When a winter storm is forecast, the shops fill up fast and the shelves of tins and bottled water empty first. A little planning now means your household can ride out a power cut or a snowy day calmly, with food in the cupboard and nobody needing to go out in the wind. Here is a simple, practical plan in nine steps, written for busy families in Wolverhampton and beyond.

What you are aiming for

Think in terms of one or two days at home without power or a trip to the shops. That means drinking water, food that can be eaten cold or heated quickly, a way to see in the dark, and a way to stay warm safely. You do not need a bunker; one shelf or one sturdy box is enough for most homes.

Why do it in November?

Most power cuts are short, but winter storms can keep some streets dark for longer and make roads slow and icy. Buying a few extra tins with your normal shop now, while prices are normal and the shelves are full, is far easier than queuing on the day a warning goes out. It also spreads the cost over a few weeks instead of one big spend.

Your 9-step winter stock-up plan

1. Count your household

Write down everyone who lives with you, including babies, older relatives and pets. Note anyone who depends on electricity for medical equipment or needs medicine kept cold; they can be added to the free Priority Services Register with your energy network, which means extra support during a power cut.

2. Put drinking water aside

A common rule of thumb is about 3 litres of drinking water per person per day. For a family of four, that is 12 litres a day. Bottled water is easiest to store, or fill clean, food-safe containers from the tap the evening before a storm is due.

3. Choose tins you will actually eat

Tinned fish, beans, vegetables and soup are the backbone of a storm shelf. Princes Tuna Chunks in Spring Water 145g, case of 12 (£22.08) can be eaten straight from the tin on crackers or bread, so it works even if the cooker is off. Ring-pull tins save hunting for a tin opener in the dark, but keep a manual opener in the box anyway.

4. Add soup for a warm meal

If you have a gas hob, or once the power is back, a hot bowl of soup makes a cold evening much better. Jack's Cream of Tomato Soup 400g, case of 6 (£7.46) works out at about £1.24 a tin.

5. Keep vegetables and pulses in the cupboard

Tinned peas and kidney beans turn rice or pasta into a proper meal and keep for a long time. Jack's Garden Peas 300g, case of 12 and Jack's Red Kidney Beans 400g, case of 12 are easy staples to keep on the shelf.

6. Light: torches before candles

Keep a torch and spare batteries in one known place, such as a kitchen drawer. Battery lanterns are safer than candles in homes with children or pets. If you use candles, use a steady holder and never leave them burning in an empty room.

7. Stay warm the safe way

Blankets, warm layers, hot water bottles and a flask filled while you still have power will keep you comfortable. Close doors to keep heat in one or two rooms. Never use a barbecue, camping stove or outdoor heater indoors, because of the risk of carbon monoxide.

8. Charge up and write numbers down

Charge phones and a power bank as soon as a warning is issued, and keep important numbers on paper. In the UK, 105 is the free number to report or check on a power cut.

9. Protect your fridge food and check on neighbours

Keep fridge and freezer doors closed so food stays cold for longer. When the power returns, throw away anything that has thawed and warmed up. Give older neighbours a knock or a call to make sure they are warm and have water.

Your storm box at a glance

  • Drinking water: about 3 litres per person per day
  • Tins that can be eaten cold: fish, beans, fruit
  • Soup, rice and pasta for when the power is back
  • A manual tin opener, cutlery and paper towels
  • Torch, spare batteries and a battery lantern
  • Blankets, a hot water bottle and a flask
  • A charged power bank and phone numbers on paper
  • Pet food, nappies or baby milk if you need them

Honest trade-offs

Cases are cheaper per tin, but only buy what your household eats in normal weeks too. Put new tins at the back and use the oldest first, so nothing goes out of date. If cupboard space is tight, a single box of 20 to 30 tins and a few bottles of water covers most families for a day or two.

Safety notes

  • Never use barbecues, camping stoves or generators indoors or in a garage.
  • Check labels for allergens before you stock up.
  • Stay well away from fallen power lines and call 105.

Free delivery in WV postcodes

A storm shelf is heavy to carry home, so let us bring it. Adomoo offers free delivery on orders over £100 in WV postcodes, and new customers can use code WV10 for £10 off a first order over £50. Stock up on these cupboard basics at Adomoo once, and the next storm warning will be one less thing to worry about.