Shoppers have stripped shelves of baked beans and water this week following government advice to stockpile supplies for emergencies "ranging from severe weather to cyber-attacks". The advice forms part of a new campaign called Be Ready, which has prompted a range of reactions from the public.
Government urges preparedness
Security minister Dan Jarvis said that "those who can follow this advice should follow this advice". The campaign encourages households to keep essential items on hand in case of disruption.
The move has revived memories of the toilet-roll hoarding seen during the early days of the Covid pandemic in 2020, though the current guidance focuses on broader threats.
How people are responding
Columnist Polly Hudson has been asking friends and family about their approach to the advice, describing a spectrum of responses from panic to denial. She notes that some are stocking up on cash to hide at home, while others have long kept emergency supplies ready.
Hudson reflects that the reactions reveal how people deal with fear, particularly in light of recent government language about threats that are "not hypothetical but real".
The campaign comes as officials emphasise the need for national resilience alongside defence preparations.
