Household emergency plan: what to do (UK, official advice)

This guide is for anyone who wants their household to know what to do in an emergency, whether that's a power cut, a flood warning or having to leave home quickly. A plan costs nothing, and it means nobody has to work out what to do in the moment.

You can fill in our plan above, print it on one page, and keep it where everyone can find it. What you type stays in your browser.

The short answer

Write down:

who to call, including someone outside your area
where to meet if you can't get home, or if you have to leave
where your water, gas and electricity shut-offs are
who in your home needs extra help, and what kind
the numbers you'd need if your phone ran flat

Then make sure everyone at home knows where the plan is.

Step one: who lives here

List everyone in your home. Note anyone who needs extra help in an emergency, such as an older relative, a baby, someone with limited mobility, or someone who relies on medical equipment or a telecare alarm. Add your pets too.

If someone at home needs extra help, join the Priority Services Register through your energy supplier or network operator. It's free, and it means your network operator knows to give your household extra help in a power cut.

Step two: contacts

Write down names and numbers for:

a local contact, such as a neighbour or nearby friend
a contact outside your area, in case something affects your whole area
your GP surgery
school, nursery or carer
work numbers for the adults in your home

Your plan card also lists these numbers, which are always worth having on paper:

999 for emergencies
NHS 111 for urgent health advice that isn't an emergency
105 for power cuts in Great Britain

Step three: meeting places

Agree two places:

Near home, if you can't get in, for example a neighbour's house.
Away from your area, if you have to leave, for example a relative's home.

Make sure everyone, including children, knows both.

Step four: shut-offs

Find out where these are, and note them on your plan:

the water stopcock
the gas shut-off
the fuse box (consumer unit)

You only need to know where they are and that you can reach them. If you're not sure how something works, ask a qualified professional.

Step five: services

Note your energy supplier and account number, your water company's number, your home insurer and policy number, and a local radio station for updates.

Print the plan and keep a copy where everyone can find it, such as inside a kitchen cupboard door.
Keep another copy in your grab bag with your kit.
Talk it through with everyone at home, calmly. For children, keep it simple: who to call and where to meet.
Update it whenever something changes, such as a new phone number, school or carer.

If you live alone

A plan is just as useful when you live alone. Share your plan, or the key parts of it, with a trusted neighbour or friend, and agree how you'll check on each other.

When to get help

If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you're worried about someone's health, call NHS 111.
For a power cut, call 105.

This guide follows the household plan on gov.uk Prepare. It can't cover every situation, so add anything specific to your home, such as a flood plan if you live in a flood-risk area.

FAQs

How do I make a household emergency plan?

Write down your contacts, meeting places, shut-off locations and who needs extra help. Our household emergency plan gives you the headings and prints it on one page.

Where should my household meet if we cannot get home?

Agree a place near home, such as a neighbour's house, and a place away from your area, such as a relative's home.

Should I keep a paper copy of important phone numbers?

Yes. If your phone runs flat or the network is down, numbers on paper still work. Keep them with your plan.

How often should I update my emergency plan?

Whenever something changes, such as a phone number, a school or a carer.

Where should I keep a printed emergency plan?

Somewhere everyone at home knows about, such as inside a kitchen cupboard door, with a copy in your grab bag.

Do emergency plans need to be complicated?

No. One page with the right numbers, places and shut-offs is enough to start.

Household emergency plan