UK asks households to keep three days of supplies: what's in the Be Ready campaign
The UK government launched its Be Ready campaign on 22 October 2026, the first step of a three-year program. The advice: be able to cope for at least three days without power, water, phone or internet. The checklist closely matches the EU's own 72-hour guidance.
What happened
On 22 October the Cabinet Office, which coordinates national resilience in the UK, launched Be Ready. Households are asked to be able to manage for at least three days without electricity, running water, mobile signal or internet. Security Minister Dan Jarvis said that those who can follow the advice should do so. The campaign is the first stage of a three-year program.
The official list has nine categories: water (three liters per person per day for drinking alone), food that needs no fridge or cooking, hygiene items, a flashlight and batteries, blankets and warm clothing, a battery or wind-up radio, a charged power bank, cash, copies of ID, a first aid kit and medication, plus baby formula, diapers and pet food where needed.
Why it matters
Three days is not an arbitrary number. It’s the same threshold the European Union has recommended since 2025, and the one used by France, Ireland and the Netherlands. Governments aren’t warning of a specific disaster. The idea is that in the first 72 hours of a major crisis emergency services can’t reach everyone, and prepared households free up help for people who truly need it.
One difference worth noting: the UK counts three liters per person per day for drinking only. We recommend four liters (about a gallon), which also covers cooking and basic hygiene.
What you can do
The UK list overlaps almost completely with our home emergency supplies checklist. To work out quantities for your household, use the supply calculator. To see how far along you are, take the 2-minute quiz.
Helpful guides
- Emergency kit Checklist Home supplies for 2 weeks What to keep at home to get through two weeks of power cuts, snowstorms, lockdowns or water outages without worry. A complete checklist, by category.
- Water How much water to store The common recommendation is 4 liters (about 1 gallon) per person per day. How to calculate your household's supply, which containers to use, where to keep them and how long water lasts.
- Emergencies Power outage (blackout) What stops working when the grid goes down, what to do in the first hours, how to keep the food in your fridge safe and how to get through several days without power, summer or winter.