Be Ready, explained in 5 minutes
Published
Be Ready is the UK government’s advice on getting ready for a few days without power, water or phones. It asks households to be able to manage for 3 days. Much of it is free, and the rest is cheap.
What launched, and when
The Cabinet Office published Be Ready on 22 October 2026. It’s the first stage of a campaign that runs for 3 years.
It’s about everyday emergencies, like a bad storm that cuts the power or the water for a while. It replaces the old Prepare website, and much of the advice hasn’t changed. The government has published advice like this since May 2024.
The 3-day target isn’t new to Europe. France, Ireland and the Netherlands use it too.
Why it matters
If the people who can get ready do, the emergency services can help the people who need them most first. As the Security Minister, Dan Jarvis, put it: “Those who can follow this advice should follow this advice.”
What’s on the list
The checklist, in short:
- Water: 3 litres per person per day for drinking, for 3 days. More if you want to cook and wash.
- Food: 3 days of food that doesn’t need cooking or a fridge. Ideally food you’d usually eat.
- Light and warmth: a torch and spare batteries, blankets or sleeping bags, and warm clothes.
- News and power: a battery or wind-up FM radio, and a charged power bank.
- Money and documents: cash in coins and notes, copies of your ID and documents, and important numbers and medicines written on paper.
- Health: a first aid kit, and your essential medicines and medical supplies.
- Hygiene: hand sanitiser, wet wipes and bathroom products.
- Babies and pets: ready-to-feed formula, nappies and wipes; pet food and water.
Our checklist has the whole thing on one page. If you need a radio, our pick is the iRonsnow wind-up and solar radio (Ad). For a power bank, it’s the Anker Zolo 20,000 mAh (Ad).
What’s new
Compared with the old advice, the checklist now puts a number on water. It also adds cash, warm clothes, copies of documents and a written list of numbers and medicines.
What it costs
Start with the free things. Check if you can join the Priority Services Register, write down important numbers, and swap numbers with a neighbour.
For the rest, Be Ready suggests checking your cupboards first, then picking up an item or two on your normal shop. For 2 adults for 3 days, the food comes to about £35 at a supermarket. If you're starting from nothing, the kit is roughly £95 to £175. You’ll already have most of the kit. The calculator works it out for your household.
What it doesn’t ask you to do
- It doesn’t say anything is about to happen. It’s advice, not a warning.
- It doesn’t ask you to do it all at once. Build it up as you go.
- It doesn’t ask for a generator or special kit. A box under the stairs will do. You don’t need a bunker.
- It doesn’t expect everyone to manage alone. It asks those who can, so help reaches the people who can’t.