Advice at home
You may be advised to stay in your home during an emergency.
This advice may be used during incidents such as:
- hazardous chemicals or substances
- pandemics
- smoke from nearby fires
- an unknown risk in your area
In rare but serious situations, you may need to stay indoors for up to 3 days.
Emergency services may use the advice go in, stay in, tune in. This means:
- go indoors and close doors and windows
- stay indoors until you are told it is safe to leave
- tune in to local radio or television for updates
Supplies to keep at home
Keep enough supplies to meet your household's needs for at least 72 hours.
You should plan for situations where your electricity, gas or water supply is cut off.
A typical supplies list may include:
- drinking water – at least 2 litres per person per day
- water for cooking and washing – at least 3 litres per person per day
- long-life food such as canned food, dried food and energy bars
- a manual can opener
- a torch with spare batteries or a wind-up torch
- a camping stove
- a camping lantern
- medication and a first aid kit
- a copy of your household emergency plan
- pet food, water and routine medication – see our looking after pets in an emergency page
- a sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- hand sanitiser
- toiletries, such as toothpaste and a toothbrush
- rubbish sacks
- toilet rolls
- duct tape to seal doors, windows and vents if advised to do so
Page last updated: 6 May 2026
