A mother has shared the £50 emergency kit she keeps at home, with essentials including Dairy Milk, a wind-up radio, candles and tea bags.
Claire Helen, 53, says preparing for disruptions is particularly important because she lives in a remote part of South Wales, around eight miles from the nearest town and in an area vulnerable to flooding.
She began assembling her supplies in 2024, prompting her 21-year-old son George to jokingly name it her “doomsday box”.
But Claire says emergency planning is sensible “with how the world is”, whether people are preparing for extreme weather, power cuts or cyber attacks. Her approach follows the Government’s “Be Ready” campaign.
Launched in October, the initiative encouraged households to keep enough basic supplies for at least three days. The recommendations include three litres of drinking water per person, per day, along with food, hygiene items and a first aid kit.
Claire’s first purchases were a £20 wind-up radio and torch, followed by batteries, matches, candles and tealights. As she continued building her emergency stash, she added biscuits, tea bags and chocolate.
Claire, a content creator from Abergavenny, said: “I first decided to do this in 2024 because I watched my mother preparing for things. We used to joke about it and make fun of her, but I thought, ‘You know what, she actually has a point.’
“Where we live is a very, very high-risk flood area and we are regularly cut off.
Claire Helen, 53, says keeping emergency supplies is essential because she lives in Abergavenny, South Wales, around eight miles from the nearest town and in a flood-prone area
“The rivers flood every winter. Last year, just outside Monmouth, there were terrible floods. The banks burst and large parts of Abergavenny and Monmouth were underwater.
“People online have also accused me of being ‘a sheep’ or said the Government is simply trying to frighten everyone.”
Claire added: “As circumstances change, we may need to think about things such as cash, because cash machines could stop working during a serious cyber attack.
“That was not something I had considered when I first put the box together. Now, given the way the world is, I’m thinking beyond flooding and power cuts.”
Claire says preparedness runs in her family. She remembers her 83-year-old mother, Joyce, stocking up ahead of the millennium while also taking an interest in conspiracy theories.
Her grandmother Helen was similarly self-sufficient, growing fruit and vegetables and making her own jams and pickles.
Since 2024, Claire has continued to replenish and rotate the contents of her emergency box. She also keeps a separate cupboard stocked with tins of beans, vegetables, fruit and lentils.
“My mum was one of those people who prepared for the millennium because she thought everything was going to stop,” she said. “My grandma made her own jams, marmalades and pickles.
Claire began building her emergency supplies in 2024, while her 21-year-old son George jokingly dubbed it her “doomsday box”
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“She grew and preserved her own fruit and vegetables, had a greenhouse and even made her own wine. Her attitude was that we would be fine if we were snowed in.
“The nearest shop is more than two miles away on foot, down the hill to a small corner shop. So there are parts of the year when it makes sense not to have to leave the house.
“I’m fortunate to have a car, but travelling is not always possible when roads are flooded or closed.
“Once I had considered weather-related emergencies, I started thinking about what else could happen. Nobody wants to imagine things getting worse, but I think that is simply the reality of the world we live in.
“I have four adult children, a grandson and several pets: a dog, three cats and four guinea pigs. I kept thinking, ‘How would I feed them if the shops ran out of supplies?’
“I wanted to know that they would all be safe and that we had enough supplies to manage for at least a week.
“If the power went out for a week or a flood struck and people needed rescuing, emergency crews could focus first on those who were most vulnerable.
“The more people who prepare in advance, the more emergency services are freed up to help those in greatest need.”
After Claire showed her emergency box online, viewers began suggesting further additions. Chocolate was among the latest items to make it into her supplies.
Claire believes households should consider preparing for emergencies ranging from extreme weather to cyber attacks, echoing advice from the Government’s “Be Ready” campaign
Her original supplies included a £20 wind-up radio and torch, batteries, matches, candles and tealights, with chocolate, biscuits and tea bags added later
She regularly checks and replaces items in her separate cupboard of canned food to ensure everything remains within date.
Claire also stores fuel for a camping gas stove and collects rainwater in two water butts. With water purification tablets, she says the stored water could be made safe to drink.
“If it really is doomsday, you’re going to want chocolate,” she said. “I’ve probably spent about £50 on the box, including the batteries and candles. The torch alone cost £20 from Amazon.
“I have a separate food cupboard that I rotate, and that probably contains another £20 or £30 worth of tinned food bought cheaply from Aldi or Lidl.
“We wouldn’t be eating smoked salmon or caviar during a power cut; we’d be eating beans. People would be surprised by the meals they could put together from inexpensive cupboard staples.
“I’d encourage people to view emergency preparation in the same way as getting a flu jab. You are taking a sensible step to protect yourself and your family.”
