UK households are being urged to stock up on 14 essential items as the Government warns of extreme weather conditions and cyberattacks threatening the country. The new "Be Ready Checklist" provides Brits with a list of items that could prove vital if an emergency struck and disrupted services we all rely on.
Government advice states that a three-day supply of everything on the list should be enough to keep people prepared for such an eventuality. It marks the first stage of a three-year campaign to help households across the UK feel more equipped for events such as extreme weather, which can impact services including power, water, phones and the internet.
What's on the checklist
The checklist includes: water, food, hygiene products, blankets, batteries, torches, FM radio, power bank, cash, ID/documents, first aid kit, medication, baby products, and pet products.
It states: "Being ready for 3 days helps you manage while support reaches those most in need. Doing this is easier than you might think."
It adds: "You could have some of the items at home already. You don’t need to do it all at once. Build up your readiness gradually over time by taking it step by step, and picking up an extra item or two when you can."
Five steps to prepare
The Be Ready Checklist advises taking five steps to ensure you're as prepared as possible for a future emergency. It says: "See what you already have: Check your cupboards first to see what essentials you already keep at home."
"Plan for your household: Note down what you still need, remembering items your family relies on, such as medical supplies, baby formula or pet food."
"Build it gradually: Pick up missing items when you can during your regular shopping trips to help spread the cost."
"Check it regularly: Set a reminder every six months to check expiry dates and swap out items that need replacing, or update your kit if your household’s needs have changed."
"Connect with your community: Talk to your neighbours about what extra support you might be able to share during an outage, and swap contact details."
Know your home's shut-off points
Alongside ticking off all the items on the checklist, the Government also advises familiarising yourself with three things around the home. To safely shut off water, gas or electricity during an emergency, all UK residents should know the location of the water stop cock, the gas isolation valve, and the electricity isolation switch.
Part of the Government's emergency be ready plan reads: "If you have time and it is safe to do so, you might need to turn off the mains water, gas or electric to your home during an emergency. Familiarise yourself with where these are."
It adds: "WARNING: You can turn the water and electricity back on yourself but NOT THE GAS. This must be done by a qualified engineer."
