The United Kingdom (UK) government is urging households to keep basic supplies such as tinned food and drinking water at home as part of a wider campaign to prepare citizens for national emergencies. The advice comes as Britain steps up planning for a range of threats, including cyberattacks, infrastructure disruption and possible attacks by hostile states.
According to a recent report by the BBC, the government wants people to be able to manage basic needs during the first few days of a major emergency, which would allow authorities to focus their immediate resources on people who are most vulnerable. Households are being encouraged to keep food that does not require cooking, bottled water and other essential items that could be useful if normal services are disrupted.
BREAKING: UK government has requested that citizens stockpile canned food & drinking water for at least 3 days, per BBC
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UK government expands emergency preparedness campaign
The advice is part of a broader government effort to improve what officials describe as the country’s resilience. The campaign is expected to explain simple steps households can take to prepare for emergencies, ranging from floods and extreme heat to cyberattacks and potential security threats.
The Cabinet Office has also been working on contingency plans for how the UK would respond if an international conflict affected the country. Work on the so-called “war book” has been under way, with the document intended to set out how government departments would respond to the impact of a military conflict on Britain.
The Cabinet Office has said: “Safeguarding national security is the first priority of any government.” It added that it was committed to raising awareness of simple steps households could take to become more resilient and to strengthening the country’s preparedness for different threats.
The report came alongside warnings from Britain’s military leadership. Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton has described the current period as the “most dangerous period” of his 35-year military career, pointing to Russia’s war in Ukraine, cyber activity, sabotage and other security threats.
The same warning surfaced in August
The warning about households keeping food and water supplies had already emerged in the last week of August. Reports at the time said the Cabinet Office was preparing a new public campaign encouraging people to stock up on tinned food and bottled water.
The campaign was expected to cover several types of emergencies, including extreme weather and potential attacks by hostile states. The aim was to ensure that most households had basic supplies and knew what to do during a crisis, reducing pressure on emergency services and allowing the government to concentrate on people who needed immediate help.
The preparations came after a series of incidents and warnings involving extreme weather, cyber threats and security risks in the UK and elsewhere. The government has also been reviewing its preparations for a possible military attack by a hostile state.
Cabinet Office minister Louise Haigh was reported to be coordinating crisis planning across government departments so that assistance could be provided more quickly to communities affected by major emergencies.
What households are being asked to keep
The UK’s official emergency-preparedness guidance already advises people to keep supplies that could help them cope if essential services are temporarily disrupted.
Households are advised to keep bottled drinking water and non-perishable food that does not require cooking, including ready-to-eat tinned meat, fruit and vegetables. A tin opener is also recommended.
People are also encouraged to keep a torch, power bank, radio, spare batteries and basic first-aid supplies. Households with babies, pets or people who rely on medical devices are advised to consider their additional needs.
The government recommends around 2.5 to 3 litres of drinking water per person per day, while around 10 litres per person per day is described as more comfortable when water for cooking and hygiene is also taken into account.
Why Britain is increasing its focus on resilience
The government’s preparedness campaign comes at a time when British officials have become increasingly vocal about the range of threats facing the country.
The government has also been dealing with more frequent extreme-weather emergencies. Earlier this month, a Cobra meeting was held to coordinate the government’s response to a heatwave amid concerns over wildfires and drought.
The wider message from the government is that households should be prepared for situations in which shops, electricity, water supplies, communication networks or other essential services may be temporarily affected.
Although the government’s preparedness campaign includes planning for potential attacks by hostile states and military conflict, the household advice itself is not limited to war.
