Would you have everything you need for 72 hours sheltering at home in case of emergency? Andy Burnham says you should have three days' worth of supplies on hand should we be impacted by anything from severe weather to cyber attacks.
If you're flummoxed as to how to put together a shopping list, or don't know how much food, water and power you need for 72 hours, GH is here to help. Following the government's recommended checklist, below you'll find the products our experts recommend, along with how much of each you want to aim for.
Note, there's no need to run out and buy everything all at once. The advice is to check what you already have and then build up your supplies over time. “Pick up missing items when you can during your regular shopping trips to help spread the cost,” the advice reads. Then “check it regularly: set a reminder every six months to check expiry dates and swap out items that need replacing, or update your kit if your household’s needs have changed.”
Water
The government recommends three litres per person per day, but this is just for drinking (and doesn't factor in pets – we'd add three litres for cats or dogs, too). You also need to consider what you need for cooking and washing. For the full 72 hours, that would be around 10 litres per person.
You can get 10-litre dispensers at Sainsbury's, but these are very heavy, so we would suggest stocking up over time.
Food
You need enough non-perishable food for three days per person. This is food that doesn't need to go in the fridge or be cooked, such as tinned meat, fish and veg, plus dried fruit and nuts. And a top tip is to focus on foods you normally eat. You will also want to prioritise nutrient-rich foods. This is what the GH cookery team suggests stocking up on (including the quantities per person, although they have catered to more than you will likely need, so you have options).
Breakfast
- 1 x box of cereal
- 1 x box of porridge oats (for overnight oats)
- 1 x carton of long life milk or tub of powdered milk
- 1 x jar of honey
- 500g dried fruit & nuts
Lunch & dinner
- 3-4 pouches of pre-cooked grains
- 2 x jars or tins of pulses/lentils
- 3 tins of fish (mix of fish; tuna, sardine, salmon)
- 2 x jars or tins cooked vegetables (ie roasted peppers/tomatoes/aubergines/artichokes etc)
- 2 x cans of cooked meat (ham/corned beef)
- 1 x jar of pickles
Snacks
- 2 x tins of fruit
- 1 x pack of cereal bars
- Packet of crackers/bread sticks
Hygiene
Best value wet wipes
These wipes are very mild and fragrance-free so they suit everyone from babies upwards. Our at-home testers praised the combination of performance and price, with one saying person they were both “good value and kind to skin.”
How many? You get 384 wipes for just under £6, which should be more than enough for 72 hours. The government also suggests having supplies of hand sanitiser and bathroom products (loo roll, toothpaste – an extra pack of each in reserve is sufficient).
Light and warmth
Best value rechargeable lamp
Fully charged, this rechargeable lamp gives 15 hours of light, so should last 72 hours if you use it for five hours of light each evening. Otherwise, if you have the capacity, you could plug it into your power station – the battery took just 3.5 hours to recharge in testing and the button glows white when charging is complete. Rechargeable lamps and battery-powered torches are safer than candles and matches.
How many: One per room you want to light.
Best value blanket
Bedsure Bubble Fleece Throw Blanket - 130x170cm
This lightweight, fluffy throw is designed to deliver cosy comfort, without the heft of a heavy winter blanket. Despite its lightweight feel, testers were pleasantly surprised by how well it trapped warmth. They also highlighted its practicality, saying it’s a great option for children, or for draping over your legs when an extra layer of warmth is needed. For the price, this is a good option to have on standby if you can't turn your heating on.
How many: The price above is for a 130 x 170cm blanket, which is ideal for wrapping yourself up in. You may want one per person or prefer to share – this will come down to personal preference.
Communication and information
Best value power station
Just think of a power station as a giant battery. This model is a significant investment but it's our tech expert's top pick for value and has enough juice to power cooking equipment or TVs for 3-4 hours or charge a phone to full 57 times if you wished. You can also recharge it using solar panels.
It has three AC ports, and 10 ports overall for powering up devices, plus the brand claims you can charge it from empty to full in just 70 minutes on mains power. It is pricey though, and we would only recommend it if you think you will use it for camping trips or you're really concerned about loss of power and want a back up.
Alternatively, our top-rated portable power bank will give you two smartphone charges and is a much more affordable £39.99.
How many? One, fully charged.
Best battery-powered radio under £50
This was our tech editor's favourite DAB radio under £50 because you have the flexibility to operate it either on battery power (with four AA batteries) or mains power. A great value buy with Bluetooth connectivity that also won't let you down if you lose power.
How many? One but make sure you stock up on 4 x AA batteries.
For more advice on medical supplies, important documents and what to consider for babies, head to the government advice page
Alison is head of content for the Good Housekeeping Institute, responsible for product reviews across homes, beauty, wellness, family and food & drink. She lives by the William Morris quote that you should “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
Alison has over 15 years' experience as a lifestyle editor and has written features on everything from misophonia to how to dress like Claudia on The Traitors. She has also interviewed everyone from Dame Joanna Lumley to the Kardashians.
In her spare time, you'll find her hanging out with Monty the cocker spaniel and refreshing the Sezane website every five seconds.
