British families are being asked to prepare for emergencies such as cyber attacks, power cuts and food shortages. The government has launched a national campaign called “Be Ready,” and it wants every home to hold a basic supply kit that can cover three days.
“Be Ready” is the start of a three-year effort to get households better prepared. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting unveiled the campaign along with updated advice for dangers like flooding and wildfires.
Streeting has called for a “whole society approach” to building national resilience. At the same time, he has said people should stay “alert not alarmed” about the risks.
Speaking to The Sun, he described the request as a simple one. He asked whether people have what they need at home if they lose access to online banking for a while, or if the power goes out.
What Should Go in the Kit?
A new government website carries a downloadable checklist. According to The Independent, the kit is meant to cover a short incident lasting about three days, such as a power failure or a break in the water supply. The list includes:
- Water: enough bottled water for three days, with roughly 3 litres per person each day for drinking, plus extra for cooking and washing
- Food: ready-to-eat items that need no cooking, such as tinned meat, fruit or vegetables, along with a tin opener and food for pets
- Hygiene: hand sanitiser and wet wipes for when the water is off
- Light and warmth: a torch, spare batteries, blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing
- Power and news: a portable power bank for your phone and a battery or wind-up radio for updates during a blackout
- First aid: items such as waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash, sterile dressings, gloves, medical tape and tweezers
- Baby supplies: nappies and formula, with ready-to-feed formula preferred because boiling water or sterilising bottles may not be possible
- Money and documents: cash in a mix of notes and coins, cards, copies of IDs and key papers, and a written list of important phone numbers and any regular medication and doses
You do not need to buy everything at once. The government suggests building the kit up over time and keeping it in one spot at home that is easy to find even when the lights are out.
What to Stockpile
Streeting has said these are basic items that many people already have in their cupboards. He pointed to some cash at home, bottled water, and tinned goods that can be eaten if the electricity fails and the hob or microwave cannot be used.
Nutritionists and social media “preppers” add that carbohydrates and protein matter too. They suggest oats, rice and pasta. Kidney beans, peanut butter and tinned fish are high in protein.
Why Is the Government Worried?
Andy Burnham’s government is focusing on national resilience in response to threats from Russia. It is also concerned after record-breaking heatwaves this summer that left the country in drought and sparked numerous wildfires.
The government recently updated its national risk register, adding the risk of interference in the UK’s democratic process. The register is its assessment of the biggest risks facing the country. It is a planning tool for professionals and is not meant to predict what will happen.
Separately, Vladimir Putin’s government has warned that British facilities in Ukraine will be treated as “legitimate targets” if they are used to support long-range strikes on Russia.
