The UK Government has issued new guidance urging households to take a few minutes to prepare for emergencies, with a notable focus on planning together with neighbours. The advice forms part of the Prepare campaign, which says emergencies can stem from severe weather, natural hazards, accidents, deliberate actions, or infrastructure failures, and that disruption could be brief or last “days, months or even longer”.
Home Safety Basics
Residents are advised to check basic safety measures at home, such as knowing how to turn off gas, electricity and water, testing smoke alarms, and making sure insurance is up to date. The guidance also recommends checking flood risk and signing up for flood and weather alerts to avoid being caught out by fast-changing conditions.
Specifically, the Government advises setting a reminder to test smoke alarms at least once a month, and suggests involving children in the monthly test so they become familiar with the sound. Completing an online home fire safety check is also recommended.
Utility Shut-Off and Insurance
Families should find out where their utilities can be switched off, in case flooding, leaks or damage make it unsafe to leave supplies running, or if people are told they must leave the property. Households are also encouraged to discuss what they would do in an emergency with everyone who lives there.
Homeowners and businesses are being told to ensure they have suitable insurance in place, including checking whether flood insurance is required for properties in areas at risk. The Government also recommends checking long-term flood risk and registering for flood and weather warnings, with additional steps for those in flood-prone areas.
Family and Community Planning
Families are advised to agree an escape route in case of fire, discuss what they would do if their home floods, and set a meeting point if people cannot get back home, potentially a nearby community hub. Writing down important phone numbers and keeping them somewhere easy to find is encouraged, including 105 for reporting a power cut in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as emergency contacts, medication details, radio frequencies and insurance information.
The guidance also suggests storing emergency contacts or medical details on a smartphone using features such as ICE or Medical ID, but warns that anyone who can access the phone could potentially see sensitive information, so key information should also be kept on paper.
Supporting Neighbours and Extra Help
A central theme is looking out for others nearby. The Government recommends exchanging contact details with neighbours and considering setting up an instant messaging group or closed online network for a street or building, which can become a valuable source of information and support during an emergency. People are encouraged to ask neighbours if they might need extra help, including those with additional medical needs, newcomers, the digitally excluded, or people who do not speak or read English well.
Anyone who may need additional help during an interruption to gas, electricity or water supplies is urged to check whether they can join their supplier’s Priority Services Register, which helps suppliers know a customer needs extra support. The advice covers England, Scotland and Wales, while Northern Ireland has Customer Care Registers.
The guidance also asks households to think about what they would need if normal services were disrupted for days, suggesting keeping supplies together somewhere easy to find. Recommended items include a battery or wind-up torch, a portable phone power bank, a battery or wind-up radio, spare batteries, a first-aid kit, bottled water, non-perishable food that doesn’t require cooking, hand sanitiser, wet wipes, medication, plus supplies for babies and pets. The Government points to World Health Organisation guidance suggesting 2.5 to 3 litres of drinking water per person per day as a minimum for survival, while around 10 litres per person per day would allow for basic cooking and hygiene. It adds that there is no single amount every household should store, as needs and the length of an emergency will vary, and people do not need to buy everything at once.
