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Read first
Official advice comes first. These guides are free.
Start with a plan
Our own printable plans. Write down what you will do first; then buy only what the plan says you're missing.
Our plan · instant PDFStorm & Flood Plan£4.99
Our plan · instant PDFGrab Bag Planner£3.99
Our plan · instant PDFHousehold Emergency Plan Pack£6.99Instant PDF, 30-day refund. All plans and bundles
Checklist: what to buy
Tick what you already have (saved on this device only). Buy the rest a little at a time. The products are examples that were in stock when we checked; we haven't tested them.
Grab bag by the door
Look for: Comfortable for a long walk, with room for medicines, documents, water, a torch and warm waterproof clothes. Source
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. Source
- Alpkit Ionic 350 Lumen Head Torch · Alpkit · £15.99 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Intensity 155 LED Head Torch · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £19.99 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
- Alpkit Kula 550 Lumen Head Torch · Alpkit · £19.99 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Intensity 480 LED Hand Torch · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £29.99 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
- Dynamo Powered Wind-Up Pocket LED Torch · EVAQ8 · £3.60 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
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. Source
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. Source
Look for: Waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash, sterile dressings, gloves, medical tape and tweezers. Source
- St John Ambulance Home First Aid Kit · St John Ambulance shop · £10.50 (price on 3 Nov 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Adventurer First Aid Kit · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £26.99 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Mountain First Aid Kit · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £42.99 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
Look for: A pocket poncho for each person, or one reusable poncho with a hood. Source
Water while the supply is unsafe
Look for: Food-grade, with a lid, never one that held chemicals, fuel or paint. Date the water you store. Source
Look for: In date. Follow the label: tablets come in different strengths. Filter cloudy water through a cloth first. Source
- Lifesystems Chlorine Dioxide Water Purification Tablets · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £10.99 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Chlorine Water Purification Tablets · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £3.99 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
- Aquatabs 397mg Water Purification Tablets (100 Pack) · Amazon UK · £53.55 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
Afterwards
Look for: Bags with gel or absorbent powder that fit a bucket or the toilet bowl. Double-bag, seal and store outside the living area. Source
- No single product picked yet. Search Amazon UK
What not to buy
- Anything sold as a 'flood door' without a Kitemark to BS 851188 (or the older PAS 1188). Ask for the certificate.
Next steps
No product can promise to keep you safe. A plan, and knowing where official news comes from, matter more than kit.
Sources
- GOV.UK Be Ready: flooding (page, read 1 Nov 2026)
- GOV.UK: protect your property from flooding (page, read 1 Nov 2026)