Make sure you always have a little extra

Many of us already have a good deal of what we need to fend for ourselves for a few days, so you may not have to do very much to be completely prepared.

For example, if you buy food for a few days at a time, you’ll always have a little extra in your house to fall back on. Don’t forget any special dietary needs.

It is also a good idea to think about how you will prepare food if your power and/or water supply are cut off. If you have pets, you should stockpile some pet food. Make sure that you always have enough of the food that you usually buy and eat for a few extra days.

Food storage tips

In addition to the food items you normally use, it can also be a good idea to have a small extra stock of foods with a long shelf-life. Ideally these should be items that can be stored at room temperature and that do not need cooking, such as crispbread, canned spreads and fillings, soup, freeze-dried expedition meals, canned meals, energy bars, dried fruit and nuts.

Remember that the food in your freezer will spoil if there is no electricity for an extended period of time. Click here for some tips on how to keep your freezer cold for as long as possible in a power cut.

Nine litres of water per person

Each person needs three litres of clean water per day for drinking and cooking. So you should store nine litres of water per person to meet your basic needs for three days. Water should be stored in a cold, dark, frost-free place such as a shed, garage or outhouse. Click here to read more about storing water. 

Ensuring there is enough to drink

Clean bottles or canisters. Fill to the brim with cold running tap water. Replace the lid.

Alternatively, you can use pre-bottled water. You can also meet some of your need for fluids with fruit juice, soft drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages.

Read more about self-preparedness and get advice on how to prepare your own emergency survival kit.