UK households urged to keep three days of emergency supplies

UK households are being urged to keep three days of essential supplies at home under a government emergency preparedness campaign covering disruption from severe weather, cyber attacks and other threats.

The Be Ready campaign recommends bottled water, food that does not need cooking, essential medicines and equipment to help people manage interruptions to everyday services, according to ITV News.

The campaign is presented as general emergency preparation rather than a response to a specific threat. Its practical message is to build a manageable reserve gradually, taking account of each household’s needs.

What households are being asked to keep

The checklist recommends three litres of bottled drinking water per person per day. Additional water would be needed for cooking, washing and other tasks.

Food supplies should cover three days and include non-perishable items that do not require refrigeration or cooking, such as tinned meat or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts. The advice is to choose food the household normally eats.

Other recommended supplies include:

• Hand sanitiser, wet wipes and essential bathroom and hygiene products.
• A torch with spare batteries, warm clothing, blankets and sleeping bags.
• A wind-up or battery-powered radio and a charged power bank.
• Cash, copies of identification and important documents, and key telephone numbers written down.
• A first aid kit, essential medication and medical supplies, with a record of medicine names and doses.
• For babies, nappies, wipes and formula, particularly ready-to-feed formula in case water cannot be boiled.

The recommendations cover more than food storage: they also address how households would stay warm, receive information and access essential records if normal services were interrupted.

Build supplies gradually and check them regularly

The government advises people to spread the cost by adding items to their usual shopping over time, rather than buying the whole checklist at once.

Households are also encouraged to set a reminder every six months to check expiry dates, replace items where necessary and review whether the kit still meets their needs.

Preparation extends beyond supplies. Neighbours are encouraged to exchange contact details and discuss who might need additional support during disruption, including a power outage.

The Be Ready website provides information on individual hazards and links to alerts and warnings from monitoring organisations, including the Met Office. People can also consult their local Community Risk Register for information about hazards in their area.

Ireland has issued similar guidance

Ireland’s separate Be Emergency Ready campaign also encourages households to prepare for interruptions to normal services. According to the Irish Mirror, its guidance includes bottled water, non-perishable food, medicines, backup lighting, radios and power banks.

The Irish advice also asks residents to know where their gas and electricity shutoff points are and how to turn them off. Supplies should be stored somewhere safe, dry and easy to reach, with food stocks rotated and household dietary needs considered.

For households following the UK checklist, the immediate task is straightforward: identify essential needs, add supplies gradually and keep them usable through regular checks.