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, these are the products our experts recommend, along with how much of each you need to set aside.
Water
The government recommends three litres per person (and pet!) per day, but this is just for drinking. You need to factor in more for cooking and washing. We suggest you plan to have 10 litres per person for 72 hours.
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 to 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
Now 24% Off
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.
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.
How many: One per room you want to light.
Best value blanket
Now 10% Off
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: One per person.
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 a TV for 3-4 hours or cooking equipment – it could 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 best 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.