Short answer. Ireland's official emergency checklist is part of Be Emergency Ready (2026), from the Office of Emergency Planning 12. It lists 17 entries, from 2-3 litres of drinking water per person per day to a road map in case GPS is unavailable. It sets no fixed number of days: households should have "enough food and water to see you through an emergency" 1.
What is on the official Irish checklist?
Each line below follows the checklist 1. Where the checklist gives no quantity, none is added.
| # | Item | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drinking water: bottled, kept in a cool, dark place, stored only up to the expiry date on the bottle | 2-3 litres per person per day |
| 2 | Non-perishable food, rotated so nothing goes past its expiry date; consider the dietary needs of everyone, including small children and pets | A supply (not specified) |
| 3 | Ready-to-feed baby formula, if you use formula | An extra supply |
| 4 | Alternative ways to keep warm: blankets, sleeping bags, emergency thermal blankets | Not specified |
| 5 | Torch or lamp with spare batteries | 1 + spare batteries |
| 6 | Matches or a lighter, kept in a safe place | Not specified |
| 7 | Note of gas and electricity shutoff points, plus your MPRN and GPRN numbers from your bill | - |
| 8 | Prescription medicines kept up to date, copies of prescriptions and details of medical conditions | Not specified |
| 9 | First aid kit | 1 |
| 10 | Sanitary and hygiene products for everyone in the household | Not specified |
| 11 | Battery, wind-up or solar radio with spare batteries (or a car radio as backup) | 1 |
| 12 | Power banks for recharging phones | Not specified |
| 13 | Documents in a waterproof bag: birth certificates, passports, driving licences, insurance details, medical information, emergency contacts | 1 bag |
| 14 | Strong plastic bags for valuables and sentimental items | Not specified |
| 15 | Road map in case GPS is unavailable | 1 |
| 16 | Spare keys for home and car | Not specified |
| 17 | If you need to evacuate: medication and hygiene items, warm and waterproof clothing, mobile phone and charger, ID and key documents, cash and debit or credit cards | - |
How do I size the list for my household?
Only water is quantified. Multiply 2-3 litres by the number of people and by the number of days you choose to cover 1: for example, two people for three days need 12 to 18 litres. For food, the checklist asks you to account for everyone's dietary needs, including small children and pets 1. Our guides on water per person, food shelf life, vulnerable people and pets go further. The context behind each item is on the emergency supplies page.
What if I cannot get everything at once?
The Office of Emergency Planning's advice is: "Do what you can: Some preparation is better than no preparation at all" 2.
Turn this list into your plan
The official list above is the reference, and you can assemble everything on it yourself. The Phaenyx plan counts each line for your household, adds the risks around your home and comes with the Phaenyx Safe app. Build your Phaenyx plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Irish checklist say how many days to prepare for?
No. It asks for "enough food and water to see you through an emergency", without a fixed number of days 1.
What radio does Ireland recommend?
No brand: a battery, wind-up or solar radio with spare batteries, or a car radio as a backup 1.
Is a first aid kit on the Irish list?
Yes, one first aid kit 1. Our 72-hour kit guide shows how it fits with the rest.
Where can I get the checklist?
It is part of Be Emergency Ready, available online, as audio, in Braille on demand and by post from the Office of Emergency Planning 2.
Sources
- Office of Emergency Planning, Department of Defence — Your checklist (Be Emergency Ready) — https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/cbe65d91/JAV16262_OEP_Preparedness_Campaign_Checklist_EN.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Office of Emergency Planning, Department of Defence — Be Emergency Ready - Information and advice in case of emergencies (accessible booklet) — https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/749e8ee7/JAV16262_OEP_Preparedness_Campaign_Accessible_EN_V4_Web.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Ireland, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Office of Emergency Planning, Department of Defence · Your checklist (Be Emergency Ready) checked 2026-10-20
- Office of Emergency Planning, Department of Defence · Be Emergency Ready - Information and advice in case of emergencies (accessible booklet) checked 2026-10-20