In October 2026 the UK government launched Be Ready, a campaign that asks every household to be able to manage on its own for 3 days in an emergency, such as a long power cut, flooding or a disruption to the water supply. BBC News reported that sales of tinned food, radios and torches spiked in some shops after the advice came out. Many countries already give this kind of advice: in the Netherlands, for example, the government asks households to be ready for 72 hours.
What is on the official list
- Water: 3 litres per person per day for drinking, for 3 days. You need extra for cooking and washing.
- Food for 3 days that needs no fridge or cooking, such as tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts. Buy food you would normally eat.
- A torch with spare batteries (safer than candles), plus blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing.
- A battery or wind-up FM radio, with the frequencies of your news stations written down, and a charged power bank.
- A mix of coins, notes and cards, printed copies of important documents and a list of important phone numbers.
- A first aid kit and your essential medication. Order repeat prescriptions up to 5 working days before you run out.
- Hygiene products, and supplies for babies (ready-to-feed formula, nappies) and for pets.
The advice also asks you to make a household plan with a meeting point, to write down the power cut number (105 in England, Scotland and Wales; 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland) and to check whether you can join the Priority Services Register. In immediate danger, always call 999.
How much is that for your household?
For drinking water the sum is simple: 3 litres × the number of people × 3 days. For a family of four that is 36 litres, before cooking and washing. For food the official list gives no calorie figure. PrepperApp counts 2,000 kcal per person per day, which comes to about 24,000 kcal for a family of four over 3 days. Check the labels: a tin of soup or beans often has a few hundred kcal, a bag of nuts much more.
Build it up calmly
- Start with what you already have: most homes already have a torch, some tins and a first aid kit.
- Write down what is missing and add one or two items to your normal shopping. There is no need to buy everything at once.
- Choose food you actually eat, then use it and replace it, so nothing goes off.
- Check expiry dates and batteries every six months, as the official advice suggests.
How PrepperApp helps
PrepperApp turns what you have at home into one number: how many days your household can last. It uses the same 3 litres of water per person per day as the Be Ready advice, plus 2,000 kcal of food, and shows you the sum. It tells you what runs out first and what expires soon, keeps your household plan and meeting point in one place, and has an SOS button that calls 999 in the UK. Your supplies and the guides work without internet. PrepperApp is free; Pro is a one-time purchase.
Read the official Be Ready advice and checklist on GOV.UK ↗
This article summarises the official advice as of October 2026. It is not government advice itself; always check the latest version on the official site.