For the middle of the night, and the weeks that might follow.
Take a seat.
This sheet assumes the worst ordinary case: the power is out, it's dark, and thinking clearly is harder than usual. It's built in three tiers, by how soon each thing is needed — not by category — because that's how emergencies actually unfold.
Work through it once, unhurried, well before you need it. Tick each item once it's genuinely in place — assembled, positioned, and findable without light. Come back and check it twice a year.
A caution worth keeping in mind throughout: nothing on this sheet should be a full account number, card number, or password. Where money is concerned, record only enough to identify it and who to call — never enough to move it.
Tier one
Seconds to minutes — found by touch, in the dark
Kept in exactly the same place, every single night, close enough to reach without standing.
Tier two
First three days — no power, no water main
Assembled in advance, stored somewhere it can be dragged or wheeled without a trip outside or upstairs.
Enough to identify an account or report a card — never enough to move money.
Tier three
Up to six weeks — the Civil Defence planning standard
Less a kit, more a plan — and a resupply pathway, worked out before it's needed.