed
• Sunscreen and bug sprayRecommended

  For time outdoors in summer, for example if you have to leave home. Check the expiry dates when you swap your seasonal gear.

  • Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher (opens Amazon in a new tab)Broad-spectrum protection for the whole family.
  • Insect repellent (opens Amazon in a new tab)Keeps mosquitoes and blackflies off outdoors.

  Not needed
• N95 or surgical masksRecommended

  Help filter dust and wildfire smoke. N95 masks give the best protection.

  • N95 masks (opens Amazon in a new tab)Fit closely to filter fine dust and smoke.

  Not needed

A few checks now make your home safer in an emergency.

• Carbon monoxide alarmRecommended

  Install at least one with battery backup in the hallway outside bedrooms.

  • Battery carbon monoxide alarm (opens Amazon in a new tab)Keeps working in a power outage.
  • Alternative: Combination smoke and CO alarm (opens Amazon in a new tab)Two alarms in one unit.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Test your smoke alarms every monthRecommended

  Press the test button. If it stays quiet, change the battery or the alarm.

  Not needed
• Know how to turn off gas, electricity and waterRecommended

  Find your water shut-off valve, electrical panel and gas valve, and show everyone at home where they are. Only turn off the gas if you smell gas or are told to, because the gas company has to turn it back on.

  Not needed
• Plastic sheeting and duct tapeRecommended

  To cover broken windows, or to seal a room if you are told to shelter in place.

  • Heavy-duty plastic sheeting (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cut to size for windows or doors.
  • Duct tape (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds sheeting in place and fixes almost anything.

  Not needed
• Basic tools and work glovesRecommended

  A hammer, screwdrivers and a pocket knife help with small repairs. Sturdy gloves protect your hands when clearing up.

  • Household tool kit (opens Amazon in a new tab)Covers most small jobs in one case.
  • Work gloves (opens Amazon in a new tab)Protect your hands from glass, nails and splinters.

  Not needed

Only if you have a baby or toddler at home.

Read the guide: Babies and emergencies

No baby at home? Hide this section.

• Ready-to-feed formula

  It needs no water. You may not be able to boil water to make up powdered formula safely, so ready-to-feed is the safer backup.

  • Ready-to-feed infant formula (opens Amazon in a new tab)Use it straight from the bottle.
  • Pre-sterilized disposable bottles (opens Amazon in a new tab)No need to boil water to clean bottles.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Diapers

  At least 3 days' worth, plus a few spare.

  • Diapers, bulk pack (opens Amazon in a new tab)Buy the next size up so they still fit later.
  • Diaper disposal bags (opens Amazon in a new tab)For bagging used diapers if trash pickup stops.

  Read the guide Not needed
• Baby wipes

  For changes and quick washes when water is short.

  • Fragrance-free baby wipes (opens Amazon in a new tab)Gentle on skin, and useful for adults too.

  Read the guide Not needed

Only if you have pets. They need supplies for 3 days too.

No pets? Hide this section.

• Pet food for 3 days

  Their usual food, so they don't get an upset stomach, plus any medicine they take.

  • Wet pet food pouches, variety pack (opens Amazon in a new tab)Easy to store and portion out.

  Not needed
• Bottled water and a collapsible bowl

  Store extra drinking water for them: about 4 litres a day for an average dog and 1 litre for an average cat.

  • Collapsible pet bowl (opens Amazon in a new tab)Folds flat for storage or a bag.
  • Alternative: Pet travel water bottle (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bottle and bowl in one.

  Not needed

Only if you drive. Things to keep in the car in case you get stuck, especially in winter.

No car? Hide this section.

• In-car phone chargerExtra

  Keeps your phone charged if you are stuck in traffic or broken down.

  • USB car charger (opens Amazon in a new tab)Plugs into the 12V socket.

  Not needed
• High-visibility vestExtra

  Helps other drivers see you if you have to get out of the car.

  • High-visibility safety vest (opens Amazon in a new tab)Folds small enough for the glove box.

  Not needed
• Booster cablesExtra

  To boost a dead battery with help from another car.

  • Booster cables (opens Amazon in a new tab)Simple and they never need charging.
  • Alternative: Portable battery booster (opens Amazon in a new tab)Starts the car with no second vehicle.

  Not needed
• Folding snow shovelRecommended

  For digging the car out after heavy snow.

  • Folding snow shovel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Fits in the trunk.

  Not needed
• Ice scraper and snow brushRecommended

  To clear the windows and lights before you drive, and again if you get stuck.

  • Snow brush with ice scraper (opens Amazon in a new tab)Clears snow and ice with one tool.

  Not needed
• Blanket for the carRecommended

  To keep warm if you are stuck waiting for help.

  • Car travel blanket (opens Amazon in a new tab)Lives in the trunk, ready when you need it.

  Not needed

If you have to leave home quickly, a packed bag means you can take the basics with you.

Not planning a grab-and-go bag? Hide this section.

• A sturdy backpack for a grab-and-go bagExtra

  Big enough for water, snacks, a flashlight, medicine, documents and a phone charger. Keep it somewhere easy to reach.

  • Waterproof backpack, 30 L (opens Amazon in a new tab)Room for the basics without being too heavy.

  Not needed
• Print a map of your local areaExtra

  Mark your meeting places and the ways out of your neighbourhood, in case phones and GPS aren't working.

  Not needed