When the power goes out at midnight or flooding hits your street, you quickly realise what you're missing. Most UK households have no emergency supplies ready. No torch with working batteries. No bottled water. No plan for getting out fast if needed. During storms, floods or prolonged power cuts, shops close, roads become impassable, and help takes time to arrive.

You can prepare for these moments with the right supplies stored at home. An emergency kit keeps your household safe and comfortable for at least 72 hours, while extended supplies help you manage longer disruptions. A well packed grab bag means you can leave quickly if evacuation becomes necessary.

This guide walks you through building a complete home emergency preparedness list. You'll learn how to assess your household's specific needs, assemble a 72 hour emergency kit, expand supplies to last 14 days, create grab bags for quick exits, and maintain everything over time. We've included practical checklists you can follow step by step, covering everything from water storage to essential documents.

Why home emergency planning matters

You face real risks every winter and throughout the year. Storm damage disrupts power supplies across the UK regularly, with some outages lasting several days. Flooding affects thousands of properties annually, particularly in river valleys and coastal areas. Transport networks fail during severe weather, making shops inaccessible and delaying emergency services. Your household becomes isolated faster than you expect.

Real disruptions happen frequently in the UK

Winter storms knock out electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes each year. Flooding closed major roads and rail lines during recent weather events, stranding residents for days. Water supply failures affect communities when treatment plants lose power or burst mains take time to repair. You cannot rely on immediate help when infrastructure fails across wide areas. Emergency services prioritise life threatening situations, meaning non urgent calls wait hours or days for response.

Your local area faces specific threats based on geography, from coastal flooding to rural isolation during heavy snow.

Self-sufficiency buys critical time

A complete home emergency preparedness list keeps your household functioning when outside help arrives slowly. You maintain clean drinking water, prepare hot meals, and stay warm without electricity. Medical needs continue with stored prescriptions and first aid supplies. Essential documents remain protected in waterproof storage, helping you prove identity and make insurance claims faster. Your grab bag lets you evacuate within minutes if flooding or fire makes staying dangerous. Preparation reduces panic and injury during actual emergencies, particularly for households with children, elderly relatives, or medical conditions requiring specific equipment.

Step 1. Assess your household risks and needs

You need to understand your specific situation before buying any supplies. Your location determines which emergencies you prepare for most urgently. Your household composition affects what medicines, foods, and equipment you require. This assessment takes about 30 minutes and prevents wasteful purchases while ensuring you stock critical items your family actually needs during disruptions.

Identify your local hazards

Check your property's flood risk using the Environment Agency's online map for England, or equivalent services for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Properties near rivers, coasts, or in low lying areas face higher flooding probability. Review your area's historical weather patterns, noting past power cuts, heavy snow, or storm damage that isolated your community. Coastal households add supplies for storm surges, while rural properties need extras for potential road closures lasting days.

Your postcode's specific risks shape which scenarios deserve the most preparation effort and resources.

Contact your local council's emergency planning team to learn about industrial sites, flood defences, or other infrastructure affecting your area. Properties near chemical plants or major transport routes face different risks than suburban homes.

List everyone's special requirements

Write down all prescription medications taken by household members, including dosages and frequencies. Note how many days of supply you currently keep at home. Identify dietary restrictions such as allergies, diabetes management needs, or infant feeding requirements that demand specific foods. Document any mobility aids, breathing equipment, or medical devices requiring electricity or regular supplies.

Consider pets' needs including food, medications, and carrier requirements for evacuation. Calculate how much baby formula, nappies, or elderly care items your household uses weekly, then multiply for two weeks of supply.

Calculate supply quantities

Multiply one gallon of water per person per day by the number of household members and desired days of supply. A family of four needs 28 gallons for a week. Count how many meals your household consumes daily (typically three plus snacks), then multiply by 14 days to determine total meal quantities needed. Add portions for pets based on their regular feeding schedules.

Review your existing supplies to identify gaps. Most households already own torches, but lack spare batteries or alternative lighting. Your home emergency preparedness list grows from this assessment, focusing resources on genuine needs rather than unnecessary duplicates.

Step 2. Build a 72 hour home emergency kit

Your 72 hour kit forms the foundation of emergency readiness. This collection keeps your household safe and functioning for three days without external help, covering the typical timeframe before aid reaches most areas during widespread emergencies. Start with the four critical categories: water, food, lighting, and medical supplies. You can assemble a complete basic kit within two shopping trips, storing everything in waterproof containers that you can access quickly when needed.

Water storage essentials

Store one gallon per person per day in your household, meaning a family of four needs 12 gallons for 72 hours. Buy bottled water in sealed containers rather than filling old milk jugs, which deteriorate and leak over time. Keep half in your main storage location and split the rest between different rooms in case part of your home becomes inaccessible. Large water carriers (five to ten litres) take less space than individual bottles while remaining portable enough to move during evacuation.

Add water purification tablets or a filtering bottle as backup. Tap water becomes unsafe during flooding or when treatment plants lose power, making purification essential if your stored water runs out.

Three days of water weighs around 36 kilograms for four people, so split storage across multiple sturdy containers you can actually carry.

Food supplies that last

Choose ready to eat foods requiring no cooking or refrigeration since you cannot rely on electricity or gas during emergencies. Tinned goods last years and include complete meals like soups, beans, stews, and tinned vegetables. Add crackers, cereal bars, dried fruit, nuts, and peanut butter for variety and quick energy. Include a manual tin opener in your kit because electric versions fail without power.

Calculate three meals plus snacks daily per person. A 72 hour supply for one adult typically includes six to eight tins, a box of crackers, several energy bars, and dried snacks. Babies need formula powder, bottles, and sterilising equipment if you're not breastfeeding. Check expiry dates twice yearly and rotate stock into regular use before replacement.

Power and lighting equipment

Battery powered torches outperform candles for safety and reliability, particularly around children and during evacuations. Stock one torch per household member plus spare batteries lasting at least three days of typical use (roughly 12 hours total illumination). Wind up torches eliminate battery concerns but provide weaker light, making them useful as backup rather than primary sources.

Add a battery powered radio to receive emergency broadcasts when mobile networks fail. Your home emergency preparedness list should include a portable phone charger with full battery capacity, keeping communication possible during extended outages.

First aid and medications

Assemble a comprehensive first aid kit covering cuts, burns, sprains, and common illnesses. Include bandages in multiple sizes, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, antihistamines, anti diarrhoea tablets, and any prescription medications your household requires. Store a full week of prescription medicines in your kit, rotating them before expiry dates.

Add specific items for household members: spare glasses, contact lenses and solution, asthma inhalers, diabetes supplies, or mobility aids. Keep a written list of all medications with dosages inside your kit, helping medical responders if someone cannot communicate during emergencies.

Step 3. Expand your supplies for 14 days

Your 72 hour kit handles immediate crises, but extended emergencies demand more comprehensive provisions. Severe weather events, widespread flooding, or infrastructure failures can isolate communities for two weeks or longer. Government guidance now recommends preparing for 14 days of self-sufficiency following pandemic responses and recent climate events. This extended preparation requires additional storage space and planning, particularly for water and perishable needs, but transforms your household's resilience during prolonged disruptions.

Long-term water management

Storing 56 gallons of water for a family of four over 14 days presents space challenges in typical UK homes. Stack five-litre bottles in cupboards, under beds, or in garages where temperatures stay stable and containers avoid direct sunlight. Rotate your water supply every six months by using stored bottles for daily needs and replacing them immediately. Mark containers with storage dates using permanent marker to track age.

Consider investing in a large water storage barrel (25 to 50 gallons) if you have outdoor space, though you must add purification tablets before drinking. Calculate your minimum needs using this formula: household members × 1 gallon × 14 days = total gallons required. Add 20 percent extra for cooking, washing, and unexpected needs. Your home emergency preparedness list should include multiple water treatment methods since stored supplies can develop contamination if containers fail.

Extended food provisions

Build your 14 day food supply around shelf-stable items requiring minimal preparation and no refrigeration. Tinned proteins like tuna, chicken, and beans provide essential nutrients and last years when stored properly. Add pasta, rice, and instant noodles alongside tinned tomatoes and sauces for variety. Include tea, coffee, powdered milk, and long-life juice boxes for drinks beyond water.

Stock these quantities as baseline for one adult over 14 days:

• 20 to 25 tins of various foods (proteins, vegetables, soups)
• 2 kilograms of dried pasta or rice
• 14 cereal bars or energy bars
• 1 kilogram of dried fruit and nuts
• 6 packets of instant meals or noodles
• Tea, coffee, sugar, and milk powder as used normally

Multiply by each household member and adjust for children's smaller portions. Check every tin and packet for damage or rust twice yearly, replacing items approaching expiry dates.

Extended food storage requires organisation and rotation to prevent waste while maintaining readiness.

Sanitation and hygiene supplies

Your household generates waste even without working toilets or running water during infrastructure failures. Stock heavy-duty bin bags, toilet paper, and chemical toilet solutions if your drainage system fails. Keep two weeks of personal hygiene items including soap, hand sanitiser, toothpaste, feminine products, and nappies based on your household's regular consumption rates.

Add bleach or disinfectant wipes for cleaning surfaces, particularly around food preparation areas. Include washing-up liquid, sponges, and paper towels since dishwashers require electricity. Store spare towels, tissues, and wet wipes for personal cleaning when showers become impossible.

Additional comfort and utility items

Extend your lighting and power supplies beyond the basic 72 hour stocks. Purchase battery packs in various sizes (AA, AAA, D) to run torches, radios, and essential devices for two weeks. Solar chargers work in summer but prove unreliable during British winters when cloud cover persists. Keep matches and candles stored safely for backup lighting, though you must never leave candles unattended or use them near evacuation routes.

Add entertainment for extended isolation: books, playing cards, puzzles, and battery-powered devices keep morale stable when screens fail. Include spare warm clothing, blankets, and sleeping bags if heating systems stop working. Your kit should also contain basic tools (screwdriver, pliers, knife), duct tape, rope, and plastic sheeting for emergency repairs to leaking windows or damaged doors.

Step 4. Pack grab bags for leaving in a hurry

Evacuation orders give you minutes, not hours, to leave your property. Your grab bag contains everything you need to survive the first 24 to 48 hours away from home. Pack one bag per household member in backpacks or duffel bags you can carry easily while moving quickly. Store these bags near exits where you can reach them even in darkness or smoke, separate from your main emergency supplies that might remain at home during evacuations.

Critical documents and cash

Protect your identity and financial security by keeping copies of essential documents in waterproof pouches inside each adult's grab bag. Scan or photograph your passport, driving licence, birth certificates, insurance policies, and property deeds, storing these on a USB drive sealed inside a waterproof bag. Include original prescriptions or medication lists with dosage information that hospitals need if you require treatment during evacuation.

Keep £200 to £300 in cash (small notes) since card machines fail during power outages and banks close during emergencies. Add spare house and car keys to each bag because you might leave through different exits or need to return when conditions improve.

Personal essentials checklist

Each household member's bag must contain these items as minimum provision for two days away from home:

• Change of clothing suitable for current season (two sets)
• Underwear and socks (three pairs)
• Waterproof jacket
• Sturdy walking shoes or boots
• Toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant
• Prescription medications (72-hour supply minimum)
• Spare glasses or contact lenses
• Mobile phone charger and portable battery pack
• Bottle of water (one litre)
• Energy bars or ready-to-eat food (six items)
• Small torch with spare batteries
• Whistle for signalling
• Notebook and pen

Add infant supplies to parents' bags including nappies, formula, bottles, and comfort items like favourite toys that calm children during stressful situations. Pet owners pack food, bowls, leads, and any medications into their grab bags since evacuation centres require proof of vaccinations and control equipment before accepting animals.

Your home emergency preparedness list becomes useless if you cannot access it during rapid evacuations, making grab bags essential.

Step 5. Store, rotate and update your kits

Your carefully assembled supplies become worthless if they rot in damp conditions or expire before you need them. Proper storage keeps items functional for years, while regular rotation prevents waste and ensures your home emergency preparedness list remains current. Most households abandon their kits after initial setup, discovering rusted tins and dead batteries during actual emergencies. You avoid this failure by spending 30 minutes every six months checking and updating your provisions.

Choose proper storage locations

Store your main emergency supplies in cool, dry locations away from direct sunlight and temperature extremes. Garages and sheds expose supplies to moisture and freezing that damage tins and split water containers, making indoor cupboards, under-stair spaces, or bedroom storage more reliable. Keep grab bags near exits where every household member can reach them quickly, testing access routes in darkness to confirm you can locate bags without electricity.

Label all storage containers clearly with contents and pack dates. Separate your water, food, medical supplies, and equipment into different containers so you can access specific items without emptying entire kits during minor emergencies.

Splitting supplies across multiple locations protects against losing everything if part of your home becomes inaccessible during flooding or fire.

Rotate supplies before expiry

Check all food and water every six months using this schedule: January reviews supplies added the previous July, while July reviews January additions. Mark expiry dates prominently on tins and packages using permanent marker, then use items within three months of expiry in regular meals while buying immediate replacements. Replace batteries annually even if packaging suggests longer life, since cold storage reduces actual performance.

Test torches and radios quarterly to confirm they work when needed. Rotate prescription medications monthly, keeping emergency supplies current while using older stock normally.

Update for changing needs

Review your household composition twice yearly and adjust supplies when babies grow, elderly relatives move in, or medical conditions develop requiring new equipment. Replace clothing in grab bags seasonally because summer evacuation needs differ from winter requirements. Update document copies whenever you renew passports, change insurance providers, or move house. Add new prescriptions to your medical supplies immediately rather than waiting for scheduled reviews.

Extra tips and ready made checklists

You benefit from additional strategies that strengthen your preparedness beyond basic supplies. These practical tips address common oversights that emerge during real emergencies, from communication plans to seasonal adjustments. Ready made checklists eliminate guesswork when you start building or reviewing your home emergency preparedness list, providing copy-and-paste templates you can print and tick off as you gather each item.

Establish household communication plans

Create a contact card for every family member listing mobile numbers, email addresses, and an out-of-area relative who serves as your emergency contact point when local networks fail. Text messages often work when voice calls cannot connect during network congestion, so agree on standard check-in messages like "safe at home" or "evacuated to [location]". Designate two meeting points: one near your home for minor emergencies and another outside your neighbourhood for situations requiring evacuation. Practice your communication plan quarterly, particularly with children who need reminders about which relative to contact and what information to share.

Teaching children your address, emergency contact numbers, and basic safety procedures transforms them from liabilities into capable household members during crises.

Seasonal kit adjustments

Winter preparations demand additional heating solutions including sleeping bags rated for cold temperatures, spare blankets, and thermal clothing for every household member. Add salt or grit for icy paths, along with snow shovels and ice scrapers stored where you can reach them quickly. Summer kits require sun protection including high-factor sunscreen, hats, and additional water storage since hot weather increases consumption rates. Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms every season, replacing batteries regardless of remaining charge to ensure maximum reliability during heating season.

Complete starter checklist

Use this template to build your basic 72-hour kit from scratch:

Water and Food

• 3 gallons water per person (12 bottles × household members)
• Manual tin opener
• 6 tins protein (tuna, beans, chicken)
• 6 tins vegetables or fruit
• 12 energy bars
• Dried fruit and nuts (500g)

Safety and Medical

• First aid kit with bandages, antiseptic, pain relief
• 7-day supply prescription medications
• Spare glasses or contacts
• Whistle
• Dust masks (3 per person)

Power and Communication

• Battery torch (1 per person)
• Spare batteries (AA, AAA, D)
• Battery radio
• Mobile phone charger and power bank
• Matches in waterproof container

Documents and Tools

• Copies of ID, insurance, medical records (waterproof bag)
• £200 cash in small notes
• Paper and pencil
• Basic toolkit (screwdriver, pliers, knife)

Print this checklist and tick items as you acquire them, storing the completed list inside your emergency kit for future reference.

Ready to start your emergency kit

You now understand exactly what your home emergency preparedness list requires at every level, from basic 72-hour supplies through extended 14-day provisions and rapid evacuation bags. Start small rather than delaying until you can afford everything at once. Buy water and tinned food this week, add torches and batteries next month, then build grab bags when budget allows. Each addition improves your household's resilience, even if your complete kit takes months to assemble.

Review your assessment from Step 1 to prioritise purchases based on your location's specific risks and your household's unique needs. Flooding zones demand waterproof storage and evacuation bags first, while rural properties benefit from extended food supplies and alternative heating. Set calendar reminders for your six-monthly rotation checks so maintenance becomes automatic rather than forgotten.

Your preparation protects everyone in your household during genuine emergencies when shops close and help arrives slowly. Browse practical emergency gear and outdoor equipment to find quality items that fit your preparedness plan, from water storage solutions to reliable torches and camping supplies that serve double duty for adventures and emergencies alike.