Never caught out
Guides
22 practical guides for UK households. Each one is checked against official sources, which we link at the bottom so you can read the latest advice yourself.
Power cuts
- 01Power cuts: what to do before, during and afterWho to call, what to switch off, keeping food safe and staying warm without heating.
- 02The first hour of a power cut: a calm checklistCheck, report, light, switch off and keep the cold in: what to do in the first hour.
- 03Keeping warm in a power cut, safelyMost heating stops in a power cut. How to keep warm safely, and what never to use indoors.
- 04Power cut compensation 2026/27: what you are owed, with worked examplesOfgem’s guaranteed payments for long power cuts in England, Scotland and Wales, with worked examples.
- 05Phones when the network is down: how to reach 999What happens to 999 calls when your mobile network or broadband is down, and the other ways to reach the emergency services.
- 06The Priority Services Register, explainedFree extra support from energy and water companies: who can join, what it gives you, and what it doesn’t.
Flooding
- 07Flooding: check your risk, sign up for warnings, make a planCheck your flood risk, get free warnings, and know what to do if water is on its way.
- 08Flood alert, flood warning or severe flood warning: what each one meansThe three Environment Agency flood messages, what to do for each, and the equivalents in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Storms
- 09Storms and high winds: getting your home readyReading Met Office warnings, securing the garden, and staying safe during and after.
- 10Met Office weather warnings explained: yellow, amber and redWhat the warning colours mean, why you should read the impact matrix, and how to get warnings.
- 11A named storm in the next 24 hours: a calm checklistWhat to do the day before, the evening before and while the storm passes, based on Be Ready advice.
- 12Storm names for 2026/27, and how storms get namedThe full 2026/27 list, which names have been used, and what a named storm means for you.
Winter
- 13Cold weather, snow and ice: keeping your household warm and wellHeating the rooms you use, spotting hypothermia, and safe heating when the power is off.
- 14Car winter kit: what to carry and what to do if you get stuckThe Highway Code kit list, checks before you set off, and what to do if you are stuck in snow or break down on a motorway.
Heat
Water outages
Plans
Kit
- 18Portable power stations: how we will test them, and how to work out runtimeOur method for judging battery power stations, a runtime sum you can do yourself, and how to charge one safely. No picks, no prices.
- 19Carbon monoxide alarms: where you need one and what the law saysWhich rooms need an alarm, the rules for landlords in England and for all homes in Scotland, and what to do if one goes off.
- 20Power banks for power cuts: buying, charging and storing them safelyHow to choose a power bank from a reputable seller, charge it safely and spot a damaged battery.
Outdoors
- 21Finding your way and calling for help without phone signalPlan before you go, carry a map you can use offline, and know how to call mountain rescue.
- 22Offline maps on your phone: how to download them before you need themHow offline maps work in Google Maps and Apple Maps, what they can’t do, and when to use a paper map.
In an emergency
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. For a gas leak, call 0800 111 999 (Northern Ireland 0800 002 001). For a power cut, call 105 (Northern Ireland 03457 643643).