Emergency Food & Water Stock List: 29 Items

Prepare a practical emergency food and water stock for a household in Great Britain. Plan for real household needs and available storage; the UK Prepare guidance explains that needs differ across emergencies.

This guide supplements the interactive tasks shown above. Add or remove items based on your real circumstances; the list is a starting point rather than a universal requirement.

Count adults, children, people with special dietary needs and pets. Consider accessible food, infant feeding and any medical devices that require water or power.

Select familiar shelf-stable foods suited to the household, including items that can be opened without electricity. Check labels and include a manual can opener when needed.

Consider how much water is needed for drinking and basic hygiene, plus the space available. Use safe containers, protect supplies from contamination and follow applicable local guidance.

Keep a torch, power bank, essential contact details and a way to receive local updates. Avoid using unsafe indoor combustion devices for cooking or heating.

Check packaging, expiry information and changing household needs periodically. Use and replace suitable stock rather than letting a large unused reserve expire.

Move through the existing groups in the checklist, such as Plan, Act, Review. Complete urgent or time-sensitive steps first. Use item notes for context, and keep your own copy in Send Listy for personalized additions and progress tracking.

Before finishing, revisit any unchecked item to decide whether it is required, not applicable or waiting on another person. Record a reminder for time-sensitive follow-up rather than marking work as complete prematurely. Keep personal documents and account details outside shared public notes.