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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 PDFPower Cut & Blackout Plan£4.99
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.
Light and news
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
Warmth and food
Look for: Tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts: food you already eat. Check dates every six months. Source
- No single product picked yet. Search Amazon UK
Look for: Works without power. Keep it with the tins. Source
- No single product picked yet. Search Amazon UK
Safety
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 loud alarm in each room with something that burns gas, oil, coal or wood. Battery powered, so it keeps working in a power cut. A portable one can go with you into the room you use. Source
- FireAngel FA6813 Portable Carbon Monoxide Alarm 10 Year · Amazon UK · £13.98 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
- FireAngel FA3820 Portable Carbon Monoxide Alarm 10 Year Battery · Amazon UK · £22.00 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
- Carbon Monoxide Detector & Alarm Portable Battery Powered (EN50291-1:2010) · EVAQ8 · £22.74 (price on 1 Nov 2026) Shop
What not to buy
- A generator plugged into a house socket. It can feed power back into the street cables (HSENI).
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: power cuts (page, read 1 Nov 2026)
- HSENI: using a portable generator in an emergency (page, read 1 Nov 2026)