A short interruption to power, water, mobile service or internet access can affect several parts of daily life at once. A charged phone helps, and it may still be difficult to make a call, use a lift or reach someone who relies on you. Start by identifying what your household needs in the first few hours and which things require a call to a provider.
Work out what depends on each service
Walk through a normal morning and evening. Identify lights, heating controls, cooking equipment, refrigeration, door entry and devices that charge from the mains. Include any medical equipment, mobility aids or telecare devices used by the household. Ask the provider of essential equipment what backup it has and how to get help if it stops working. Write down the number you will use and keep a copy away from your phone.
Think about what could affect access to your home. If a lift, garage door or electronic entry system is important, ask the building manager what happens during a power interruption. If your home uses a digital phone service or telecare, ask the supplier how it works during a power cut and whether there is a backup. Establish these details before an interruption, when you have time to confirm the answer.
Put essentials where you can find them
Store a working torch and spare batteries where an adult can find them easily. Keep a portable phone charger ready and test it occasionally. Put important contacts on paper, including the network or supplier contacts you need and the people you have agreed to check on. A battery-powered or wind-up radio can be useful if internet access is interrupted and official information is available by radio.
Keep a sensible supply of drinking water and food that suits the people in your household. Consider infant supplies, pet food, dietary requirements and any supplies you use regularly. Rotate what you keep so it stays in date. For essential medicines or equipment, ask your pharmacist or care provider how to plan for a short interruption and follow their instructions about storage and use.
Know who to contact for each interruption
In Great Britain, 105 connects you to your electricity network operator for a power cut. In Northern Ireland, use the official Northern Ireland power-cut reporting service. Record the route that applies to your address so you can find it without internet access. In a building with shared facilities, it may also help to tell the building manager, particularly where access or assistance is affected.
For a water interruption, check updates and instructions from your water company. Ask how the company will share information about the affected area and what support it can provide if you have specific needs. For a phone or broadband problem, use your supplier's status information if you can reach it. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Make a plan for people who need more support
Discuss how to keep in touch with anyone who may struggle when services stop. Agree who will make contact and what they should do if there is no reply. Where appropriate, ask your electricity, gas or water provider about its Priority Services Register and the support it can provide. Keep the provider informed if the address, contact details or circumstances change.
If a relative depends on a powered device, keep the supplier or care provider's advice alongside your plan. Agree a backup that the person and those helping them can actually use. Check that everyone knows when to seek urgent help. A household plan should help people use professional advice quickly when a device or health need is involved.
Stay informed as the interruption develops
Read the time and location on service updates and check whether an estimate has changed. Tell household members what you know and what you are still waiting to hear. If you have arranged to check on a neighbour, confirm what help they need before going out in severe weather. Follow official advice if authorities ask you to avoid an area or change your plans.
Think about the effect on food and heating. Keep fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible during a power cut, and consult Food Standards Agency advice about what can be kept safely afterwards. Use equipment according to its instructions and keep outdoor appliances outdoors. If you cannot keep a household member comfortable or use essential equipment safely, seek support through the appropriate provider or emergency service.
Review your preparation after services return
Recharge devices, replace any supplies you used and check that essential equipment is working again according to its instructions. If something has failed to restart, use the supplier's advice. Write down the contact or item you found hardest to locate and put it somewhere more accessible. A brief review after a small incident can improve how you respond to a larger one.
Check the kit and contact list every six months and whenever household circumstances change. Ask other household members whether they can find a torch, a paper contact list and the instructions that apply to them. Add a spare route for important information where you can, such as a known supplier phone number if your usual app is inaccessible.