The BBC has revealed it has ‘Black Sky event’ plans in place which dictates what the national broadcaster will do in case of a full-scale UK emergency in which communications including the internet are shut off for three days or more.

Only an estimated 100 people in the world know the full details of the BBC’s Black Sky plans, which include running a special emergency broadcast radio studio.

The emergency broadcasting service will have secure lines of communication which are not dependent on internet connections and will have enough water, food and fuel to allow it to operate for three days without any further supplies.

The emergency radio will broadcast what households should do in that situation, including how much water people should be drinking and even what to do if water supplies are so disrupted that toilets won’t flush.

The BBC revealed in a report: “The BBC’s broadcasts will be sent via radio transmission towers, isolated from the internet and equipped with tanks of between five and 40,000 litres (8,800 gallons) of diesel to keep their generators going for three days – FM radio is power hungry.

“The teams will be using satellite phones to keep in touch and if these stop working there are pre-agreed protocols and meet-up points.

“Why FM? Because it works almost everywhere, even in a blackout or a crippling cyber-attack.”

The plans being made public came after repeated calls from government officials, including Prime Minister Andy Burnham, for the UK to be more prepared for national emergencies such as power cuts, internet and phone blackouts and disruption to food, water or fuel supplies.

Households should stockpile at least three days of food and drinking water, according to government advice, and have a battery powered FM radio at home to receive broadcasts such as the BBC’s emergency Black Sky event radio station.

Under a new Government “be ready” campaign, households are being urged to be prepared if everyday services are temporarily disrupted with three days of key supplies.

The checklist released advises stocking up with three days’ worth of bottled water and non-perishable food, a battery or wind-up FM radio to receive updates during outages and cash in case electronic payments or cash machines are disrupted.

According to BBC Newsnight, the Iceland supermarket chain saw a 40% increase in sales of tinned products over the weekend.

The programme also reported Robert Dyas had a 160% increase in sales of radios compared with the previous week.

The Government advice marks the first stage of a three-year campaign which aims to make households feel better prepared for disruptive events, such as severe weather, and comes in the wake of heatwaves, drought and fires that hit the UK during the summer.

The steps advised include checking you have essentials such as three days’ worth of food and water as well as checking eligibility and signing up for the priority services register for specific support during outages.

A spokesperson for Iceland told BBC Newsnight: “It’s clear consumers have listened to the Government’s message as we have seen a 40% increase in sales of tinned products over the weekend and strong sales of bottled water too.

“Our supplies of these products remain healthy.”

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting told the programme: “It’s encouraging that people are taking practical steps to be ready.

“Having a few everyday essentials at home, from tinned food to torches, helps households prepare for disruption, whether that’s flooding, power cuts or burst pipes.

“We can all play our part in making Britain more resilient.”

BBC WARNS OF UK ‘BLACK SKY EVENT’: Emergency Plans Call for Three Days of Food, Water and Fuel

A major emergency affecting Britain’s electricity and communications networks could disrupt everyday life across the country, prompting renewed attention to national resilience plans and advice on how households should prepare.

The term “Black Sky event” describes an extreme scenario involving widespread and prolonged power outages, potentially caused by severe space weather, major infrastructure failures or other large-scale emergencies.

The idea of preparing for three days without normal access to essential services has attracted particular attention. But what would happen if millions of people suddenly lost electricity, mobile phone coverage, internet access and access to electronic payments?

What Is a ‘Black Sky Event’?

A Black Sky event is an extreme emergency in which essential infrastructure could stop functioning simultaneously.

Possible consequences include:

• Widespread electricity failures.

• Internet and mobile phone outages.

• Disruption to drinking water supplies.

• Petrol stations and supermarkets temporarily closing.

• Cash machines and card payment systems becoming unavailable.

• Public transport and traffic systems experiencing disruption.

One example frequently discussed by emergency planners is the December 2015 Lancaster flooding incident, which left approximately 61,500 people without electricity and disrupted several essential services.

BBC’s Emergency Broadcasting Plan

According to the BBC report published on 7 November 2026, around 100 staff would operate a dedicated emergency radio studio.

The arrangements include:

• Secure communications independent of the internet.

• Emergency supplies of food and drinking water.

• Fuel for generators and broadcasting equipment.

• Satellite phones and alternative communication arrangements.

• FM radio transmissions to deliver emergency information.

The BBC’s emergency facilities are designed to maintain broadcasting for at least 72 hours without resupply.

What Should Every Household Prepare?

The government’s official Be Ready campaign recommends preparing enough essential supplies to manage for three days.

The government also recommends considering the needs of babies, older people, pets and anyone requiring regular medication.

Is Britain Expecting a Nationwide Blackout?

Importantly, the government has not announced an imminent nationwide blackout.

The preparations are designed to improve resilience against several possible emergencies, including severe weather, infrastructure failures and cyberattacks.

The aim is to ensure that households can manage independently while emergency services prioritise those who need immediate assistance.

The three-day recommendation is precautionary guidance, not a prediction that Britain will lose electricity for 72 hours.

The Bigger Question: Are British Households Prepared?

A prolonged power failure would affect far more than household lighting. It could disrupt heating, cooking, communications, water supplies and access to everyday necessities.

The government’s advice is to build emergency supplies gradually rather than spend large amounts of money buying everything at once.