Guides

Each guide reports what official bodies say, in plain words, and ends at a step in one of our tools. Where countries differ, a table shows each country in its own row. The sources are at the foot of each guide.

• How to store water for an emergency

  Containers, cleaning, where to keep it, how long stored water lasts, and whether bottled water expires.

• How to prepare for a power outage, and what to do in one

  How to prepare for a power outage (power cut), what to do in one, and what official bodies in five countries say about food in the fridge and freezer.

• Emergency radio: the kinds, and what to tune to

  What an emergency radio is, how wind-up (hand crank), battery, solar and weather radios differ, and what official bodies say to tune to, by country.

• A non-perishable food list you can build from your normal shopping

  A non-perishable food list from official bodies, and a calm way of stockpiling food: buy what you already eat, a little each trip, and use the oldest first.

• Emergency medication supply and medical needs at home

  What official bodies say on an emergency medication supply, an emergency medical information card, fridge medicines and powered devices in a power cut.

• How to charge a phone without electricity, and what to do when the phone stops

  How to charge a phone without electricity, save the battery and keep a paper emergency contact list: what official bodies say, with each country's numbers.

• How long do power outages last? What happened elsewhere

  Real events in each country we cover, from official reviews and first-party statements, with the one thing each shows.

• Emergency contact card to print

  A blank card to print and fill in by hand, for the day a phone is flat or the network is down.

Reference

• Emergency planning glossary

  The words that official advice uses, each with its source.