Stock up before an outage

UK households are being advised to keep essential supplies for three days in case power, water, phone or internet services are temporarily disrupted. The updated advice was published on 22 October 2026 as the first stage of a three-year government campaign.

Households do not need to buy everything at once. The government suggests checking cupboards first and adding missing items gradually during normal shopping. Supplies should be reviewed every six months so expired food and medicines can be replaced.

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How much water should you store?

The official drinking-water guide is 3 litres per person per day. That means 9 litres per person for three days. A four-person household would need 36 litres for drinking alone. Extra water is needed for cooking and washing.

What belongs in the kit?

• three days of long-life food that does not need refrigeration or cooking, such as tinned food, dried fruit and nuts;
• a torch and spare batteries — torches are safer than candles;
• blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing;
• a battery-powered or wind-up FM radio;
• a charged power bank for a phone or compatible medical device;
• a first-aid kit, essential medicines and medical supplies;
• hand sanitiser, wet wipes and bathroom products;
• ready-to-feed baby formula, nappies, pet food and bottled water where needed.

Repeat prescriptions for regular medicines should be requested up to five working days before the medicine is needed.

Cash and documents

The checklist recommends keeping cards and some cash in a mix of coins and notes in case payment terminals or cash machines are unavailable. There is no standard amount: it depends on the household's likely spending on essentials.

Keep printed copies of passports, birth certificates, insurance policies and instructions for medical equipment. Write important phone numbers, medicine names and doses on paper so the information is available if a phone runs out of charge.

Who can receive extra support?

People in England, Scotland and Wales may be eligible to join the free Priority Services Register run by electricity, gas and water suppliers. It identifies customers who may need extra support during an interruption. Eligible groups can include households with children under five. Northern Ireland uses Customer Care Registers.

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To report a power cut, call 105 in England, Scotland and Wales or 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland. Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger.

What should a small business check?

1. Keep paper contact details for staff, the landlord, insurer and key suppliers.
2. Tell staff what to do if they cannot reach a manager during an outage.
3. Keep offline copies of insurance documents and instructions for shutting off water, gas and electricity.
4. Check whether business insurance covers risks relevant to the premises, including flooding.
5. Keep power banks ready and plan a simple way to tell customers about closures or delayed orders.

Coverage: the advice is for households across the UK. The power-cut number and support-register name differ in Northern Ireland.

Sources: the UK government announcement published on 22 October 2026 and the official emergency checklist. Checked on 23 October 2026.