Based on Be Ready advice. Not official.
Is your home ready for a power cut?
Answer about 20 quick questions. Get a plan that fits your home, with a short list of what to buy, do and learn.
- Free
- About 10 minutes
- No sign-up, nothing stored
Why now?
The government has asked every household to be ready to cope for at least three days without power, water, phones or internet.
- The Be Ready campaign started on 22 October 2026.
- Only about 13 in 100 people say their household is largely or fully prepared.
- Most checklists do not tell you what your own home needs. We do.
How it works
Tell us about your home
Who lives there, how it is heated and how you cook. Just numbers and taps. No names.
See your gaps
A clear Ready, Partly ready or Not ready for each emergency you pick, and the weak spots in your home.
Get your action list
What to buy, do and learn, with amounts for your household. Print it or save it.
What most checklists miss
Your home may work differently in a power cut than you think.
Heating
Gas and oil boilers need electricity, so heating usually stops. So do heat pumps and electric heaters.
Does my boiler work in a power cut?Solar panels
Solar panels switch off in a power cut. A home battery only helps if it was set up with backup.
Solar and batteries in a power cutCooking
Electric and induction hobs stop. A gas hob usually still works if you light it with a match.
Cooking in a power cut
What you can plan for
Pick what could happen where you live. We work out what each one would mean for your home.
- Storm or high windsThe most common cause of power cuts. Recommended for everyone.
- Heavy snow or a cold snapPower off and roads blocked for days
- FloodingYou may need to leave, and tap water may be unsafe
- Fire or chemical leak nearbyYou may need to leave in minutes
- Illness outbreakStaying at home for weeks
- Fuel or food shortagesEmpty shelves and long queues
- Major national emergencyCyber attack or conflict. Power, money and phones down for weeks
- Trouble in your areaStay in and keep a low profile
Our privacy promise
- No sign-up and no account.
- We never ask for your name, address, postcode or email.
- Your answers stay on your own device.
- No adverts, no tracking, and nothing sent to anyone else.
Plain guides for your home
Short answers to the questions people search for.
How do I cook in a power cut?
Electric and induction hobs stop in a power cut. A gas hob usually still works. Safe ways to cook or eat well without power, and what to keep in.
Does my gas boiler work in a power cut?
Most gas and oil boilers stop in a power cut because they need electricity. What still works, what does not, and how to keep one room warm safely.
Does a heat pump work in a power cut?
A heat pump needs mains electricity, so it stops in a power cut. What that means for heating and hot water, and a simple plan to stay warm.
How much cash should I keep at home for an emergency?
Card machines and cash points can stop in a power cut. A simple way to work out how much cash your household needs for three days, and how to keep it safe.
Do solar panels and home batteries work in a power cut?
Solar panels switch off in a power cut. A home battery only helps if it has a backup feature. How to check yours and roughly how long it could last.
Questions
Is Readyish free?
Yes. It is free to use, with no adverts and no sign-up.
Do I have to buy anything?
No. Your plan tells you what would help, but you choose what to do. Many actions are free, like saving a phone number or agreeing a plan with a neighbour.
Is it official?
No. Readyish is an independent project. It is based on advice from gov.uk Be Ready, the British Red Cross and the Fire and Rescue Service. It is general guidance, not official advice. In an emergency, follow instructions from the emergency services and gov.uk.
Do you keep my data?
No. Your answers are saved only on your own device. We have no server that stores them, and we never ask for names, addresses or email.
Who made it?
An independent developer in the UK, as a free tool to help households get ready. It is not made by the government or a charity.
Ten minutes now can save a lot of worry later
Start your plan. You can stop at any point and come back.