6. Essential 72-hour kit (5 adults + small dog)
Essential. Aim to shelter for 3 days without shops or reliable power/water.
Water
- People (Prepare/WHO): 2.5–3 litres per adult per day drinking minimum; ~10 L/adult/day if including basic cooking + hygiene.
- 72-hour drinking floor: 5 adults × 3 days × ~3 L ≈ 45 L + dog ~2–3 L → ~45–48 L minimum stored.
- 7-day planning (5 adults + small dog) — from info-bank Ch.16 digest:
- Drinking-only floor ≈ 111 L
- Practical potable (≈5 L/adult + dog) ≈ 181 L
- Comfortable (~10 L/adult + dog) ≈ 356 L (heavy — stage gradually; ~361 L ≈ 361 kg)
- Food-grade / commercial bottles, cool dark place, rotate every 6–12 months.
Food (no-cook or minimal heat)
- ☐ 3 days ready-to-eat / no-cook for 5
- ☐ Manual tin opener
- ☐ Easy-wash or disposable crockery + washing-up kit
- ☐ 3 days dog food + collapsible bowl
Light, heat awareness, CO
- ☐ LED torches (one per adult) + spare batteries; headtorch
- ☐ Battery / wind-up radio (BBC Radio Cumbria)
- ☐ Power banks charged; cables
- ☐ Warm layers, blankets
- ☐ Working smoke and CO alarms — test monthly
- ☐ Clocks go back Sun 25 Oct 2026 — use it as the autumn check: test smoke/CO alarms, swap torch/radio batteries, re-pack grab bags and car kit for winter
Candles are a fire risk — prefer LED. Never burn charcoal or run generators indoors.
Health & hygiene
- ☐ 7+ days prescription meds if possible
- ☐ First aid kit (see §16)
- ☐ Toilet paper, wipes, bin bags, sanitiser, period products
- ☐ Nappies / incontinence if relevant
Documents, cash, keys
- ☐ ID / insurance / prescription copies in waterproof pouch
- ☐ Small cash float
- ☐ Spare keys with trusted person if appropriate
Comms & info
- ☐ This guide offline on phone + USB
- ☐ Paper copy of §3–§4
- ☐ Fully charged phones; spare charged power bank
7. Useful 7–14 day upgrades
Useful. After the 72-hour baseline is solid.
- ☐ Rotated pantry for 7–14 days (planning aid: ~2,250 kcal/adult/day +10% → ~87k kcal/7 d or ~173k/14 d for five adults; keep ≥3 days truly no-cook)
- ☐ Outdoor camping stove + fuel (only outdoors) + pans
- ☐ Extra water toward ~181 L (7-day practical) or more if space/floor loading allows
- ☐ Water filter / purification tablets
- ☐ Cold-rated sleeping bags; draft excluders
- ☐ LED lanterns
- ☐ Property flood measures if EA risk medium/high
- ☐ Generator only if outdoor-only siting + CO discipline (advanced, not default)
- ☐ Starlink Mini + Anker C1000/C300 + solar (see §13)
- ☐ Neighbour mutual-aid agreement
Nice-to-have: board games, offline e-reader, spare glasses, comfort snacks, dog toys, thermos, solar garden lights for corridor light.
8. Grab bag packing list
Essential. One manageable bag per adult (plus shared docs/first-aid module + dog carrier/module). Keep near the usual exit. Re-pack seasonally.
- ☐ Water bottles + energy bars / snacks
- ☐ Torch + batteries; power bank + cable
- ☐ Documents pouch copy + small cash
- ☐ Prescription meds + basic first aid
- ☐ Phone + charger; offline copy of this guide
- ☐ Warm layer, waterproof, hat, gloves; spare socks
- ☐ Hygiene kit
- ☐ Whistle; notepad + pencil
- ☐ Spare glasses / contacts if needed
- ☐ House / car keys if evacuating by vehicle
- ☐ Paper list of critical numbers
In fire “empty-handed” mode: do not delay for the bag.
9. Pet (dog) checklist
Essential.
- ☐ 3–7 days food; collapsible bowl
- ☐ Water included in household total
- ☐ Lead, harness, muzzle if required for transport
- ☐ Carrier / crate if used
- ☐ Waste bags; towel; familiar blanket
- ☐ Vaccination record copy; microchip in §3
- ☐ Any meds / flea treatments
- ☐ Photo of dog with owner
- ☐ Pet-friendly rest centres / boarding: _______________
Never leave dog in a closed car. In flood: leash early.