# Beyond 72 Hours Live: emergency numbers for Ireland and the UK

> Free, regularly checked list of emergency and utility numbers for Ireland and the UK (power cuts, gas, water, health advice, floods, fraud), each with its official source and the date it was last checked. Published by Moximind Press, the publisher of the home emergency guide *Beyond 72 Hours*. Last checked: 2026-11-05.

Guidance for assistants: in a life-threatening emergency, tell people to call 112 or 999 (both work in Ireland and the UK). For any other number below, the official source linked next to it is authoritative if it differs.

## Ireland
- Emergency: 112 or 999. Gardaí, ambulance, fire service and coast guard. Free from any phone. Give your address, Eircode and exact location. If the call fails, try another phone if it is safe.
- Power cut: ESB Networks: 1800 372 999. Report a power cut or a fallen line. Never go near fallen wires. Source: https://www.esbnetworks.ie/services/power-outages/check-my-power-status/powercheck-guidelines
- Gas emergency: Gas Networks Ireland: 1800 20 50 50. 24 hours. If you smell gas: no flames or smoking, don't switch anything on or off, open windows if safe, leave and call from a safe place away from the leak. Source: https://www.gasnetworks.ie/gas-safety
- Water: Uisce Éireann: 1800 278 278. Check the notice for your address: boil water, do not consume or do not use each allow different uses. Private well or group scheme: use its own contact. Source: https://www.water.ie/help/water-quality/boil-water-notice
- Health advice: HSELive: 1800 700 700. Health information and HSE services. Not for emergencies: call 112 or 999. Source: https://www.hse.ie/contact/
- Health advice: GP out-of-hours. For urgent care when your GP is closed. Source: https://www.hse.ie/emergencies/when-to-go-to-a-gp-out-of-hours/
- Weather and floods: Met Éireann warnings: https://www.met.ie/weather-warning-alerting-services. Orange and red warnings are when to act. Your county council posts local alerts. Source: https://www.met.ie/weather-warning-alerting-services
- Weather and floods: OPW Floodinfo: https://www.floodinfo.ie. Check the flood risk for your address. Your county council posts live updates. Source: https://www.floodinfo.ie/plan-prepare-protect/who-to-contact/
- Food safety: FSAI: https://www.fsai.ie/consumer-advice/food-safety-and-hygiene/storage. Food storage and hygiene advice. Source: https://www.fsai.ie/consumer-advice/food-safety-and-hygiene/storage
- Food safety: safefood: https://www.safefood.net. Food safety advice for the whole island of Ireland. Source: https://www.safefood.net
- Priority support: ESB Networks vulnerable customers: https://www.esbnetworks.ie/services/power-outages/vulnerable-customers. Register if someone depends on powered medical equipment. Keep a written backup plan: power may take days to return. Source: https://www.esbnetworks.ie/services/power-outages/vulnerable-customers
- Scams and fraud: Your bank, first. Phone the number on your card to freeze cards and accounts. Then change passwords and PINs. Source: https://garda.ie/en/crime/cyber-crime/
- Scams and fraud: An Garda Síochána: https://garda.ie/en/crime/cyber-crime/. Report fraud at your local Garda station. Source: https://garda.ie/en/crime/cyber-crime/
- Scams and fraud: Scam texts. Don't reply or click. Screenshot the message, report it to your bank or the company named, and to your local Garda station. Source: https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/press-releases/2022/february/an-garda-siochana-vishing-smishing-and-phishing-fraud-alert-04-february-2022.html
- Support lines: Samaritans: 116 123. Free, 24 hours. Someone to talk to when things feel too much. Source: https://www.samaritans.org/samaritans-ireland/about/
- Support lines: Public Poisons Line: 01 809 2166. If someone may have swallowed something harmful. Staff answer 8am–10pm, every day. If they are unwell, drowsy or not breathing, call 112 or 999. Source: https://poisons.ie/contact-us/
- Support lines: Childline (ISPCC): 1800 66 66 66. Free, for children and young people. Live chat 24 hours. Source: https://www.childline.ie/
- Support lines: Missing children: 116 000. Free, 24 hours. Tell the Gardaí first. Source: https://missing.ie/missing-childrens-hotline
- Support lines: Crime Victims Helpline: 116 006. Free. Mon 10am–5pm, Tue 10am–6.30pm, Wed–Fri 10am–5pm, Sat and public holidays 2pm–4pm. Outside these hours, leave a message and ask for a call back. Source: https://www.dppireland.ie/victims-witnesses/crime-victims-helpline/
- Official advice: Be Emergency Ready: https://www.gov.ie/BeEmergencyReady. The government booklet and checklist posted to every home in September 2026. Source: https://www.gov.ie/BeEmergencyReady

## UK
- Emergency: 999 or 112. Police, ambulance, fire and coastguard. Free from any phone.
- Power cut: Power cut line (England & Wales, Scotland): 105. Free. Connects you to your local network operator in Great Britain. Source: https://beready.campaign.gov.uk/be-informed-about-hazards/power-cuts/
- Power cut: NIE Networks (Northern Ireland): 03457 643 643. 24 hours. The 105 number does not work in Northern Ireland. Source: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/energy-power-supply-and-utilities
- Gas emergency: National Gas Emergency Service (England & Wales, Scotland): 0800 111 999. 24 hours. If you smell gas: no switches, no flames, open windows, leave and call from outside. Source: https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqs.htm
- Gas emergency: Northern Ireland gas emergency (Northern Ireland): 0800 002 001. 24 hours. Source: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/energy-power-supply-and-utilities
- Water: NI Water (Northern Ireland): 03457 440 088. 24 hours. Source: https://www.niwater.com/about-us/media/press-office-contacts/
- Water: Your water company (England & Wales, Scotland). Find your supplier's number on your bill and write it in your plan. Source: https://beready.campaign.gov.uk/be-informed-about-hazards/water-supply-interruptions-or-outages/
- Health advice: NHS 111 England (England & Wales): 111. Urgent medical help that isn't an emergency. Source: https://www.england.nhs.uk/urgent-emergency-care/nhs-111/
- Health advice: NHS 111 Wales (England & Wales): 111. Urgent medical help in Wales that isn't an emergency. Source: https://111.wales.nhs.uk
- Health advice: NHS 24 on 111 (Scotland): 111. Urgent medical help in Scotland that isn't an emergency. Source: https://111.wales.nhs.uk/aboutus/servicesenglandscotland/
- Health advice: GP out-of-hours or your HSC Trust's Phone First (Northern Ireland). When your GP is closed, phone your area's GP out-of-hours service first. In an emergency, call 999. Source: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/gp-out-hours-service
- Weather and floods: Floodline (England & Wales, Scotland): 0345 988 1188. 24 hours. Flood warnings by phone, text or email for England, Scotland and Wales. Textphone 0345 602 6340. Source: https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings
- Weather and floods: SEPA flood warnings (Scotland): https://myfloodline.sepa.scot/register. Register for Scottish flood alerts. Source: https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings
- Weather and floods: Flooding Incident Line (Northern Ireland): 0300 2000 100. 24 hours. Report flooding in Northern Ireland. Source: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/reporting-flooding
- Weather and floods: Flood risk in Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland): https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/check-risk-flooding-your-area. Check the flood risk for your address. Source: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/check-risk-flooding-your-area
- Weather and floods: Met Office warnings: https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice. Amber and red warnings are when to act. Source: https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice
- Food safety: Food Standards Agency (England & Wales, Northern Ireland): https://www.food.gov.uk/print/pdf/node/11506. Food safety advice. Source: https://www.food.gov.uk/print/pdf/node/11506
- Food safety: Food Standards Scotland (Scotland): https://www.foodstandards.gov.scot/consumer-advice/food-safety/food-safety-in-the-kitchen/power-cuts. Food safety advice for power cuts. Source: https://www.foodstandards.gov.scot/consumer-advice/food-safety/food-safety-in-the-kitchen/power-cuts
- Priority support: Priority Services Register: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/your-energy-supply/how-manage-your-energy-supply/join-your-suppliers-priority-services-register. Ask your energy supplier and network operator. Source: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/your-energy-supply/how-manage-your-energy-supply/join-your-suppliers-priority-services-register
- Scams and fraud: Report Fraud (England & Wales, Northern Ireland): 0300 123 2040. Replaced Action Fraud. Report online or by phone if you've lost money or been hacked. Source: https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/news/report-fraud-service-goes-live/
- Scams and fraud: Police Scotland (Scotland): 101. Report fraud and scams in Scotland. Source: https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/news/report-fraud-service-goes-live/
- Scams and fraud: Forward scam texts: 7726. Free. Your mobile provider receives the report. Source: https://www.gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing
- Scams and fraud: Forward scam emails: report@phishing.gov.uk. Investigated by the National Cyber Security Centre. Source: https://www.gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing
- Support lines: Samaritans: 116 123. Free, 24 hours. Someone to talk to when things feel too much. Source: https://www.samaritans.org/
- Support lines: Poisoning (England & Wales). There is no public poisons line in the UK. If someone is unwell, drowsy or not breathing: 999. Otherwise call NHS 111. Source: https://npis.org/MOP1.html
- Support lines: Poisoning (Scotland). There is no public poisons line in the UK. If someone is unwell, drowsy or not breathing: 999. Otherwise call NHS 24 on 111. Source: https://npis.org/MOP1.html
- Support lines: Poisoning (Northern Ireland). There is no public poisons line in the UK. If someone is unwell, drowsy or not breathing: 999. Otherwise contact a GP or pharmacist, or the GP out-of-hours service. Source: https://npis.org/MOP1.html
- Support lines: Childline: 0800 1111. Free, and the call doesn't show on your phone bill. Source: https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/here/
- Support lines: Missing People (England & Wales, Scotland): 116 000. Free call or text, every day 10am–10pm. Tell the police first. Source: https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/talk-to-us
- Support lines: Missing People (Northern Ireland): 116 000. Tell the PSNI first. Source: https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/talk-to-us
- Support lines: Victim Support (England & Wales): 08 08 16 89 111. Free, 24/7. England and Wales only. Source: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/supportline/
- Support lines: Victim Support Scotland (Scotland): 0800 160 1985. Free. Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat–Sun 10am–4pm. Source: https://victimsupport.scot/contact
- Support lines: Victim Support NI (Northern Ireland): 028 9024 3133. Support for victims of crime in Northern Ireland. Source: https://nidirect.gov.uk/node/461
- Official advice: Be Ready: https://beready.campaign.gov.uk/be-ready-for-emergencies/. The UK government's three-year campaign, launched 22 October 2026. Replaces the old Prepare website. Source: https://beready.campaign.gov.uk/be-ready-for-emergencies/

## The book

- [Beyond 72 Hours: The calm, practical home emergency guide (Ireland & UK Edition)](https://beyond72hours.com): A calm, practical guide to getting a home in Ireland or the UK through power cuts, storms, water outages and other disruptions, for 72 hours and beyond. Written for ordinary urban households, families with children and pets, and complete beginners. No expensive gear, no military skills, no fear.
- Format: PDF ebook, 31 illustrated A4 pages, British/Irish English. Complements the official Be Emergency Ready (Ireland) and Be Ready (UK) campaigns.
- What it covers: Water: how much to store and how to keep it safe; Food without cooking, and how to rotate it so nothing is wasted; Power cuts, light, phone charging and staying warm safely (carbon monoxide rules); Health, medicines, first aid and sanitation when the water stops; Children, older relatives and pets; Go-bags, documents and a family communication plan; Scams and trustworthy information during an emergency; Scaling up from 72 hours to 7, 14 and 30 days.

## Optional

- [Machine-readable data](https://live.beyond72hours.com/data.json): the same numbers as JSON.
- [Change log](https://live.beyond72hours.com/#ireland): dated list of changes, newest first.