Household emergency plan

Be Ready publishes a printable household emergency plan at https://beready.campaign.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/252/2026/10/Be-Ready_Household_Emergency_Plan_English_Final.pdf. The plan is the set of decisions a household makes before anything happens. The kit is covered on three days at home.

Know the risks where you are

Be Ready asks you to find out which emergencies you are more at risk of, depending on where you live, work or travel. Check your long-term flood risk at https://www.gov.uk/check-long-term-flood-risk in England, with equivalent services in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In England, your Local Resilience Forum publishes a Community Risk Register of the risks most likely to cause disruption in your area; the list is at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-resilience-forums-contact-details.

Escape and evacuation

Work out the best escape route from your home if there is a fire, and what you would do if your home floods. If you live with others, including children, discuss it with them. Be Ready's fire page says to plan and practise the route so everyone knows how to get out, and to keep door and window keys where everyone can find them.

Know how to turn off the gas, electricity and water. The flooding page says the water stop tap is usually inside where the supply enters, or outside near the boundary under a cover; the gas shut-off valve is next to the gas meter; and the mains electricity switch is on the fuse board. You would turn these off if you had to leave because of flooding or a leak.

Consider keeping essential items in a spare bag in case you are asked to leave quickly. Be Ready calls this a grab bag, and its flooding page suggests medication, a first aid kit, important documents, a torch, bottled water, warm waterproof clothing and baby care items. Be Ready's flooding advice is to follow the council or emergency services if asked to evacuate.

A meeting point

Decide on a meeting point with family in case you cannot return home or contact each other for a time. Be Ready suggests places that are easy to find and open to the public, or a family member's home if it is safe to go there.

Who checks on whom

Agree a back-up plan with anyone who might need extra support, particularly if they live alone. Be Ready's suggestion is that if an outage happens and you cannot call, you or another trusted person will visit them in person. Speak to the neighbours of anyone you would be worried about and agree that they will check. Make a plan to check in on neighbours if an emergency happens, particularly in a power cut.

The home itself

Be Ready asks you to complete an online home fire safety check, to test smoke alarms at least once a month, and to fit smoke alarms on every floor. The Fire Kills campaign at https://firekills.campaign.gov.uk/ has home fire safety advice.

Children, school and work

Talk to children about what to do in an emergency, including how and when to call 999. Help them learn their home address and, if possible, a parent's mobile number, and practise. The Staywise website at https://staywise.co.uk/ has resources aimed at children.

Keep the plan where you can find it

Be Ready suggests keeping the plan with passports, birth certificates and insurance policies. The British Red Cross suggests a preparedness audit: a quick check of emergency contacts, household plans, essential supplies, medical needs, insurance and important documents. Set a reminder every six months to review the plan alongside the kit.