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Prepared, not scared

Be ready to manage on your own for the first 72 hours.

Prepper-style guides for any crisis: war and air raid alerts, cyberattacks, power and water outages, floods, storms, pandemics, chemical and nuclear incidents. Every step comes from official government advice and shows its source, with checklists you can print and tools that keep working when the internet does not.

How ready are you? Take the 2-minute quiz 7-day shopping list Build your kits

In an emergency right now? Open the big-text emergency cards

72-hour kit: first 5 items

Tick as you pack. Saved on this device.

Drinking water for every person for at least 3 days^FEMA
Non-perishable food and a manual tin opener^FEMA
Battery or wind-up radio^{UK Prepare}
Torch with spare batteries^{UK Prepare}
Power bank for phones^{UK Prepare}

See all 12 items and sources

Choose a scenario

Ordered from most practical to most extreme

High preparedness valuePower, water & technologyPower outage Water supply failure Phone and internet outage Cyberattacks, GPS and grid failures

Depends on where you liveNatural disasters & extreme weatherFloods and heavy rain Extreme heat Extreme cold and winter storms Sandstorms and dust storms Severe storms, cyclones and hurricanes Earthquakes Wildfires

Sensible basic preparationHealth, home & roadFirst aid essentials Pandemics and disease outbreaks Home fire Gas leaks and carbon monoxide Stranded in the desert or car breakdown Water safety: pools, beaches and the sea Children and cars in hot weather Desert trips and getting stuck in sand

Useful contingency planningEconomic crisis & shortagesEconomic crisis, shortages and banking disruption

Depends on regional securityEvacuation, conflict & unrestEvacuation and leaving home quickly War, air raids and sheltering Attack in a public place Civil unrest and lockdowns Travelling during a crisis

Extreme scenario: prepare calmly, not fearfullyExtreme scenariosNuclear or radiation emergency Chemical incidents

Start with the foundations

All foundations

72-hour emergency kitA basic household kit lets your family cope for at least three days without power, water or shops.Storing drinking waterSafe water is the first thing to run short when supplies are cut.Family emergency planEmergencies often strike when family members are in different places and phones do not work.Emergency alerts and staying informedKnowing how official warnings reach you, and having a way to hear them without power or internet, can buy precious time.

New guides

NewExtreme cold and winter stormsCold snaps and winter storms bring snow, ice and freezing temperatures that can cut power, block roads and cause hypothermia, frostbite or carbon monoxide poisoning.NewAttack in a public placeAttacks with weapons in busy public places are rare, but knowing what to do can save lives.NewLong-term food and backup powerSome crises last well beyond three days.NewLiving in a tower or apartment blockFires and emergencies in tall buildings mean longer escape routes and a building-specific escape plan.NewChildren and cars in hot weatherA parked car can heat to deadly levels within minutes, and children overheat much faster than adults.NewWater safety: pools, beaches and the seaDrowning can happen within minutes and is often silent, in a home pool as easily as at the beach.NewDesert trips and getting stuck in sandA desert drive or camping trip can turn dangerous fast if a car gets stuck or breaks down far from help in high heat.NewSchool emergencies and pickup plansIf an emergency hits during the school day, your children follow the school's plan, not yours.NewBrief your household helperA nanny or domestic worker may be the only adult at home when a fire or medical emergency happens.NewExpats: be ready far from homeLiving away from your home country adds extra layers to any emergency: residency papers, an embassy to reach and family in another time zone.NewRenters: who does what in an emergencyWhen a pipe bursts, the power fails or a fire damages a rented flat, tenants often do not know what is theirs to handle and what is the landlord's.

This season

Rainy season in the UAE

Heavy rain can flood roads, underpasses and low-lying areas quickly. Check your plan, your car kit and your power backup now.

Rainy season checklist How to choose a torch

Regional guides: UAE

Summer heat safety checklistHeat illness, desert driving and power cuts in the hot season. Heavy rain and floodsWhat to do before, during and after heavy rain. Power cut at homeStaying cool, keeping food safe and who to call. Case studyThe April 2024 floodsWhat happened, what the authorities announced, and lessons for families. SandstormsOfficial NCEMA advice for home and the road. Ramadan and EidFasting safely and Eid holiday safety. Emergency numbers by emiratePolice, ambulance, fire, electricity and water.

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