What to keep at home so your household could manage for three days without shops, power or running water. Keep it together, in a box or a cupboard everyone knows.
Links marked Ad go to Amazon. If you buy through one, we earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
- Bottled water for 3 days: 3 litres each a day For two adults that's 18 litres. Keep it somewhere cool and dark, and check the dates when you check the rest. Ad Bottled water multipacks on Amazon
- Food for 3 days that needs no fridge or cooking Tins with ring pulls, crackers, nut butter, dried fruit and cereal bars. Choose things you'd eat anyway, so they get used and replaced.
- A tin opener A plain hand-held one, even if most of your tins have ring pulls. Ad Tin openers on Amazon
- Hand sanitiser, wet wipes and toilet things Add bin bags, toilet roll and period products. Ad Hand sanitiser and wipes on Amazon
- A torch and spare batteries An LED torch for each person, or a head torch that leaves your hands free. Store the batteries outside the torch so they can't leak into it. Ad Head torches on Amazon
- Blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothes Foil emergency blankets are light and cheap, and help keep body heat in. Ad Foil emergency blankets on Amazon
- A wind-up or battery FM radio When phones and the internet are down, local radio is where the news comes from. Some wind-up radios charge a phone too. Ad Wind-up radios on Amazon
- A charged power bank 10,000 mAh charges most phones two or three times. Recharge it every three months. Ad Power banks on Amazon
- Cash, in coins and notes Small amounts, for when card machines and cash machines are down.
- Copies of ID and important papers Passports, driving licences, insurance policies and bank details, in a waterproof bag. Ad Waterproof document pouches on Amazon
- Important phone numbers on paper, and a list of medicines Your phone may be flat. Write down family, neighbours, your GP, your energy and water companies and your insurer.
- A first aid kit A ready-made kit is a good start. Add anything your household uses. Ad First aid kits on Amazon
- Medicines and medical supplies you need Ask your pharmacist about keeping a little extra of anything you rely on.
- Ready-to-feed baby formula, nappies and wipes, if you need them Ready-to-feed formula needs no clean water and no boiling.
- Pet food and water, if you need them Three days of food and water, and a lead or a carrier.
Based on GOV.UK's Be ready checklist, in our own words, under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Advice changes, so check the source if something matters.
This list is in the Prepperland app, ready to add to your checklists and tick off.