Why should I stockpile and what will I need?

ByJack GreyBBC News and Freya Scott-TurnerBBC News

Do you have three days' worth of food and water in your home?

That is what the government has told all of us to have on hand to get through a national emergency, as well as some other basic items.

Its "Be Ready" campaign warns that severe weather and cyber attacks could disrupt essential services, and British households need to make sure they have what they need to get through a rocky few days.

On Friday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said unexpected events "seem to becoming more common" and everyone should have "those supplies in the house to get you through those moments".

As one expert warns the UK is "light years" behind our neighbours when it comes to preparing for major disruption, we've drilled down into what you need and why.

What should I stockpile?

The government recommends having enough supplies in the kitchen to last three days, including bottled water and non-perishable foods.

Wet wipes, a torch and cash are also recommended - you can scroll through below to see the full list.

Disaster planning expert Professor Lucy Easthope said the goal of asking household to prepare is to make it easier for emergency service to cope in the event of a national emergency.

For example, the government says people who need medication should have an extra supply just in case. Prof Easthope says: "If people have got their heart pills for an extra for an extra 48 hours, it stops [response crews] from having to immediately find an emergency pharmacist."

While the latest government campaign only launched on Thursday, some people are well ahead of the game.

Speaking to Radio 5 Live, Bridgette Clamp, who lives in near Penzance in Cornwall, said she has stocked up on "lots of tinned goods" as well as "flour, yeast and everything to bake bread".

"We're rocking and rolling," she says.

One woman, who spoke to 5 Live anonymously, said she bought "loads and loads" of emergency food - but ended up eating it before it was strictly necessary.

Like others, she wondered if the government was "scaremongering", adding: "I don't know but I've certainly bought into it."

Rob, who lives off-grid in north Wales, told the programme he has stocked up on so many supplies he "wouldn't even notice" if a disaster struck.

But he said he still felt there was "a bit of scaremongering" going on and wondered if he would ever need it all.

Why is the government telling people to stockpile now?

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the advice - which is similar to guidance issued by the previous government - was not triggered by any "particular piece of intelligence", but rather about improving "national resilience" more generally.

The government's announcement focused on extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent because of man-made climate change - but Streeting also referred to the threat of "increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks" on businesses, and supply chain disruption caused by "hostile state actors or terrorists".

Prof Easthope said she has been lobbying the government to launch this sort of campaign for "about 16 years".

She said successive governments have been hesitant of "putting out information that might cause tension" - and speculated that this advice may have been "rushed" out ahead of Storm Austen hitting the UK.

While many of us will already have a stash of tinned food in the cupboards, fewer homes are likely to have a store of bottled water.

Paul from Torquay, Devon, said to Radio 5 Live: "Who on earth carries three day supply of water?"

He added: "I think they've made it our responsibility, rather than their responsibility."

Do other countries have similar emergency advice?

Prof Easthope described the UK as "light years" behind neighbouring countries when it comes to preparedness.

"Countries like Scandinavia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, they've been good at this for years," she said.

France advises people to store 72-hours' worth of food, while the German government says homes should have enough supplies to last for a 10-day period.

"This is one area where I'm very comfortable saying we are playing massive catch-up," added Easthope.

Awareness campaigns such as "think 72 hours" make a big difference in the US, Australia and "all around Europe", she said.

However, in the UK, she said disaster messaging often gets parodied, or governments are accused of "panic-mongering".

"We have seen the pendulum shift" in recent years, she adds, saying that "we are now seeing people recognise this" as an issue that needs tackling.