The British government has urged the public to keep enough water and emergency food on hand to last three days, preparing for scenarios in which natural disasters or cyberattacks cut off electricity, water and communications or disrupt supplies of essential goods.
The Cabinet Office launched an emergency preparedness campaign called "Be Ready" on the 24th and released household emergency guidance, according to The Guardian and other foreign media. It marks the first stage of a campaign that will run for the next three years.
The government identified recurring extreme weather and cyberattacks as the main risk factors. Disasters such as last winter's storms and this summer's wildfires can shut down essential services including electricity, water and the internet, it said.
Defense Secretary Wes Streeting also warned of supply chain disruption from cyberattacks on the same day, at the opening of a tank gun barrel factory in Telford. He said supplies of essential goods could be disrupted if companies come under attack, asking how people would cope if the payment system at their local supermarket stopped working. The point was that businesses, not just households, need to prepare for failures in payment networks and supply chains.
The core principle set out by the government is for households to prepare in advance to get through at least 72 hours on their own. Because rescue and recovery can take time immediately after a disaster, basic household preparation allows resources to be concentrated on residents who need emergency support, the government said.
For drinking water, the guidance calls for 3 liters per person per day, or 9 liters for three days. Water needed for cooking and washing should be set aside separately. For food, it recommends canned goods, dried fruit and nuts that require no refrigeration or cooking.
Other recommended emergency supplies include a flashlight, spare batteries, blankets, first-aid items and a power bank. Rather than buying everything at once, the guidance advises households to first check what they already have at home and build up supplies gradually during regular shopping trips.
The campaign builds on household emergency guidance the British government has provided since May 2024. The government said other European countries including France, Ireland and the Netherlands also advise their citizens to prepare for three days of disruption to essential services, and that it drew on the experience and best practices of European nations.