Family readiness for UK homes
Could your family manage 72 hours without power or water?
Most households have half of what they need and do not know which half. Find out in three minutes, for free.
- Free
- 15 short questions
- No card needed
Why be ready
Most emergencies are not disasters. They are a few days without the basics.
When a whole area is affected, help goes to the most vulnerable first. Councils across the UK advise every household to be able to look after itself for a few days. These are the situations that catch families out.
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A storm takes out the power
No lights, heating, cooking or phone charging. Repairs can take days in rural areas.
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The water main bursts
Nothing from the taps for drinking, cooking, washing or the toilet.
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Flooding closes your road
You may need to stay put, or leave quickly with what matters.
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A cold snap meets an outage
Keeping children and older relatives warm becomes the priority.
What 72 hours looks like
The first day is fine. The second is where gaps show.
A typical three-day power and water outage, for a family that has not prepared.
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0h
Lights out
Looking for a torch that works. Phones become the only light and the only news.
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12h
Batteries run low
Phones are on their last charge. The fridge and freezer start to warm up.
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24h
Water and food get tight
Bottled water is running out. Shops nearby are closed or sold out.
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72h
Prepared families stay calm
Water, light, warmth and food for everyone, until services are back.
The free assessment
Generic checklists do not know your home. Ours asks.
A flat with a baby needs different things from a farmhouse with a dog. Answer a few questions and see exactly where your household stands.
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Your score out of 100Across eight areas, from water and warmth to documents.
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The hazards near youWhat is most likely where you live, by postcode.
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Your top three gapsThe few things that would make the biggest difference first.
Question 3 of 15
Your household
Who lives in your home?
Choose all that apply.
We never ask about medical conditions
Guides
Calm, plain advice for the things that happen here
For live warnings, check the Met Office, the Environment Agency and your local council.
Getting through a three-day power cut
Light, warmth, cooking and keeping phones charged.
Read the guideChecking the flood risk for your postcode
Where to look it up, and what to do if you are at risk.
Read the guideStoring water for your family
How much to keep for people and pets, and how to store it.
Read the guideIs it really free?
Yes. You see your score on screen and get your full report by email. You do not need to buy anything.
What will you ask me?
Who lives with you, the type of home, your postcode, and what you already have. Questions about care needs are yes or no only.
What do you do with my answers?
We use them to work out your score and report. We only send offers if you tick the box to say you want them.
Is this an official risk assessment?
No. It is general preparedness guidance, not a professional risk assessment, and it does not replace official warnings.
Know where you stand before you need to
Three minutes now, so the next power cut is just an inconvenience.