When the power cuts, the water stops, or the shelves thin out — be the household that's ready.
The UK household preparedness guide — built on the government's own guidance and live national data.
7,551 homes without power right now
125 cuts across Britain, 39 of them planned work, from all six network operators' live feeds.
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Everything we track, narrowed to your postcode: power cuts, weather and flood warnings and fuel near you. One calm screen, and an alert when something actually affects your home.
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The official kit, sorted for you
The essentials the government's Be Ready checklist asks every home to keep, each with our top pick from its comparison. Tap the item to see them all.
3L per person per day to drink, for 3 days (Be Ready). More to cook and wash.
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as of 5 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
as of 5 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
as of 5 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
as of 5 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
as of 5 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an Amazon Associate, PreparedBritain earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy, or a fee when you request a quote, through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and show the date and time they were retrieved. Prices at other retailers are checked by us, less often. Prices and stock can change at any time, so always check the retailer's price before you buy.
Source: the GOV.UK Be Ready checklist (22 October 2026). PreparedBritain is independent and not affiliated with HM Government.
Guides & explainers
Calm, sourced answers to the questions that matter — every claim traces to official guidance.
Could a cyber attack wipe out the UK's food supply and energy in two years? What the NCSC actually said
The Sun says a cyber attack 'could wipe out UK's food supply & energy in 2yrs'. The NCSC's Annual Review says something narrower: AI-powered malware is 'highly likely' to be used in a ransomware attack on UK critical infrastructure by 2028. The exact wording, this year's incident figures, and what a household can do.
Fire safety in a block of flats: what your building must have, and what to do if there's a fire
What a block of flats should have to keep you safe from fire, and what each part does; the rules your building's Responsible Person has to follow in England; how to find your building's fire plan and see the fire risk assessment; and what to do if there's a fire in your flat or somewhere else in the block.
Home freeze dryers in the UK: cost, running cost, and are they worth it?
What a home freeze dryer does and doesn't do, what one costs in the UK to buy and to run, how big and loud it is, what you can't freeze dry, and the sums on whether it's worth it compared with a dehydrator or ready-made freeze-dried meals.
Home battery storage in the UK: cost, power-cut backup and how long it runs a house
What a home battery costs, what it saves, why most UK systems don't power the house in a power cut without extra backup hardware, how long one runs a home, where it can be installed, and what's now legal for plug-in solar.
Basic first aid in the UK: the steps for the emergencies that matter most
Basic first aid for UK households, step by step from the official guidance: the primary survey, calling 999 or 111, adult CPR and defibrillators, the recovery position, choking, severe bleeding, stroke, heart attack and hypothermia.
When the mobile network goes down: how to stay in contact in the UK
In a long power cut the local mast can go quiet. What still works, how long masts last on Ofcom's own figures, and the licence-free radios, satellite options and paper list that fill the gap.
Best kit, compared and price-checked
Every recommendation is checked against at least two independent sources, with UK prices re-checked on a schedule — and we say plainly when not to buy.
Emergency radios
Wind-up, battery and DAB emergency radios compared for UK power cuts: what a crank really gives, FM vs DAB a…
as of 5 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Torches & radios
Wind-up, rechargeable and battery torches and lanterns for a UK power cut, compared on brightness, power sou…
as of 5 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Jump starters
NOCO, CTEK, Ring and GOOLOO jump starters compared on the engines they honestly start — not inflated peak-am…
as of 5 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Power stations
Keep the fridge, wifi and phones running in a blackout — the best UK power stations, compared on price and c…
Keeping warm without power
Hot water bottles, wool and down blankets, thermal layers and heated throws — how to stay warm in a winter p…
as of 5 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Carbon monoxide alarms
FireAngel, Aico, Kidde and more — CO alarms compared on sensor life, standards and display, so you buy one t…
as of 5 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Winter driving kit
The winter car kit compared: scraper, de-icer, roof brush, jump leads, blanket, torch, snow socks and shovel…
as of 5 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Emergency food
UK emergency food supplies and kits, compared on calories, shelf life and cost per adult per day — how long …
Dehumidifiers
Meaco, EcoAir and Pro Breeze dehumidifiers compared and price-tracked for UK homes — including which ones wo…
Explore PreparedBritain
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Best kit
Every kit comparison, grouped by job: power, water, food, heating, safety, car and family.
Kit reviews
Single products in depth, each labelled with how we reviewed it.
Build my kit
Twelve kit builders, from a home emergency kit to a winter car kit, sized for your household.
Live trackers
Britain right now — floods, power cuts, hosepipe bans, drought and more, from official data.
Save money
Government grants and bill support, explained plainly — heat pumps, solar, energy bills.
Grow your own
Food resilience from the garden — beds, greenhouses, preserving, fishing and foraging.
Your local risk
Check the long-term flood risk where you live, area by area.
Area dossiers
Your area's crime, flood, water and power picture on one page — live data, official sources.
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