Britons are being told to stockpile enough bottled water and emergency supplies for three days under a revamp of its disaster planning advice for households.
The Government’s emergencies website has been changed from “Prepare” to “Be Ready”, with people visiting the page asked: “Are you emergency ready?”
It is the first time official guidance will tell Britons to stockpile a number of key supplies for three days – bringing the UK in line with France, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The website – beready.campaign.gov.uk – is designed to get people prepared for civil emergencies like flooding, power cuts and wildfires.
But the revamp also comes amid increased warnings over the threat of war on the UK homeland before the end of the decade.
Russia has also stepped up its hybrid warfare attacks on the West, fuelling concerns that a prolonged, nationwide power cut could be caused by damage to Britain’s undersea communications cables or a cyber attack on a data centre.
Five steps to take in an emergency
The Government’s emergencies website lists five steps people can take straightaway to get ready for a possible emergency. They are:
- Start stocking up on supplies of bottled water and tinned food;
- Get a first aid kit prepared;
- Contact neighbours and the local community to share supplies or volunteer in the case of a disaster;
- Sign up for priority help from utility companies;
- Sign up for emergency alerts.
For the first time, householders will be encouraged to share emergency supplies on neighbourhood WhatsApp groups, swap contact details and discuss what extra support they might be able to offer their neighbours in a disaster scenario.
The “Prepare” message has been changed to “Be Ready” after the government consulted more than 500 organisations and members of the public about how emergency communications could be clearer.
Anyone who may need extra assistance during a power cut or if water supplies are down are being told to sign up to the Priority Services Register, which is used by utility companies to target vulnerable people first.
The website revamp is the first stage of a three-year campaign to help households across the UK feel better prepared for events such as severe weather, which can occasionally affect services including power, water, phones and the internet.
While the details of what people should stockpile have not changed, there is a greater emphasis on having enough for three days’ worth of supplies.
Nine key items you should keep in your cupboards
The Government’s new stockpile advice includes making sure you have the following nine items:
- Enough bottled water for three days – including three litres per person per day drinking water, with extra for cooking and washing;
- Non-perishable food for three days – such as tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts;
- Hand sanitiser, wet wipes, hygiene and bathroom products in case water supplies are off;
- Torch with spare batteries, blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing in case of power cuts;
- FM radio powered by batteries or wind-up to listen for emergency government broadcasts, as well as a charged power bank to keep mobile phones on;
- Cash, including a mix of coins and notes, and cards, copies of ID/documents and important phone numbers and information such as GP numbers, regular prescription details;
- First aid kit and essential medication and medical supplies;
- Baby formula, nappies, wipes and any other essential baby products if applicable;
- Pet food and bottled water for pets if applicable.
The relaunched website says people should first check their cupboards to see what essentials they already have before drawing up a list of what everyone in the household would need in an emergency.
People are advised to build up their stockpiles gradually during regular shopping trips rather than rushing out to create an entire store from scratch and making it easier to spread the cost.
They should set a reminder every six months to check expiry dates and swap out items that need replacing, or update the kit if their household’s needs have changed.
The Government has also worked closely with local resilience forums across the UK to root the advice in what works for local communities.
Security minister Dan Jarvis said: “Those who can follow this advice should follow this advice.
“By taking simple steps to be ready for everyday emergencies like severe storms, people can reduce pressure on emergency services, helping them prioritise people who need more support in an emergency.
“This is just the sort of community-focused campaign the UK needs to improve our resilience as a nation. It will bring us into line with European counterparts, where advice like this is a normal part of everyday life.”
Outreach to audiences at risk in everyday emergencies
Over the coming weeks and months, social media and radio advertising will help reach audiences who may be particularly at-risk in everyday emergencies, such as families with young children and older people.
To ensure the updated advice is relevant and accessible to all, the Be Ready campaign has been built in collaboration with charities and campaigners that work with groups that are often under-represented, including people with insecure housing and people who use foodbanks.
Laura Scott, British Red Cross Director for UK Resilience, said: “We can’t control when emergencies happen, but we can all take some simple steps to be prepared, so that when they do, we are ready to help our friends, families and neighbours.
“We know from our work across the UK that local people know their communities best and want to play a part when a crisis happens. Having clear and trusted advice for people, especially those who may be more at-risk, could help reduce the impact of crises and even save lives.”