Emergency kit checklist
Whether you have to stay in or get out, packing a small emergency kit will help you get through.
Keep it in a safe place at home where you can reach it easily. Your kit should be kept in a waterproof bag and the top ten things to include are:
- Your household emergency plan (Word doc) [72KB], including emergency contact numbers
- Battery torch with spare batteries, or a wind-up torch
- First aid kit
- Important documents like birth certificates and insurance policies
- Bottled water and ready-to-eat food that won't go off (pack a can opener if needed)
- Spare keys to your home and car
- Spare glasses or contact lenses
- Toiletries and details of important medicines
- Pencil and paper, penknife, whistle
- Pet supplies
If you have to leave your home, and there's time to gather them safely, you should also think about taking:
- essential medicines
- mobile phone and charger
- cash and credit cards
- spare clothes and blankets
- pets
- games, books, a child's toy
If the emergency means it is not safe to go out, the advice is usually to: Go in, stay in, tune in.
Go indoors and close all windows and doors and tune in to local radio, TV or the internet (local news outlets and social media), where public information and advice from the emergency responders will be broadcast.