A woman is filling a water bottle and another woman is stocking a cabinet with medical supplies and other unmarked items

Emergency supplies

Your house is already full of emergency items disguised as everyday things!

Your blankets, clothes, and bathroom products are all things you can use in emergencies.

Ideally, you can be self-sufficient for seven days. However, don't forget neighbours can help each other out by sharing resources, such as gas for a camping stove.

By looking after yourself and your household, you’ll also be helping emergency services focus their limited resources on the people who are most in need of help.

Useful supplies to have at home for an emergency

Water – enough for every person in your household for 7 days
Food - ideally, keep your pantry as full as you can - enough food for 7 days
Baby food and supplies
Medicine - make sure you have enough available. If you can get an extra copy of your prescription medicines, then do so
Toiletries
Pet food and supplies
Emergency lighting e.g., torches with spare batteries. Cheap solar-powered lights can be useful as emergency lighting
A battery-powered or wind-up radio (in case power is out or phone networks are down)
Plain unscented bleach for treating stored water, and a way to measure it
Emergency Toilet - a spade to dig a long-drop toilet or two sturdy buckets.
Barbecue/camping stove and gas
Blankets
Emergency grab bag - have some essential supplies in an emergency grab bag by the door