Essential supplies
Your first 3 days: a practical starting point
A small plan for ordinary households. Start with what you have, then fill the gaps.
THE KNOW-HOW
Small steps for everyday resilience.
Clear, practical reading for power cuts, water outages and disruption to everyday services. Start with the topic that matters to you.
21 guides
Food & cooking
Build a 3-day food cupboard
Ready-to-eat meals, a manual tin opener and food your household actually likes.
Food & cooking
What happens to food in a power cut?
Keep the doors closed and use official food-safety advice before deciding what to keep.
Food & cooking
A no-cook menu you can actually enjoy
Build a flexible menu from familiar cupboard ingredients, without relying on a camping stove.
Water & hygiene
How much water should you keep?
Use 3 litres per person per day as the drinking-water starting point, then plan for other needs.
Water & hygiene
Hygiene when the taps stop working
A few basic supplies make hand cleaning, waste and bathroom routines easier.
Power & lighting
The power’s out. What should you do first?
A clear first-steps guide for a safer, calmer power cut.
Power & lighting
Choose a power bank for the essentials
Capacity matters, but so do cables, charging speed and keeping it ready.
Power & lighting
Torches, lanterns and spare batteries
Simple lighting that helps you move safely without draining your phone.
Stay connected
Stay informed with a battery or wind-up radio
Listen for trusted updates when broadband and mobile data are unavailable.
Stay connected
Will your landline work in a power cut?
Digital home phones and connected alarms may need their own backup.
Money & banking
When banking apps or card payments go down
Keep practical alternatives, check payment status and protect yourself from opportunistic scams.
Money & banking
Make a paper backup for essential contacts
Keep useful information available without exposing passwords or banking credentials.
Cyber safety
Secure your accounts before disruption
Start with email, strong unique passwords and 2-step verification.
Cyber safety
Spot scams during an outage
Urgency, unexpected links and requests for security codes are reasons to stop and check.
Cyber safety
Keep your account recovery options usable
A flat phone battery should not be the end of your recovery plan.
Home & family
Make a household plan in 20 minutes
Agree who to contact, where to meet and how to check on someone who needs help.
Home & family
Plan ahead for medical and accessibility needs
Arrange individual backup plans with your care team and equipment provider.
Home & family
Remember children, babies and pets
The best household kit accounts for the small everyday things people depend on.
Essential supplies
Build a kit without a big shopping bill
Check cupboards first. Spend on useful gaps, not an expensive survival bundle.
Essential supplies
Keep warm without taking risks
Use layers and blankets, and avoid improvised indoor heating.
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