Keeping family and friends safe during a UK conflict
The UK is preparing for the threat of war. Your home can be ready too.
The government says the UK must actively prepare for the homeland coming under threat. Home War Ready turns that into a clear plan for your family: what's been said each day, a kit sized to your household for 3, 7 or 14 days, a shelter-at-home plan, and steps for power cuts, cyber attacks and supply disruption.
Independent and not affiliated with HM Government. The official advice is free at GOV.UK Prepare, and we link to it throughout.
What you get
Everything your family needs to be ready for conflict and disruption
We follow defence and government announcements every day, so you don't have to watch the news all day. Then we tell you what has changed and what to do about it.
Conflict readiness levels
Three clear levels, from 3 days of supplies up to 14, plus a shelter room plan and what a conflict could mean for UK homes.
Daily defence and safety update
What the government and the Ministry of Defence have actually said, what it means for families, and one action for the day.
A kit sized to your family
Tell us who lives with you, including babies and pets. We build your three-day list with real quantities and tick it off as you go.
“If this happens” guides
Step-by-step help for power cuts, no water, floods, storms, phone alerts and being told to stay indoors.
Your household plan
Contacts, a meeting point, medication and who checks on whom. Everyone in the home knows what to do.
Calm at home
How to talk to children about it, things to do when the power's out, and keeping worry in check.
Serious, not scaremongering
The threat is real and we treat it that way, but we only report what officials have actually said. In Finland, Sweden and Norway, households are already asked to be ready for war.
Official sources first
Every update links to the GOV.UK page, Met Office warning or Environment Agency alert it comes from.
Low cost by design
Most steps are free or cost a few pounds. We never sell you kit or push affiliate gadgets.
Member area
Look inside Home War Ready
This is the member area with an example household of two adults, two children and a dog. Change it to match your home. Your ticks and plan are saved on this device.
Unlock your family's full readiness plan
The daily update is free. Members also get the readiness levels, a kit sized to your household, the shelter plan, the shopping plan, the household plan and every “If this happens” guide.
This week in plain English
One thing to do today:
16-day weather outlook
For your area
Forecasts beyond about 7 days are a guide only. For official warnings, check the Met Office. Forecast data: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).
Latest from official sources
LoadingPulled automatically from GOV.UK, filtered for resilience, emergencies, defence and safety. Headlines are the government's own words.
Official signals to watch
If the UK faced a real threat, these are the channels the government would use to tell you, and the feed here picks them up.
- Emergency Alerts: a loud alert on your phone for any danger to life where you are.
- UK threat level (MI5)
- Ministry of Defence announcements, including exercises that may bring more military traffic.
- BBC local radio and TV, which broadcast official messages in an emergency.
Seeing jets, helicopters or convoys is normal in the UK. The armed forces train here every day, and big exercises are announced in advance.
Check for your area
- Met Office weather warnings
- Check for flooding (England)
- Power cut map – or call 105
- About Emergency Alerts on your phone
- GOV.UK Prepare / Be Ready
In an emergency where life is at risk, always call 999.
Conflict readiness
What the government has said, what a conflict could realistically mean for your home, and the steps to take now. No one can predict whether the UK will be attacked. Being ready means you won't have to rush if the advice changes.
Your readiness level
We'll tell you in the daily update if we think you should move up a level, always based on official statements.
What's actually been said
Taken from government publications and reported ministerial statements. Each item links to its source.
How a conflict could affect UK homes
Modern conflict reaches homes mostly through disruption, long before any physical attack.
Who's in your home?
Quantities update as you change these. Based on the government's three-day advice, with water at 3 litres per person per day for drinking.
Check dates and rotate food and water every six months. Use the oldest first in your normal meals and replace it on your next shop.
Build it up over four weekly shops
Add a few items each week and buy foods you already eat. Prices are typical UK supermarket own-brand prices and will vary. Shown for .
Shopping the calm way
- Don't bulk-buy in one go. Shops restock well when everyone adds a little at a time.
- Choose food that needs no cooking or fridge: tinned fish and beans, oat bars, crackers, peanut butter, UHT milk.
- Keep some cash in coins and notes in case card machines are down.
- Use the oldest items in everyday meals and replace them as you go, so nothing is wasted.
If this happens
Short, calm steps you can follow on the day. Each one points to the official service for your area.
Your household plan
Ten minutes now saves a lot of worry later. Fill it in together, then write it down on paper and keep it with your kit.
Free steps worth doing today
Saved on this device
Talking to children about it
- Keep it simple and matter-of-fact. “We keep a torch and snacks ready, like we keep plasters ready. It means we can look after each other.”
- Let them help. Children feel safer when they have a job, such as packing the games box or checking the torch batteries.
- Ask what they've heard. Correct scary rumours gently and reassure them that adults are taking care of things.
- Keep routines going: meals, bedtime and school. Routine is the biggest comfort.
- Turn off rolling news when they're in the room.
Looking after yourself
- Check the news once a day. The daily Home War Ready update covers what matters.
- Doing something practical, even one small step, is the best cure for worry.
- Talk to neighbours. Communities that know each other cope better.
- If worry is affecting your sleep or daily life, talk to your GP, or search NHS “Every Mind Matters” for free support.
Things to do when the power's out
On your phone
Home War Ready goes on your home screen like any other app
Install it in a few seconds, with no app store needed. Your kit list, plan and guides open even with no signal, which is when you need them most.
iPhone and iPad
- Open homewarready in Safari
- Tap the Share button
- Tap Add to Home Screen, then Add
Android
- Open homewarready in Chrome
- Tap Install app when it appears, or tap ⋮ then Add to Home screen
Pricing
Less than a cup of coffee a month
One subscription covers your whole household. Cancel any time from your account.
- Daily plain-English update, every morning
- Family kit builder and checklists
- All “If this happens” guides
- Household plan
- Everything in monthly
- Works out at £2.83 a month
- Six-monthly “rotate your kit” reminder
- Priority email help
Secure payment by Stripe. We never see or store your card details. Prices include VAT where it applies.
Isn't this advice free from the government?
Yes, and we link to it on every page. Home War Ready turns it into a plan for your own household, sizes your kit, keeps track of what you've done, and tells you every morning what has changed. That way you don't have to follow the news all the time.
Is war coming to the UK?
No one can say for certain. The government says the UK must prepare for the homeland coming under threat, and the Defence Secretary has set a 1,000-day readiness goal for the armed forces. We report exactly what ministers and officials say, with sources, and tell you what it means for your home. A prepared household copes better with any disruption, whether it comes from conflict, cyber attacks or a storm.
Who is behind Home War Ready?
Home War Ready is an independent UK service. We aren't part of, or endorsed by, any government department or emergency service.
Do you sell kit or earn commission?
No. Our lists use ordinary supermarket items, and we earn nothing from what you buy.
How do I cancel?
From your account page at any time. You keep access until the end of the period you've paid for.