UK Household Emergency Kit: 101-Item Checklist

This guide contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, Prepper Weekly may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability change, so check the latest details before you buy.

A household emergency kit is simply a box or bag of supplies that will get everyone at home through the first few days of a power cut, flood, water supply failure or severe weather – without needing to go out to the shops. The UK government’s Prepare campaign encourages every household to keep some basic emergency supplies, and it doesn’t need to be expensive.

Below is our core kit for a typical UK home, followed by our full 101-item checklist for anyone who wants to go further.

The core UK household emergency kit

Aim for enough to last everyone in your home – including pets – for at least three days.

Water

Bottled drinking water – at least three days’ supply, and allow around 3 litres per person per day for drinking and basic cooking (see how much emergency water to store)
Water purification tablets as a back-up

Food

Tinned and dried food that can be eaten cold or needs little cooking – see emergency food supplies on a budget
A manual tin opener
Baby food, formula and pet food if needed

Light and power

A battery or wind-up LED torch for each adult, plus spare batteries
A rechargeable LED lantern
A charged power bank and charging cables – see the best power banks for emergency use

Information

A battery or wind-up radio – see the best emergency radios for UK households
A paper list of important numbers, including 105 (power cuts) and 0800 111 999 (gas emergencies) – our free household emergency plan template has space for these
Copies of important documents in a waterproof bag

First aid and hygiene

A well-stocked first aid kit
At least a week’s supply of any prescription medicines (talk to your GP or pharmacist)
Hand sanitiser, wet wipes, toilet roll and bin bags

Warmth

Blankets or sleeping bags
Warm layers, hats and gloves
Foil emergency blankets

Other useful items

A whistle to attract attention
Cash in small notes (card machines may not work)
Spare house and car keys
A multi-tool
Duct tape

Our recommended kit

A good first aid kit

Best for: every home

A comprehensive home first aid kit with plasters, dressings, bandages, gloves and a foil blanket covers most minor injuries. Check it every six months and replace anything used or out of date.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Kaito KA500 emergency radio

Best for: keeping up with the news when the power and phone networks are down

Wind-up, solar, battery and USB powered, with a built-in torch and reading lamp. Note that its NOAA weather band is for the US only – FM and AM work normally in the UK.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Anker 20,000mAh power bank

Best for: keeping phones charged for several days

Enough to charge most smartphones four or five times, with a display showing how much charge is left.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Rechargeable LED lantern

Best for: lighting a whole room safely

Much safer than candles, and bright enough to cook, read or play cards by. Keep it charged.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Water purification tablets

Best for: a back-up if your water supply fails

Lightweight and long-lasting. Use them if you have to rely on tap water that has been declared unsafe or on stored water you aren’t sure about.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Waterproof document bag

Best for: keeping copies of passports, insurance details and contacts safe

A simple A4 waterproof pouch keeps your paperwork dry if you have to leave home quickly – for example in a flood.

Check the latest price on Amazon

Where to keep your kit

Store your kit in one place that everyone knows about – a large plastic box under the stairs or in a hall cupboard works well. Keep a torch by each bed as well. If you live in a flat, see our guide to emergency preparedness for people living in flats for space-saving ideas.

Check your kit twice a year

Set a reminder (for example when the clocks change) to check batteries, rotate food and water before they go out of date, replace used first aid supplies and recharge power banks.

Want more? Our other kit guides cover bug out bags, the 10 kits every prepper needs and the prepper’s list for the UK.

Our full 101-item prepper checklist

If you want to go beyond the basics, here is our complete checklist.

Food storage

Long-life milk
Canned vegetables
Dried fruit
Tinned fish such as tuna, mackerel, and salmon
Rice
Pasta
Baked beans
Cereal
Nuts and seeds
Flour
Sugar
Tinned soups
Tea bags
Coffee
Biscuits
Oil
Vinegar
Salt
Powdered milk
Powdered soup mix
Powdered eggs
Powdered cheese
Dehydrated vegetables
Freeze-dried fruit
Freeze-dried meals
Long-life juices
Jam
Marmalade
Honey
Chocolate
Dried herbs and spices
Baking powder
Yeast
Baking soda
Soy sauce
Stock cubes
Dried lentils
Dried beans
Dried split peas
Oats

Other basics

Emergency contact list
Emergency cash
Water
Water Storage Containers
Water Filtration System
Water Purification Tablets
Rainwater Collection Systems
Canteens Or Hydration Packs
Portable Water Purification Systems
Waterproof Food Containers
Waterproof Pocket Radio
Fire Starter
Waterproof Matches
Candles (never leave them unattended – LED lanterns are safer)
Torches
Headlights
Batteries
Solar chargers/power banks

First aid and toiletries

First Aid Kit – to include Bandages (various sizes)
Hand Sanitiser
Disposable Gloves
Gauze Pads
Tape
Antiseptic Wipes
Antiseptic Cream
Cotton Swabs
Safety Pins
Scissors
Tweezers
Eye Wash
Instant Cold Packs
Splints
Medical Adhesive
Sterile Saline Solution
Triangular Bandages
Alcohol Pads
Disposable Face Masks
Sterile Gloves
CPR Face Shield
Sunscreen
Bug repellent
Medication
Toilet rolls
Basic toiletries
Pet food and supplies and any of their medication

Tools, kits and clothing

Multi-Tool
Portable Stove
Cooking Utensils
Emergency Blankets
Camping Tent
Sleeping Bags
Portable Generator (never run it indoors, in a garage or near windows – carbon monoxide kills – and only connect it to your home’s wiring via a changeover switch fitted by an electrician)
Extra Clothing – underwear etc
Waterproof Clothing: Raincoat, Waterproof Jacket, Waterproof Boots, Rain Trousers, Waterproof Trousers
Thermal Clothing: Thermal Base Layer, Thermal Mid Layer, Thermal Fleece, Thermal Gloves, Thermal Hat
Durable Clothing: Hiking Trousers, Cargo Trousers, Quick Dry Shirts, Hiking Boots, Fleece Jacket
Footwear: Hiking Boots, Walking Shoes, Wellingtons, Gaiters
Paracord
Whistle
Binoculars
Maps and Compass

About The Author

Article by the Prepper Weekly editor. Prepper Weekly covers practical, UK-focused preparedness – from emergency planning, power cuts and flooding to food, water, kit and outdoor skills – without the fear-mongering. Find out more about Prepper Weekly.

What Should Be In A UK Household Emergency Kit? (Plus Our 101-Item Checklist)