The Government has updated its guidance urging households to keep nine essential items in stock, including tinned food and bottled water, to help them cope for three days in the event of an emergency. The advice forms part of the "Be Ready" campaign.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting issued the warning in a speech today, asking the country to prepare for potential disruption. He said: "How would we cope if the payment systems of the supermarkets went down?"
Official Advice on Being Prepared
Streeting added: "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."
Security Minister Dan Jarvis said of the updated guidance: "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."
The Nine Essential Items
The Express has rounded up the nine items below:
- Water: People should have enough bottled water for three days, which is three litres per person per day for drinking. However, more would be needed for tasks such as cooking and washing.
- Food: Households should have non-perishable food in stock for three days such as tinned meat, fish or vegetables and dried fruit and nuts.
- Hygiene: Hygiene and bathroom products such as hand sanitiser and wet wipes.
- Light and warmth: People should have a torch with spare batteries at the ready, as well as blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing.
- Communication and information: Households are advised to have a battery or wind-up radio, along with a charged power bank.
- Money and documents: Cash with a mix of coins and notes, as well as cards. People should also have copies of IDs to hand and a list of important phone numbers and information.
- Medical and health: A first aid kit and essential medication and other supplies.
- Baby products: Those with babies should have baby formula, ideally "ready to feed", along with nappies and wipes.
- Pet products: Pet owners should have plenty of pet food and bottled water for their animal.
The guidance is intended to help households manage for three days during an emergency, with officials emphasising the role of individual preparedness in reducing strain on emergency services.
