Your home plan

General plan

General guidance for every house. Answer the optional questions to see what matters for yours.

Step 1 of 4 Who is at home

Who is at homeHeating and waterHome and settingKeeping in touch

Who is at home

Counts and yes-or-no. No names, no addresses.

How many people live here?
Anyone under five?
Anyone older, or who would need help in a long cut?
Anyone who needs help getting around?
Does anyone use powered medical equipment?

Oxygen, a ventilator, a feeding pump, a powered bed, a fridge medicine.

Pets?

Heating and water

How do you heat the house?
How do you cook?
An electric shower?
Where does your water come from?

Home and setting

What kind of home?
Where is the house?
Any of these at the house?

Tick any that apply. Leave them all if none.

Do solar or battery circuits keep working in a cut?

Check the backup or EPS arrangement. Solar panels alone do not guarantee backup power.

Keeping in touch

How do you get online?

Without JavaScript your answers are not saved. The general plan for every house is below.

See the general plan
A farmhouse with lit windows as weather moves in.

Met Éireann warnings

Check Met Éireann warnings

Source: Met Éireann

    What matters here

    Personal answers and downloads need JavaScript on this device.

      Answer the optional questions to see what matters most for your house. The general guidance below covers unknown answers.

      Do this now

      Spending ceilings are not a guarantee of complete supplies. Start with what you already have.

      • Check your torch, phone charge, drinking water and written contacts. Source
      • Stay away from fallen wires. Report them to ESB Networks on 1800 372 999. Source
      • Follow shelter and travel instructions. Do not go out to inspect damage during dangerous weather. Source
      More for your house

        What stops, and what keeps going

        • If your oil or gas boiler needs electricity, heating stops when the power goes. Source
        • If your heating uses electricity, plan another safe way to stay warm. Source
        • If your well has an electric pump, a power cut stops pumping. Source
        • If you use a group scheme, ask the operator how outages affect it. Source
        • If your broadband is fibre, both the router and ONT need power. Source
        • If you have an electric shower, it stops without electricity. Source
        • If your cooking uses electricity, set aside food that needs no heating. Source
        • If you have solar, check its EPS installation with the installer. Source
        • If you have a home battery, ask the installer what it can supply. Source
        • If EPS is unknown, assume no backup. Source
        • If your EV supports V2L, check the handbook and adapter. Source
        • If someone needs help moving around, agree who can assist. Source
        • If someone needs extra support, agree check-ins. Source
        • If you care for young children, plan feeding and supplies separately. Source
        • If you have pets, plan their food, water and care. Source
        • If you share a building, check its emergency arrangements. Source
        • If you live rurally, allow for access disruption. Source
        • If anyone uses powered medical equipment, agree a backup plan with the healthcare team. Priority restoration is not guaranteed. Source

        Drinking water for this house

        3 litres per person per day

        Drinking water only. Allow separately for cooking, washing and pets. Not infant feeding advice or a medical fluid prescription.

        One small job a month

        Ask which heating, water and internet systems need electricity.
        All twelve months
        1. Write county contacts and agree a check-in with a neighbour.
        2. Find the torches and check their batteries.
        3. Check drinking-water storage and rotate bottles.
        4. Try a voluntary no-mains evening. Leave essential and medical systems on.
        5. Find a first-aid course and check current dates and fees.
        6. Choose familiar foods that need no refrigeration or cooking.
        7. Tune the radio to your local station and write down the frequency.
        8. Put warm layers and blankets where everyone can reach them.
        9. Gather essential documents for a grab bag.
        10. Ask which heating, water and internet systems need electricity.
        11. Let children find the torch with an adult. Keep it a short game.
        12. Review the plan together and replace anything used.
        A household makes a plan for backup lighting.

        Thinking about a battery or a generator?

        Work out what you could actually run: the router, the fridge, a kettle.

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