UK Blackout Preparedness: A Practical 72-Hour Power Cut Checklist

Why is the UK Government telling people to prepare for emergencies?

The Cabinet Office's new Be Ready campaign asks people to take straightforward steps before an emergency happens. Severe weather, infrastructure faults or other incidents can interrupt services people normally rely on, from electricity and water to mobile signal and online payments.

The key message is to be able to manage the essentials for around 72 hours if services are disrupted. It is not a call to panic-buy, fill the house with specialist equipment or assume a blackout is about to happen. Start with what you already own, make a list of any gaps and build up supplies gradually.

Your 72-hour power cut checklist

Use this checklist to prepare your household. Adjust it for the number of people at home, children, pets, medical needs and any support someone may require.

• Drinking water: aim for at least 3 litres per person per day for drinking, as advised by the Government. Consider extra water for other needs.
• Food that does not need cooking: choose familiar, long-life foods such as tinned meals, fruit, crackers, nuts and cereal bars. Include a manual tin opener.
• Lighting: keep a working torch or lantern somewhere everyone can find it, plus spare batteries where needed. Torches are safer than candles.
• News and updates: have a battery-powered or wind-up radio so you can listen for local information if the internet or mobile signal is unavailable.
• Phone power: charge power banks in advance and keep charging cables together. A radio with a phone-charging function can be a useful extra, but do not rely on it as your only charging plan.
• Warmth: keep blankets, sleeping bags, warm layers and socks accessible. Close curtains and doors to unused rooms if the heating stops.
• Health and hygiene: set aside essential medication, a basic first-aid kit, hand sanitiser, wet wipes and any supplies required for babies or pets.
• Cash and key information: keep a modest amount of cash if practical, and write down important phone numbers, medication details and local radio frequencies on paper.
• Household plan: agree how family members will contact each other, where supplies are kept and who may need a check-in or extra help.

Read the official UK Government Be Ready checklist for the full guidance. You can also use the British Red Cross emergency kit advice to tailor supplies to your household.

What happens during a blackout, and what should you do first?

1. Check whether the outage is local. If it is safe to do so, check whether nearby homes or streetlights are also affected. Do not go outside to investigate damaged electrical equipment.
2. Use a torch rather than candles. Put one in a familiar place and keep a spare light accessible. Avoid using open flames for light.
3. Protect appliances. Switch off appliances such as ovens, irons and electric fryers. Unplug sensitive electronics if appropriate, and leave one light switched on so you can notice when power returns.
4. Keep fridge and freezer doors closed. This helps preserve the cold for longer. Avoid opening them repeatedly to check food.
5. Listen for reliable updates. Use a battery or wind-up radio and check your electricity network operator's official updates when you have a working connection.
6. Report the power cut. In England, Scotland and Wales, call 105 to report an electricity outage or find your network operator. In Northern Ireland, use 03457 643643.
7. Stay safely warm. Put on layers and use blankets. Never use a barbecue, camping stove, generator or outdoor heater indoors because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and fire.

If someone depends on powered medical equipment, a powered mobility device or a telecare alarm, plan with the supplier in advance. Eligible households should consider joining their utility provider's Priority Services Register. If there is immediate danger, call 999.

Why a wind-up radio can be useful when the internet goes down

During a power cut, your home Wi-Fi router will stop working unless it has suitable backup power. Mobile service may also be disrupted if a nearby mast is affected. A radio that can be powered in more than one way gives you another route to local news and public information.

Duronic makes portable radios with different combinations of wind-up charging, solar charging, rechargeable batteries, torches and phone-charging features. Choose according to the functions you will actually use, and test it before you need it. Reception and charging performance depend on conditions, so a radio should complement, not replace, other parts of your emergency plan.

To compare models side by side, see our existing guide: Wind-up radios, solar-powered radios and radios with torches: which is best?

Plan for lighting before the lights go out

Good lighting helps you move around safely, find supplies and check on family members. Keep a torch where you can reach it without searching in the dark, and make sure everyone at home knows where it is. Check rechargeable lights periodically and keep them charged according to their instructions.

For a compact handheld option, the Duronic RFL283AA LED torch is another product to consider. Whichever light you choose, keep it accessible and check its charge or batteries regularly.

Shop Duronic wind-up radios, torches and emergency lights.

What about heating, cooking and hot water?

Do not assume that gas appliances will work during a power cut: many modern boilers and controls require electricity. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and never improvise a way to heat your home or cook indoors. Do not bring outdoor cooking equipment or generators inside, including into garages or other enclosed spaces.

Keep warm with layers, blankets and sleeping bags, close curtains after dark and spend time together in a suitable room if that helps conserve warmth. Keep a supply of food that can be eaten without cooking. If you have a medical or mobility need affected by loss of heating or power, make a specific backup plan with your care or equipment provider.

Five things to do today, without spending much

• Check the cupboards and list the water and ready-to-eat food you already have.
• Find your torch and radio, then test them.
• Charge your phone and any power banks, and note where the charging cables are.
• Write down 105, important contacts and local radio frequencies.
• Check whether anyone in your household should join the Priority Services Register, and agree how you will check on neighbours who may need support.

You do not need to buy everything at once. The Government recommends checking what you already have, filling gaps gradually and reviewing your supplies about every six months.

Frequently asked questions about UK blackout preparedness

Is the UK expecting a nationwide blackout?

The Government's Be Ready campaign is general emergency-preparedness advice. It says most power cuts are short and local, while longer and more widespread outages are possible but unlikely. The campaign is not, by itself, a warning that a nationwide blackout is imminent.

How much water should I store for a power cut?

The Government's power-cut guidance recommends at least 3 litres of bottled water per person per day for drinking. You may need more for cooking, washing, children, medical needs or pets.

How long should an emergency kit last?

The current UK guidance focuses on being able to manage for up to three days, or 72 hours, if everyday services are disrupted. Tailor the amount and type of supplies to your household.

Will my mobile phone work during a blackout?

It may, but service can be affected if local network equipment loses power. Keep your phone charged, use a power bank if available and do not rely on mobile data as your only source of updates.

What number do I call to report a power cut?

Call 105 in England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland, call 03457 643643. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

Be ready, not alarmed

A sensible power-cut plan is mostly about everyday essentials: light, water, food, warmth, medication and a reliable way to receive information. Make the plan now, check the equipment you already own and add anything missing gradually. For official, up-to-date advice, visit the UK Government's Be Ready website.

This article is general preparedness information, not a prediction of a blackout. Always follow current advice from official emergency services, your electricity network operator and relevant equipment manufacturers.