The basics
The Be Ready checklist, explained
In short: the UK government asks every household to be ready to cope on its own for 3 days. That means 3 litres of drinking water per person, per day, food that needs no fridge or cooking, a torch, a battery or wind-up FM radio, a charged power bank, cash, copies of documents, a written list of numbers and medication, a first aid kit, and anything babies or pets need. You build it gradually, and you check it every six months.
Why three days?
The Be Ready campaign launched on 22 October 2026. Its reasoning is simple: if most households can manage for three days on their own during a storm, a long power cut or another outage, help can go first to the people who need it most.
The checklist, item by item
- Water. Bottled water for 3 days: 3 litres per person, per day, for drinking. More for cooking and washing. A family of four needs 36 litres to drink.
- Food. Non-perishable food for 3 days with a long shelf life that needs no fridge and no cooking: tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit, nuts. Buy what you'd usually eat.
- Hygiene. Hand sanitiser, wet wipes, hygiene and bathroom products.
- Light and warmth. A torch with spare batteries. Blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing.
- Communication. An FM radio (battery or wind-up) and a charged power bank.
- Money and documents. Cash (a mix of coins and notes) and cards, copies of ID and documents, and important phone numbers and information written down, including regular medication and doses.
- Medical. A first aid kit, plus essential medication and medical supplies.
- Babies. Ready-to-feed formula (you may not be able to boil water for powdered), nappies and wipes.
- Pets. Pet food and bottled water.
The easy way to do it
- See what you already have. Check your cupboards first.
- Plan for your household. Note what you still need, including medical supplies, baby formula or pet food.
- Build it gradually. Pick up a missing item or two on your normal shop to spread the cost.
- Check it regularly. Set a reminder every six months to check expiry dates and swap anything out.
- Talk to your neighbours. Agree what you could share in an outage, and swap contact details.
Write a plan that works with no phone
The government also publishes a household emergency plan: an agreed meeting point, the numbers you'd need, the people to check on, everyone's medication, and where to turn off your water, gas and electricity. Our fridge plan puts it on one printable sheet.
Questions people ask
How many days does the government want UK households to be ready for?
Three days. The GOV.UK Be Ready campaign (launched 22 October 2026) says being ready for 3 days helps you manage while support reaches those most in need.
How much water do I need for a 3-day emergency kit?
3 litres per person, per day, for drinking. For a family of four that is 36 litres over three days. You need more for cooking and washing.
What food should go in a 3-day kit?
Non-perishable food for 3 days that needs no fridge and no cooking, such as tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts. The official advice is to buy food you would usually eat.
Do I have to buy everything at once?
No. The official advice is to check what you already have, then pick up missing items on your regular shopping trips to spread the cost, and check your kit every six months.
Why ready-to-feed baby formula?
Because in a power cut you may not be able to boil water to make up powdered formula safely, so ready-made or ready-to-feed formula is best.
Sources: GOV.UK Be Ready checklist (PDF) · GOV.UK Household Emergency Plan (PDF) · beready.campaign.gov.uk. General information only. In an emergency, always call 999.