UK risk library

UK emergency risks and preparedness guides

Use the guide for the incident and nation you are in. Official local instructions always override general planning advice.

Essentials

Prepare for UK power cuts with 105 contacts, radio, lighting, medical-equipment planning, food safety and safe backup power.

Open guide Water outagesWater outages and safe household storage

Prepare for a UK water outage with realistic sealed-water storage, hygiene planning, utility contacts and contamination safety.

Open guide Food supplyFood-supply disruption: build a modest buffer

Build a low-waste UK emergency food buffer for a few days of power cuts, water outages, transport disruption or supply shortages.

Open guide Alerts and communicationsEmergency alerts, radio and failed networks

Prepare to receive UK Emergency Alerts, verify information and stay in contact when power, broadband or mobile networks fail.

Open guide Infectious diseaseInfectious-disease preparedness

Build a UK household illness plan for changing public-health advice, medicines, ventilation, care, work, school and recovery.

Use the correct flood-warning service for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland and build a safe household flood plan.

Open guide Severe weatherStorms, heat, cold and wildfires

Prepare for UK storms, heat, cold, snow, ice and wildfires with written warnings, practical household actions and clear safety limits.

Use current UK counter-terrorism guidance without speculating about targets or hard-coding a changing threat level.

Open guide Conflict-related disruptionNational security and conflict-related disruption

Prepare calmly for conflict-related UK disruption through all-hazards plans for alerts, power, water, food, cyber incidents and evacuation.

Open guide Radiation and chemicalsRadiation and hazardous-material incidents

Know the current UK incident actions for radiation or hazardous substances, including sheltering, decontamination limits and iodine safety.

Make a UK household evacuation and shelter plan, with a realistic grab bag and a clear exception for fire.

Open guide Access and additional needsDisabled people, carers and additional needs

Create an accessible UK emergency plan for medicine, powered equipment, communication, carers, assistance animals and evacuation.