A useful five-part plan
- People
- Identify health, mobility, communication, caring, baby and pet needs before buying general kit
- Information
- Know which official warnings and local services you would check
- Home
- Understand how a power cut, water outage or heating failure would affect your household
- Supplies
- Gather manageable amounts of water, familiar food, light, warmth and hygiene items
- Practice
- Make sure everyone knows where the plan and essential items are kept
Start with the people, not the shopping list
List anything that cannot simply wait for normal service to return. This may include regular medicine, powered medical equipment, mobility aids, baby feeding, a carer's visit, refrigerated health supplies, communication support or an assistance animal.
Ask the relevant care team, equipment supplier or service provider what to do during a power cut or other interruption. Do not guess at a medical backup plan or change medicine use because of general preparedness advice.
If anyone may qualify for extra utility support, check the relevant Priority Services Register. Ofgem says energy suppliers and network operators in Great Britain keep separate registers, while Northern Ireland uses Customer Care Registers. Registration can improve support, but it does not guarantee that a supply will continue.
Make a simple household plan
- Check likely local problems
Look at official information for flooding, severe weather and other risks where you live. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own government preparedness guidance.
- Write down essential contacts
Keep important numbers on paper in case a phone is flat or a contact list is unavailable. Include household contacts, care contacts, utility details and insurance details that are genuinely useful.
- Agree how to reconnect
Choose a contact and a meeting point for a situation in which household members cannot return home or mobile service is unreliable. Keep the plan simple enough to remember.
- Check warning routes
Keep a compatible phone updated, but do not rely on one device. UK Emergency Alerts may not reach a device that is off, incompatible, on a 2G or 3G network, or in some other unsupported conditions.
- Plan for staying and leaving
Know what you would need for a short period at home and what must be easy to collect if official advice tells you to leave. If there is a fire, leave immediately and do not delay to collect a bag.
Build a modest supply for a few days
Begin with drinking water, food the household already eats, a safe torch, a way to charge a phone, warm layers, basic hygiene items and a first aid kit. Add the needs of babies, pets and anyone receiving care. A battery or wind-up radio can provide another route to updates during a power cut.
Keep items somewhere accessible and easy to find without mains lighting. Split heavy supplies into manageable containers, check dates and batteries, and use normal rotation rather than creating a forgotten stockpile.
Official UK guidance says a household can build its supplies over time. Buying a pre-packed kit is not required, and specialist equipment should solve a need identified in your plan rather than a vague fear.
Medicine and powered equipment need a personal plan
Order repeat medicine with the normal lead time and keep instructions for essential equipment. If you run out, use the current NHS or pharmacy route for your part of the UK rather than borrowing medicine or changing a dose. Ask a clinician, care team or equipment provider about any health-critical backup requirement.
Keep the plan usable
- Show everyone
Tell household members and trusted supporters where the written plan and supplies are kept.
- Test ordinary tasks
Check that the torch works, the power bank accepts a charge and essential information can be found without internet access.
- Review after changes
Update the plan after moving home, changing suppliers, starting new treatment, changing caring arrangements or adding a pet.
Important limitations
Follow live instructions from emergency services, government, your local authority and utility providers. Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger. This guide does not replace clinical, fire, flood, utility or evacuation advice for a specific incident.