The government's Be Ready campaign, explained
On 22 October 2026 the government launched Be Ready, replacing its earlier Prepare advice. It asks every household in the UK to be able to look after itself for at least three days if the power, water or phone networks go down.
What's on the checklist
- 3 litres of drinking water per person, per day, for 3 days
- Food that doesn't need a fridge or cooking, such as tins, dried fruit and nuts
- A torch with spare batteries, and a battery or wind-up radio
- A charged power bank
- A first aid kit, and your essential medicines
- Blankets and warm clothing
- Hygiene products
- Cash and cards, copies of documents, and phone numbers and medicines written down
- Baby formula (ready-to-feed) and pet food and water, if you need them
What's new
Compared with the old advice, the list now asks you to write things down: phone numbers, and the names and doses of medicines. That matters when your phone is flat or the internet is down.
It also asks you to know where your gas and electricity shut-off points are.
You don't have to do it all at once
The advice is to build your kit gradually. Our free checklist shows what you already have, sized for your household, and our box covers every line in one delivery.
Sources: ITV News, GOV.UK Be Ready.