Britain’s being told to Be Ready.
Where do you start?

What does Be Ready actually mean?

The government’s Be Ready campaign encourages households to prepare for disruption, with three days as a starting point. It includes practical steps you can take gradually, including some that cost nothing.

The advice covers a range of emergencies. The existence of a campaign does not, by itself, establish that a particular crisis is imminent. If you saw a worrying claim online, check it against the original source before sharing it.

Think of a familiar evening: dinner, heating, a phone call, charging a device. Which of those would become difficult if one service stopped? That is a more useful starting question than trying to predict the next headline.

Three things you can do before buying anything

1. Find the things you already have.

   Could someone else find the torch, the right cable and the tin opener without asking you? Put useful items somewhere everyone who needs them can reach.

2. Agree who checks on who.

   Choose a contact and a backup arrangement with the people involved. Write important numbers down. Make the plan together, rather than assuming a relative will know what you meant.

3. Walk through one ordinary evening.

   What could you eat without your usual cooker? How would you light the room? Where would you find information? Talk it through without turning off services or equipment people rely on.

Your first list is a stocktake, not a shopping list.

Take one shelf, drawer or cupboard at a time. The example below is a planning exercise, not a required kit or a claim that these items cover everyone’s needs.

Only then write a short gap list. Put items your household relies on ahead of specialist extras. If you are comparing purchases, ask what specific problem each one solves—and whether you already have another way.

What if there’s barely any space—or money?

A plan should fit the home you live in. It shouldn’t assume a garage, a garden, a car or spare cash. A small, organised set of useful supplies is easier to manage than a collection scattered across the house.

Start with the free checks above. If you can buy something later, choose a gap you have actually identified. Avoid a fixed “perfect kit” budget: prices and household needs differ.

In a small flat, choose an accessible place for a few essentials, keeping exits and walkways clear. Consider the weight and safe storage of water; don’t put heavy containers somewhere difficult to lift them from. Follow storage instructions and review what is kept there.

Food should fit your normal diet, allergies and feeding needs. A tin nobody can eat, or food that depends on a cooker you cannot use, is a gap disguised as preparation.

How do you know when you’ve done enough?

Use three days as a practical starting point, not a prediction of how long an outage will last. Don’t mistake owning a kit for having a plan. The next useful check is whether the people involved understand it and can find what they need.

For example, a household might agree where the torch lives and who will check on a relative. The unfinished question could be how to make contact if phones stop working. That gives them a specific next task, rather than another generic shopping list.

If someone depends on powered medical equipment, telecare or other essential support, discuss an individual backup plan with the relevant provider. A general checklist cannot settle those needs.