Grab bag essentials checklist

Communication and power

Mobile phone charging cable. Charged power bank. Battery or wind-up torch. Battery or wind-up radio. Spare batteries for anything that needs them. Important phone numbers written on paper.

Health and first aid

Essential medication. A copy or list of prescriptions and regular medication. Small first aid kit. Spare glasses or contact lenses, if needed. Essential medical-device supplies, back-up batteries, or paper instructions, where applicable.

Documents, access, and money

Copies of key identification or other important documents. Insurance details and useful emergency contact numbers. Spare house and car keys, where useful. A small amount of cash and, if useful, a spare payment card. Your household emergency plan, if you use one.

Food, water, and warmth

Bottled drinking water. Long-life, ready-to-eat snacks. A warm layer or simple change of clothes. A lightweight waterproof layer, where appropriate. A lightweight emergency blanket.

Personal and household needs

Basic toiletries, including sanitary products where needed. Baby or child essentials, where applicable. Mobility, disability, or care-related essentials, where applicable. Pet food, water, medication, lead or harness, carrier, and key records, where applicable.