The Civilian Survival Handbook
What to do in a nuclear alert, a long power cut, a water outage and extreme weather. A calm UK handbook that tells you what to do, in what order, from the same official guidance the emergency services use, with colour diagrams and a plan you fill in by hand.
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Start with the first hour
Chapter 1 is for the moment something happens: a power cut, a boil water notice, an Emergency Alert, a gas smell, a carbon monoxide alarm, a flood warning, someone collapsing, or being told to leave home. Each has a short list of first steps and a page to turn to.
Then the serious part, done calmly
Chapter 2 covers war and nuclear alerts the way UK officials do: what the National Risk Register 2026 actually says, how Emergency Alerts reach you, go in, stay in, tune in, choosing the best room in a house or a flat, what to keep in a shelter room, how long UK guidance says you may need to stay in (one to two days, possibly longer), cleaning off contamination, and why iodine tablets are only for when officials tell you.
Contents
- The first hour, and the situation finderp. 6
- War, nuclear alerts, missiles and shelterp. 18
- Waterp. 36
- Power, light and phonesp. 50
- Heatp. 66
- Foodp. 77
- Sanitationp. 88
- First aidp. 99
- Commsp. 114
- Go bag and evacuationp. 124
- Extreme weatherp. 138
- Money, security and your streetp. 153
- Your plan: 8 fill-in pagesp. 165
Plus an "if you only read 10 pages" route at the front, an index and 6 cut-out emergency cards.
Why this one
- UK only. UK numbers (105, 111, Floodline), UK homes and flats, UK official sources.
- Sourced and dated. Every chapter lists its sources (NHS, UKHSA, GOV.UK Be Ready, the UK Chief Medical Officers, DWI, HSE, Met Office, Environment Agency and others), each with the date we read it.
- Colour diagrams and real page numbers, an index, and a "to do this week" list and a one-page summary to pin up in every chapter.
- Sensible, not a fantasy. No bunkers, no weapons, no scare stories.
- Checked before sale. It goes on sale only after a qualified person has checked the safety steps.
Prefer something now? Our free guides cover the same ground: war and nuclear, no water, no power, grab bag.
Real pages from the book
Pages from the review copy, shown as they are. The footer says "review copy, not for sale" because it is still being checked.
Download the free 10-page sample (PDF) No sign-up.
Put the first steps where you'll see them
Action Cards (8 cards)
The first six steps for eight emergencies: nuclear or radiation alert, missile alert, power cut, no water, flood, storm, fire in the home, and gas or carbon monoxide. Print them for the fridge, the front door and the grab bag.
- 8 tear-out A6 cards, four to an A4 sheet, dark ink on white
- A phone version with all 8 cards, one per screen
- Each card names its official source and the date we checked it
Coming soon. Not on sale yet. The first four cards are free now:
Get the free 4-card versionFrequently asked questions
Is this official government advice?
No. Civilian Survival Handbook is an independent UK site, not affiliated with or endorsed by any government body. We collect and explain what official UK bodies say, and list every source with the date we read it.
When will it be on sale?
When a qualified person has finished checking the safety steps (first aid, water treatment and radiation advice). We won't give a date we can't keep. Join the waitlist and we'll email you once when it's ready.
What formats will there be?
A PDF for printing on A4 (177 pages) and a phone edition, at £14.99. A paperback is planned for later.
Does it replace a first aid course?
No. It sets out the NHS and St John Ambulance steps, and we recommend a course.
Is it about bunkers or weapons?
No. It's about your home, your family and your street. Most of what helps costs little or nothing.
Can I see inside first?
Yes. The free 10-page sample has the contents, the 10-page route, the situation finder, go in / stay in / tune in, the water steps, two fill-in pages and the cut-out cards. No sign-up.
I bought the old 21-page handbook. What happens to it?
The 21-page Modern Civilian Survival Handbook (Reference Edition, US$6.99) is being replaced by this book. Join the waitlist with the same email address, or email [email protected]. We'll tell past buyers about any upgrade before the new book goes on sale.
General information to help you prepare. It is not medical, electrical, gas or legal advice. In an emergency call 999 or 112.
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