Practical UK household preparedness guides

Ten detailed, source-backed guides to water, food, power cuts, household contacts, children, pets and accessibility. Start with what you already have.

Practical guides

• How much water does your household need for 72 hours?

  Work out your three-day drinking-water target, understand what it excludes, and find a realistic way to store and rotate water at home.

• Three days of food, without a cupboard full of waste

  Make a realistic three-day food plan using familiar shelf-stable meals, dietary needs and a simple rotation routine—not expensive survival packs.

• A calmer household plan for a power cut

  Find your torch, keep useful information on paper and plan for charging, warmth and extra support without relying on a working internet connection.

• A household contact plan that works without your phone

  Choose a meeting point, make a paper contact list and agree a realistic check-in plan that does not depend on mobile signal or internet access.

• Preparing with children and babies, without making it frightening

  Build children’s everyday routines into a three-day household plan, with practical attention to familiar food, comfort, childcare contacts and baby supplies.

• Include pets in your 72-hour plan

  Plan familiar food, separate water, safe handling and a trusted helper for pets without assuming every animal has the same needs.

• An emergency plan that fits accessibility and support needs

  Make the plan usable for the people it is for: agree support, check equipment arrangements and understand utility support registers across the UK.

• Plan for regular medication without stockpiling

  Use normal prescription arrangements, ask about storage and continuity, and keep private instructions accessible without sharing medical details online.

• Preparing in a flat, rented room or shared home

  Adapt a household plan to limited storage, building-specific fire arrangements, shared responsibilities and the people who may not be home at the same time.

• Start preparing on a budget—and keep the plan useful

  Take the free first steps, avoid a panic shopping list and use a six-month review to keep your household plan accurate as life changes.