Three days: sorted

Who's at home

How long

Your household · 3 days

Water
18 litres
Food shop
about £35 at a supermarket
Cash
£40 in coins and notes

The kit, if you're starting from nothing: £95 to £175, plus the food and water. You'll already have most of this. Our suggestion

Free, do today

  • Free extra help from your energy and water companies, if you qualify.

  • Include 105 for a power cut (03457 643643 in Northern Ireland).

  • Passport, insurance details and instructions for any medical equipment.

  • Find the stopcock, the fuse box and the gas meter before you need them.

  • Especially one who lives alone.

Water

That's 4 × 5-litre bottles.

Food

Our suggestion

Food that doesn't need cooking or a fridge, as Be Ready asks. Buy what you already eat. Eat it and replace it every six months.

  • Protein, and oily fish gives omega-3. In olive oil or water, with ring-pull lids. Swap: extra beans or chickpeas.

  • Protein and fibre, fine cold. No added salt where you can.

  • Vitamins and fibre straight from the tin.

  • In juice, not syrup.

  • Lasts months longer than bread.

  • Swap: seed butter for nut allergies.

  • Swap: seeds, or more oatcakes, for nut allergies.

  • Swap: long-life plant milk.

  • Morale counts. Sweden's list has it too.

  • For any tins that don't have ring-pull lids.

    What to get: A tin opener

The kit