Defence Secretary Wes Streeting (Image: Getty)
Households were urged to stockpile tinned food, bottled water and first aid kits, as Defence Secretary Wes Streeting warned the nation must “be ready”. Hand sanitiser, blankets and clockwork radios should also be stored for emergencies, according to a new government campaign.
Mr Streeting said businesses and individuals should be prepared “for the eventuality that there may be disruption to essential supply chains caused by hostile state actors or terrorists.” The Government last night called on people across the country to ensure they could survive for at least three days without contact with the outside world.
Officially, the measures are designed to ensure households can cope with extreme weather conditions. But Mr Streeting highlighted the threat from the UK’s enemies when he spoke at the opening of the UK Gun Hall Plant in Telford, Shropshire.
He added: “How would we cope if the payment systems of the supermarkets went down?
“Those are the sorts of everyday challenges and threats we could well face, and it is right we ask the country to be ready for those things and ask everybody to do their bit.”
Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer revealed earlier this year that British intelligence believed Russia could launch an attack on a NATO country by 2030, which could place the UK directly in conflict with Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Ministers also last night announced plans for new legislation to protect the UK’s undersea cables and pipelines, which carry data used for online messages, video calls, online banking and shopping, after it emerged Russian fishing trawlers are spying on the vital infrastructure.
The “Be Ready” campaign, overseen by the Cabinet Office, warns every household should ensure they can cope for at least three days of isolation. It urges people to store nine litres of water per person for drinking, with more for other tasks such as cooking and washing, and three days’ worth of tinned or dried food.
In addition, households should stock up on hand sanitiser, wet wipes and bathroom products, torches with batteries, power banks to charge phones and medical devices, copies of important documents such as passports or birth certificates, nappies, pet food, baby formula and essential medicines.
According to the guidance, blankets and sleeping bags should be stored because “homes can become cold very quickly when the heating goes off”.
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.”
A social media and radio advertising campaign will be launched in an attempt to reach audiences who may be particularly at risk in an emergency, such as families with young children and older people.
The Government has also recruited more than five hundred organisations including charities to businesses to spread the message.
Potential dangers from cyber-attacks were highlighted as 32 UK Government services were taken offline, and four were partially unavailable, while work was carried out to address security issues yesterday.
It followed the discovery of a critical security flaw in the programming language PHP, used by the majority of websites including Wikipedia and WordPress
Downing Street said no large UK public-facing critical services have been affected, but some “limited” Government websites have gone dark while issues are resolved.
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) experts are working with OpenAI, whose technology was used to discover the vulnerabilities, and partners around the globe to address potential problems, a No 10 spokeswoman said.
Tech minister Baroness Lloyd of Effra told the House of Lords: “The information I have is that 32 Government services are unavailable and four are partially unavailable.”
She said that “has largely resulted from precautionary measures taken to protect systems while security updates and mitigations are applied”.
Households Told to Stockpile Food, Water and Medicine in New Warning
Households across the United Kingdom have been urged to prepare for emergencies by keeping essential supplies of food, drinking water and medicine at home, as the government launches a major campaign to strengthen the country’s resilience against unexpected disruption.
The new advice has prompted fresh debate about Britain’s preparedness for severe weather, cyberattacks, power cuts and threats to essential infrastructure. Ministers say families should be able to manage for at least three days if normal services are temporarily disrupted.
The campaign, known as “Be Ready”, was launched by the government on October 22, 2026. It encourages people to take practical steps before an emergency occurs, rather than waiting until supermarkets, transport networks or communications systems are affected.
Although the announcement has attracted attention because of references to hostile states and potential attacks on infrastructure, officials insist the guidance is intended to improve everyday preparedness. It does not mean the government expects an immediate national emergency.
Nevertheless, the warning highlights how seriously authorities are taking the possibility that disruptions to electricity, water supplies, internet access and payment systems could affect ordinary life.
For millions of households, the message is straightforward: having a modest supply of essential items at home could make a difficult situation easier to manage.
Why the government wants households to prepare
The government says recent events have demonstrated how quickly essential services can be disrupted.
Severe storms can damage electricity networks, flooding can make roads impassable, and wildfires can force communities to evacuate or interrupt local services. Cyberattacks can create another set of problems by affecting businesses, digital systems and the infrastructure people depend on every day.
Modern households rely heavily on services that are often taken for granted. People use electronic payments to buy groceries, smartphones to contact relatives, online banking to manage money and electricity to operate heating systems and household appliances.
If several of these services become unavailable at the same time, even a relatively short disruption can create serious difficulties.
A supermarket might be unable to process card payments. A power cut could prevent people from charging their phones. Water supplies could be interrupted, while severe weather might make it difficult for emergency services to reach certain areas.
The government’s campaign is designed to help people cope with these circumstances until services are restored or assistance becomes available.
According to the official guidance, the objective is to ensure that households can remain self-sufficient for approximately 72 hours. This approach is already used in several European countries and is intended to reduce unnecessary pressure on emergency responders.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis has encouraged people who are able to follow the advice to take practical steps, while recognising that not every household has the same financial resources or storage space.
The food and water supplies families are being told to keep
One of the central recommendations is to maintain a three-day supply of drinking water and non-perishable food.
The guidance suggests approximately three litres of drinking water per person per day. That means an adult preparing for three days would need around nine litres for drinking alone. Additional water may be required for cooking, washing and other essential activities.
For a family of four, the recommended drinking-water supply would amount to approximately 36 litres over three days.
The figures are intended to help households estimate their needs rather than encourage people to purchase excessive quantities at once.
For food, the government recommends items with a long shelf life that do not require refrigeration or complicated preparation. Tinned meat, fish and vegetables, dried fruit and nuts are among the suggested options.
Households are encouraged to choose foods they normally eat, making it easier to rotate supplies and avoid unnecessary waste.
A manual tin opener may also be useful if electricity is unavailable or kitchen equipment cannot be used.
The guidance does not call for people to empty supermarket shelves or purchase large quantities of supplies immediately. Instead, it recommends checking existing cupboards, identifying missing essentials and gradually building up a small emergency reserve.
This approach can help families spread the cost over several ordinary shopping trips.
Medicine and first-aid supplies are also important
The warning places particular emphasis on essential medicines and medical equipment.
People who rely on regular prescriptions should make sure they request repeat medication with enough time to avoid running out. The government advises allowing up to five working days before medication is needed when requesting a repeat prescription.
A short disruption to pharmacies, transport or digital services could make obtaining medication more difficult, particularly for people who need daily treatment.
Households may also benefit from keeping a basic first-aid kit containing items such as plasters, bandages, antiseptic supplies, dressings and a thermometer.
People who depend on medical devices should consider how those devices would operate during a power cut. A charged power bank may help with compatible equipment, while important instructions and emergency contact details should be available in a form that does not depend on internet access.
Families with babies are advised to consider supplies such as nappies, wipes and suitable infant formula. Households with pets should also account for their animals’ food and drinking water.
The underlying principle is that emergency preparation should reflect the actual needs of the people living in a home.
A household with young children may require different supplies from a home occupied by older adults or people who depend on medical equipment.
Why cash, radios and power banks could become essential
The government’s checklist extends beyond food and medicine.
Households are encouraged to keep a torch and spare batteries, warm clothing, blankets and sleeping bags. These items could become useful if electricity or heating is unavailable during cold weather.
A battery-powered or wind-up FM radio is also recommended. If mobile networks or internet connections fail, a radio may provide access to emergency announcements and local information.
A charged power bank can help keep mobile phones operating for longer, allowing people to contact relatives, receive alerts or access important information while services remain available.
The guidance also recommends keeping some cash in a mixture of notes and coins. This could be useful if card-payment terminals or cash machines are temporarily unavailable.
People are advised to keep copies of important documents, including identification, insurance details and instructions for medical equipment. A written list of emergency contacts and regular medications can also prove valuable when electronic devices are unavailable.
These recommendations reflect a simple reality: emergencies become harder to manage when people lose access to several everyday systems simultaneously.
Preparing in advance can reduce the need to find essential items at short notice, particularly if shops are closed or transport is disrupted.
Concerns about cyberattacks and hostile states
The campaign has also drawn attention to the threat of cyberattacks and deliberate interference with essential infrastructure.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has warned that hostile states and organised criminals could cause disruption by targeting businesses, supply chains and digital services.
Modern economies depend on interconnected systems. A problem affecting one part of that network can sometimes have consequences elsewhere, particularly when organisations rely on shared technology or suppliers.
A cyberattack on a business could interrupt its ability to process orders, deliver goods or accept payments. A disruption affecting a utility provider could create additional difficulties for households and local communities.
Officials have also highlighted the importance of protecting infrastructure such as undersea cables and pipelines, which support communications and other essential services.
These risks do not mean that a major attack is inevitable. Rather, they demonstrate why governments increasingly view national security as a matter that extends beyond the armed forces and includes businesses, local authorities and ordinary households.
Streeting has urged the public to remain “alert but not alarmed”. The distinction matters because emergency advice should encourage sensible preparation without creating unnecessary fear.
The government’s message is that families can take useful precautions even when there is no specific emergency on the horizon.
Will the warning lead to panic buying?
Whenever authorities advise people to store essential supplies, there is a risk that the message could be misunderstood.
Some people may interpret references to cyberattacks, hostile states or infrastructure disruption as a sign that a serious crisis is imminent. Others may worry that large numbers of households will begin buying excessive quantities of food and water.
Officials have sought to discourage that interpretation.
The campaign recommends building up supplies gradually and choosing products that households already use. It does not instruct the public to purchase everything at once.
This is important because panic buying can create shortages that make it harder for vulnerable people to obtain essential goods.
If families buy only what they need and replenish supplies during normal shopping trips, the effect on supermarkets should be more manageable.
The government has also acknowledged that not everyone will be able to follow every recommendation. People experiencing financial hardship, those living in temporary accommodation and households with limited storage space may face particular challenges.
Emergency preparedness should therefore be practical and proportionate, not another source of pressure for families already struggling with the cost of living.
What households should do now
The official advice encourages people to begin by checking what they already have at home.
Many households may already possess tinned food, bottled water, torches, spare batteries or basic medical supplies. Identifying these items can help people avoid unnecessary spending.
The next step is to consider the specific needs of everyone in the household, including children, older relatives, people with disabilities and pets.
Essential supplies can then be added gradually. Items should be checked regularly so that food and medicines remain within their appropriate use dates and supplies reflect any changes in household circumstances.
Families should also consider how they would contact one another if mobile services were disrupted. Writing down important telephone numbers and agreeing on a meeting point can provide a useful backup plan.
Checking on neighbours who live alone or may need additional assistance is another part of the government’s approach. Community cooperation can be particularly important when emergency services are dealing with a large number of incidents.
Eligible households may also benefit from joining the Priority Services Register, which helps utility companies identify customers who could require additional support during an outage.
The official government guidance is available through the “Be Ready” campaign website, where households can review the checklist and identify the steps most relevant to their circumstances.
A warning about resilience, not an immediate crisis
The government’s new campaign reflects a growing recognition that modern life can be vulnerable to disruptions caused by extreme weather, technical failures, cybercrime and other emergencies.
Keeping essential supplies at home cannot prevent these incidents, but it can help families manage their immediate needs while services are restored.
The recommendation to prepare for three days is intended to provide a realistic starting point rather than demand a large stockpile or major financial investment.
For some households, the most useful first steps may be as simple as checking prescription supplies, keeping a torch nearby or ensuring that drinking water and food are available without electricity.
For others, particularly those who rely on medical equipment or additional support, preparation may require more detailed planning.
The government’s broader objective is to make emergency readiness a normal part of household planning, rather than something people consider only after a crisis has begun.
Whether the campaign succeeds will depend on how effectively its advice reaches the public and whether households receive the support they need to act on it.
For now, the central message is clear: prepare calmly, build supplies gradually and understand how to respond if essential services are temporarily disrupted. Britain’s authorities are urging people to take reasonable precautions today so that an unexpected emergency does not leave them entirely unprepared tomorrow.