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Emergency Kit UK: The Complete Checklist

Everything a UK household needs for the first 72 hours of a power cut, storm, flood or water outage — organised by category, with realistic quantities and the gear worth buying.

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The 72-hour rule

UK resilience guidance is built around three days. That is the window in which storms pass, water supplies are restored and network operators reconnect the majority of homes. Your kit does not need to survive the apocalypse — it needs to make 72 hours boring.

Build it in two halves: a home kit that keeps the household comfortable where it is, and a grab bag by the door in case you are told to leave. Most families already own half of the list below.

The full checklist

Water

3 litres per person per day (9 litres for 72 hours)

  • Bottled or stored water in sealed containers
  • A collapsible carrier for refilling from a standpipe
  • A filter bottle or purification tablets as backup
  • A little extra for pets and basic washing

Food

3 days of no-cook food per person

  • Tinned and pouched food that needs no heating
  • Long-life ration or energy bars
  • A manual tin opener (not electric)
  • Baby formula, pet food and any dietary essentials

Power

Two full phone charges per person, minimum

  • A charged power bank kept topped up
  • Charging cables for every device in the house
  • A larger portable power station if you rely on medical equipment
  • Spare batteries in the sizes your kit actually uses

Lighting

One light source per person, plus one per room

  • A torch per person — not your phone
  • A head torch so your hands stay free
  • A lantern for the room the household gathers in
  • Spare batteries stored with the torches

First aid and medication

One stocked kit, plus 7 days of prescriptions

  • A proper first aid kit, not a plaster tin
  • A week of prescription medication where possible
  • Painkillers, antihistamines and rehydration sachets
  • A foil survival blanket per person

Communications and documents

One radio, one document pack

  • A battery or wind-up radio for local updates
  • Written emergency numbers (105 for power cuts, 999, insurer)
  • Copies of ID, insurance and medical details in a waterproof wallet
  • Cash in small notes — card machines fail in a power cut

Vehicle and grab bag

One bag by the door, one kit in the boot

  • A rucksack with documents, medication, torch and power bank
  • Warm layers, waterproofs and sturdy footwear
  • A vehicle blanket, jump pack and hi-vis in the boot
  • A printed copy of your family emergency plan

The kit, by budget

Start with Lite and upgrade the things you would actually use. Independently selected — we may earn a commission if you buy through these links.

Lite

Get Started

Budget-friendly protection for common disruptions.

Plus

ApocaPack Recommended

The best balance of quality, resilience and value.

Pro

Maximum Preparedness

Premium equipment for extended disruptions and serious preparedness.

Common questions

What should be in a UK emergency kit?

Water and a way to purify it, three days of no-cook food, a torch and spare batteries, a power bank, a first aid kit, a battery or wind-up radio, copies of key documents, cash, medication, and warm layers. Households with children, pets or medical needs should add their own essentials.

How long should an emergency kit last?

Three days (72 hours) is the standard planning window used by UK resilience guidance. That covers the vast majority of power cuts, storms, floods and water supply interruptions before services are restored or support arrives.

What is the difference between an emergency kit and a grab bag?

An emergency kit stays at home and supports you where you are. A grab bag is a smaller rucksack kept by the door with documents, medication, a torch, phone power and a change of clothes so you can leave within minutes if you are told to evacuate.

How much water should I store per person?

Plan for 3 litres per person per day for drinking and basic hygiene — about 9 litres per person for a 72-hour window. A filter bottle or purification tablets extend that if supply is interrupted for longer.

Does the UK government provide free emergency kits?

No. UK government guidance asks households to assemble their own supplies. There is no free national kit scheme, so the checklist on this page is the practical alternative.

Go deeper

What is a 72-hour emergency kit?21 emergency supplies every UK household should haveHow much water should you store?Building a flood grab bagFamily emergency planning checklistHow to prepare for a power cut in the UK
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