Kit basics9 min read
Best torches for a power cut: a UK buying guide
Runtime beats brightness, wind-up beats flat, and alkaline batteries left in a cupboard will ruin a good torch. Here’s how to choose — plus our picks.
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Straightforward advice for UK families on getting ready for storms, power cuts and the other few-day disruptions that actually happen here. No panic, no bunkers.
Kit basics6 min read
The government's new Prepare campaign: what it actually says
Households told to stockpile. Britain braces. The reality is duller and much more useful — here it is without the drama.
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Kit basics8 min read
Car emergency kit: what to keep in the boot all year
Most family car emergencies are not dramatic. They are boring, cold and long. Here's the small box in the boot that makes all the difference.
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Kit basics6 min read
Are candles safe in a power cut? What the official advice says
A torch you can drop, hand to a six-year-old and fall asleep holding — or a naked flame in a dark house full of children. Here's what the official advice actually says.
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Kit basics8 min read
The 72-hour emergency kit: a simple guide for UK families
A storm, a substation and a few days of ordinary life being harder than usual. Here's what three days of supplies actually looks like for a UK family — with the sums done for you.
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