The short answer
British Gas's winter advice says to keep at least 3 days of food and essentials somewhere easy to reach: medicines, drinking water, food that won't go off, snacks, extra blankets, a torch, batteries and a phone charger. It's a good start. Compared with the government's Be Ready checklist, it leaves out a battery or wind-up FM radio, cash, copies of important documents, a first-aid kit, a written list of your medicines, and an amount of water (Be Ready says 3 litres per person per day).
What British Gas actually says
British Gas's guide to preparing for heavy snow was last updated on 23 October 2026. Its "supplies" section says to keep at least 3 days' worth of food and essentials somewhere easy to reach, including:
- medicines
- drinking water
- non-perishable food and snacks
- extra blankets
- a torch and batteries
- a phone charger
The same page also tells you to keep sleeping bags, blankets and warm coats handy in case the heating fails, know where your stopcock is, set the thermostat to at least 7°C to protect pipes, test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and check on older or vulnerable neighbours.
Its separate power cut guide adds a battery-powered radio for local updates, a cupboard of food you can make without electricity, and the 105 number for reporting a power cut. It also says torches are much safer than candles.
News sites picked up this advice in October 2026, and searches for it jumped. It's sensible, ordinary winter advice, not a warning about a particular event.
Side by side with the government's list
The government's Be Ready checklist is the official UK version. Here's how British Gas's winter kit list compares.
| Item | British Gas winter kit | Be Ready checklist |
|---|---|---|
| Food for 3 days | Yes | Yes, no cooking or fridge needed |
| Drinking water | Yes, no amount given | 3 litres per person per day, plus extra |
| Medicines | Yes | Yes, plus a written list of medicines and doses |
| Blankets, warm clothing | Yes | Yes, plus sleeping bags |
| Torch and batteries | Yes | Yes |
| Phone charger / power bank | Charger | A fully charged power bank |
| Radio | Only in its power cut guide | Battery or wind-up FM radio, with station frequencies written down |
| Cash | No | Yes, coins and notes |
| Copies of documents | No | Yes, printed copies |
| First-aid kit | No | Yes, with a list of contents |
| Hygiene items | No | Hand sanitiser, wet wipes, bathroom products |
| Baby and pet items | No | Yes |
The gaps to fill
1. A radio. If the power and mobile network are down, a battery or wind-up FM radio is how you'll hear official updates. Be Ready says to write down the frequencies of your local stations.
2. A power bank, not just a charger. A wall charger is no use in a power cut. Be Ready asks for a fully charged power bank.
3. Cash. Card machines and cash machines need power. Be Ready says to keep a mix of coins and notes. Our cash guide helps you pick an amount.
4. A set amount of water. "Drinking water" is vague. Be Ready's figure is 3 litres per person per day for drinking, plus extra for cooking and washing. For 2 people for 3 days, that's 18 litres to drink.
5. A first-aid kit and a medicines list. Write down every regular medicine and its dose. Be Ready says you can order repeat prescriptions up to 5 working days before you run out.
6. Copies of documents. Insurance details, ID and instructions for any medical equipment, in a waterproof wallet.
Winter extras both lists agree on
- Know where your stopcock is before a pipe bursts. See frozen and burst pipes.
- Keep the house at 7°C or more when you're out, so pipes don't freeze (British Gas).
- Test your carbon monoxide alarm. Never use a barbecue, camping stove or generator indoors.
- In a power cut, call 105, not your supplier.
- If someone in your home is older, disabled or needs powered medical equipment, join the Priority Services Register.
For a full winter run-through, see how to prepare your home for winter.
What to buy
About these links: plain links to ordinary retailer pages. We may earn from some links in future; we don't now. We haven’t tested these and we don’t rank them: they are examples that were in stock when we checked. Prices change. Check what you already own first. Full kit list
Battery or wind-up FM radio
Look for: FM (Be Ready asks for FM; DAB as well is fine). Both a crank and ordinary batteries, so you have two ways to power it.
Torch or head torch, plus spare batteries
Look for: Runs on the same AA or AAA batteries as your other kit, so one spare pack covers everything. A head torch leaves both hands free.
- Alpkit Ionic 350 Lumen Head Torch · Alpkit · £15.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Intensity 155 LED Head Torch · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £19.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Alpkit Kula 550 Lumen Head Torch · Alpkit · £19.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Intensity 480 LED Hand Torch · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £29.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Dynamo Powered Wind-Up Pocket LED Torch · EVAQ8 · £3.60 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
Power bank
Look for: From a seller you know. Check the capacity (mAh) against your phone, and that you have the right cable for each phone. Keep it charged.
Bottled water
Look for: 3 litres per person per day for 3 days, for drinking. More for babies, pets and medical devices.
- Seven Oceans Emergency Drinking Water 0.5l (5-year shelf life) · EVAQ8 · £3.94 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
First aid kit
Look for: Waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash, sterile dressings, gloves, medical tape and tweezers.
- St John Ambulance Home First Aid Kit · St John Ambulance shop · £10.50 (price on 3 November 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Adventurer First Aid Kit · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £26.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Mountain First Aid Kit · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £42.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
Frequently asked questions
What does British Gas say to keep in a winter emergency kit?
Its guide to preparing for heavy snow (updated 23 October 2026) says to keep at least 3 days of food and essentials in an easy-to-reach place: medicines, drinking water, non-perishable food and snacks, extra blankets, a torch, batteries and a phone charger.
Is the British Gas list the same as the government's?
It overlaps but is shorter. The government's Be Ready checklist also asks for a battery or wind-up FM radio, cash, printed copies of documents, a first-aid kit, a list of your medicines and doses, hygiene items, and 3 litres of water per person per day.
Why is British Gas telling people to stock up?
It's standard winter advice for cold snaps, snow and power cuts. News reports in October 2026 picked up British Gas's list. It isn't a warning about any specific event, and the list itself is a normal 3-day home kit.
Who do I call in a power cut?
Call 105 in England, Scotland and Wales to reach your local network operator, not your energy supplier. In Northern Ireland the Be Ready number is 03457 643643. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Does British Gas give you a free emergency kit?
Not that we found. Its winter page is advice on what to keep, not a kit it sends out. If someone in your home is older, disabled or relies on powered medical equipment, ask about the Priority Services Register, which gives extra help in a power cut.
Sources
We opened each page on the date shown. Official advice changes: if a source says something different now, follow the source.
- British Gas: How to prepare your home for heavy snowfall (last updated 23 October 2026) (read 1 November 2026)
- British Gas: What to do if you have a power cut (read 1 November 2026)
- GOV.UK Be Ready: be ready for emergencies (checklist) (read 1 November 2026)
- Heart (news report, 12 October 2026): Why British Gas is issuing an autumn snow warning (news context only) (read 1 November 2026)
Related guides
- Winter home checklist: getting your home ready for the cold
- Winter power cut checklist for UK homes
- Frozen and burst pipes: what to do, and how to prevent them
- Priority Services Register: a plain guide
Free tools
We're an independent UK site, not the government. We check guides against official sources and link to them. In an emergency call 999.
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