The UK household emergency plan: a simple 30-minute start

Quick checklist

Why a household emergency plan UK homes can use beats a long list

A kit helps only if people know what to do with it. A plan answers the questions that are hard to think about at 2am: who rings whom, where do we go, who looks after the dog. It does not need to be perfect. The official advice says not everyone can do everything, so do what works for you.

Set a timer for 30 minutes. Spend about five minutes on each part below.

Part 1: Who lives here, and what each person needs (5 minutes)

Write a line for each person, including children, older relatives and pets. Note anything that matters in a power cut or a flood, such as regular medicines, a mobility aid, a baby's feeds or a pet's food. Do not write anything you would not want a visitor to read. Keep the sensitive detail, like a diagnosis, in your head or with your GP.

If someone relies on medicines, Be Ready advises requesting repeat prescriptions up to five working days ahead. Speak to your GP or pharmacist about what is right for you. Do not stockpile prescription medicines beyond what a clinician agrees.

Part 2: Key numbers on paper (5 minutes)

Your phone may be flat or out of signal. Write these on a card or page:

• 999 for immediate danger
• 105 to report a power cut (03457 643643 in Northern Ireland)
• 0800 111 999 (Great Britain) or 0800 002 001 (Northern Ireland) if you smell gas
• 111 for non-emergency health advice
• Your water company, energy supplier, home insurer and GP surgery
• Two family or friends outside your household

Our guide to offline emergency contacts has a layout you can copy. Wallet-size emergency contact cards (Retailer link coming soon) are handy for children and older relatives, though a hand-written card works just as well.

Part 3: Where to meet, and how to leave (5 minutes)

Pick two meeting places: one just outside your home, in case of fire, and one in your area, in case you cannot get back. Be Ready suggests planning fire and flood escape routes. Walk each route once, in your head or on foot.

Agree who collects children from school and what happens if the usual person cannot. Check that school has your up-to-date contact details. Then read our family communication plan for what to do if phones fail.

Part 4: Know your home (5 minutes)

Find your gas, electricity and water shut-offs and write where they are. Be Ready advises knowing how to turn off all three. Never do any work on the gas or electricity supply yourself. If you smell gas, call 0800 111 999 and leave the home.

Check smoke alarms monthly, as Be Ready advises. Test your carbon monoxide alarm and follow the maker's instructions for how often. If you do not have one, a carbon monoxide alarm that meets UK standards (Retailer link coming soon) is worth adding. Look at your home insurance too, and note the claims number on your plan.

Part 5: Neighbours and information (5 minutes)

Swap numbers with one or two neighbours. Ask whether they need a hand in a power cut. Sign up to the Priority Services Register at thepsr.co.uk if you or someone you live with qualifies. Check your flood risk and sign up for free flood warnings: in England at gov.uk, in Wales through Natural Resources Wales, and in Scotland through SEPA's Floodline. In Scotland, the Ready Scotland site has its own advice.

Use the last five minutes to write the plan out cleanly. A notebook and permanent marker (Retailer link coming soon) will do. A waterproof document pouch (Retailer link coming soon) keeps the printed page and copies of important documents dry. Both are optional.

Do this today (free)

1. Print or write the five parts on one page.
2. Put it on the fridge or inside a kitchen cupboard door.
3. Take a photo of it, and send it to one family member.
4. Message one neighbour to swap numbers.

If you have £10, £25 or £50

These are budgets, not quotes. Prices change, so check the current price first.

• About £10: a notebook, marker and a pack of contact cards.
• About £25: add a waterproof pouch for the printed plan and copies of ID.
• About £50: add a carbon monoxide alarm and a torch for the fuse box area.

Sources and further reading

• Be ready for emergencies: checklist and household plan
• Be Ready campaign (GOV.UK)
• Priority Services Register
• Ready Scotland