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What the UK Government advises keeping at home

Last reviewed 2026-10-30

A plain-English summary of the official household checklist. The right plan is the one your household can understand, access, and maintain. Start with the items and contacts that matter most in your situation, then improve it a little at a time.

The UK Government checklist is a useful baseline, not a rule that every household must follow in exactly the same way. It recommends thinking about the needs of the people at home and keeping practical supplies together. Adapt the list for health, caring, dietary, cultural, and access needs.

For water, the checklist uses three litres per person per day for drinking over three days and says to store more for cooking and washing. Keep water in suitable containers and follow current public advice if water supplies are interrupted or a local incident affects quality.

For food, choose non-perishable items that people at home usually eat and that do not need cooking. Include a tin opener if you store tins. Remember allergies, infant feeding, and food for pets. Rotate supplies as part of ordinary shopping so the kit remains familiar.

Light, information, and warmth matter too. Keep a torch and spare batteries, a battery or wind-up radio, a charged power bank, and blankets or warm clothes. The checklist also covers first aid, personal hygiene, cash, payment cards, documents, phone numbers, and essential medicines.

The checklist says to review supplies every six months and consider the Priority Services Register if eligible. Check live official information because services can change. The purpose is a manageable household plan, not an expensive shopping list.

A practical household plan

Households do not all have the same access to storage, money, transport, or support. A preparation plan can still help if it is small. Write down how to get official information, how to contact someone you trust, and which essential items are hard to replace. Keep supplies in a place that household members can reach. If storage space is limited, prioritise the items linked to health, communication, warmth, and safe drinking water. Add other items gradually. Think about whether anyone at home may need information in another language, a larger type size, or a format that works with assistive technology. Include children in a simple way that suits their age, such as showing them where a torch is kept. Review the plan when household members, pets, care arrangements, or medical devices change. The checklist is a starting point and should be adapted to current official guidance and the circumstances at home.

Plan for your household

A household can start with supplies already at home and add the missing items over time. Keep water and food where they can be reached without moving heavy objects, and store medicines according to their labels. Write down where official warnings come from and how household members will contact one another. If someone needs help to evacuate, include the person who will assist and how they will be contacted. The checklist is a prompt for household planning, so adapt it to individual needs and current advice.

Review the plan with your household

Choose a regular moment to look over the list together. A six-month review is easy to remember and matches the household checklist, but update the plan sooner when someone moves in, a baby changes feeding routine, a pet starts a new diet, or a health need changes. Check that everyone knows where the torch, radio, first aid kit, and written contacts are kept. Replace items that have been used, expired, or damaged. Confirm phone numbers and equipment instructions against current information. A plan can be short and still be useful when each person knows their part. If someone else may help, ask them to read the instructions before an incident and check that they can reach the supplies. Record only the information helpers need, store it safely, and update it when those needs change. A familiar routine can make a difficult day easier to manage.

Use the household kit builder to turn your household numbers into a checklist. It is a planning aid, not a substitute for local warnings, an individual care plan, or professional advice. Store essential information where the people who may need it can find it.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do first?

Start with the relevant official information for your area and the needs of the people or animals at home. Make a short written plan, gather what you already have, and fill gaps in stages.

How often should I review the plan?

Review it every six months and after a major change at home. Check dates, contact numbers, medicines, batteries, feeding needs, and any equipment instructions.

Where can I get urgent medical help?

Use NHS 111 or ask a pharmacist for non-life-threatening urgent advice. Call 999 for an emergency.