Talk through a normal day
Where is everyone likely to be if an outage starts? Include school, work, caring responsibilities and pets. Agree on a nearby meeting place and an alternative if the first is inaccessible. Follow emergency services’ instructions rather than travelling into danger to follow a plan.
Write the useful details
Keep contacts, collection arrangements and relevant accessibility information on paper. Do not include passwords or payment-card security details. Tell everyone where the current plan is stored.
Check on others safely
Agree in advance how to support a neighbour or relative who lives alone. Ask what help they would actually find useful. A nearby trusted contact may be better placed than someone who needs to drive a long distance.
Practise one small thing
Find the torch together, try the radio and check that everyone can lift the water containers. Discuss what happens if your phone is unavailable. Keep the conversation reassuring and age-appropriate for children. Update the plan when household routines change.
UK Government: Be Ready checklist ↗
Check the linked guidance for updates. Follow local instructions during a real incident. This site does not provide live emergency information.