Ready: what this Ready Check result means
You've done the work. Keep it fresh: check water dates and alarms every 6 months.
Five jobs to start with
Picked from the check's questions for this result. Each one is free and links to the official advice.
Do you have a working smoke alarm on every floor, tested in the last month?
Press the test button on every alarm today.
Free: Read how
Official advice: GOV.UK Be Ready: Fires in the home
Do you have 3 days of drinking water at home: 3 litres per person per day?
Buy a few large bottles of still water on your next shop. Date them and keep them somewhere cool and dark.
Free: Read how
Official advice: GOV.UK Be Ready: Water supply interruptions or outages
Are your key phone numbers written on paper, not only in your phone?
Write 5 numbers on the back of your Alert Action Card.
Free: Read how
Official advice: GOV.UK Be Ready: Be ready for emergencies
Do your phones get UK Emergency Alerts, and does everyone know what one sounds like?
Check alerts are on in your phone settings, and tell the family what the sound means.
Free: Read how
Official advice: GOV.UK: Emergency Alerts
Have you swapped numbers with a neighbour, and do you know who nearby might need a check-in?
Swap numbers with one neighbour this week.
Free: Read how
Official advice: GOV.UK Be Ready: Power cuts
Free: the Alert Action Card
The first six steps for a nuclear or radiation alert, a missile or air attack alert, no water from the tap and a power cut, on one page for the fridge, plus a phone version you can open offline. Every step checked against GOV.UK, UKHSA and Be Ready on 3 November 2026. No sign-up needed.
Print card (A4 PDF, light) Phone version (PDF)
Want to hear when we update it?
Occasional emails when we update the card or publish new guides. Never daily. Unsubscribe any time. See our privacy notice.
Other results: Just starting · Good start · Well prepared. Retake the check in 6 months: check water dates and test alarms when you do.
Civilian Survival Handbook is an independent UK site. This is not an official GOV.UK tool.