The UK Government's new emergency preparedness campaign, Be Ready, is urging households to stockpile 13 essential items to stay prepared for temporary disruption to everyday services.
Launched last month, the three-year initiative encourages British households to take straightforward steps to remain equipped for events such as extreme weather, which can affect electricity, water, phones and the internet.
Shortly after the campaign was unveiled, the UK was hit by Storm Austen and Storm Boelo, which caused power outages and severe disruption to public transport networks.
Official advice and campaign launch
Launching the campaign, Security Minister and MP 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."
He added: "This is just the sort of community-focused campaign the UK needs to improve our resilience as a nation. It will bring us into line with European counterparts, where advice like this is a normal part of everyday life."
Following the launch, Prime Minister Andy Burnham stressed that the public needs to be better equipped for handling emergencies.
Household checklist and key items
Households have been urged to keep a three-day supply of provisions, including food, water, batteries, torches and baby or pet food. The Government has also published an "emergency checklist" outlining what people should do to stay prepared.
Residents are being urged to familiarise themselves with three crucial elements in their homes: the water stop cock, the gas isolation valve and the electricity isolation switch. The Government's plan states: "If you have time and it is safe to do so, you might need to turn off the mains water, gas or electricity to your home during an emergency. Familiarise yourself with where these are."
The warning adds: "WARNING: You can turn the water and electricity back on yourself but NOT THE GAS. This must be done by a qualified engineer."
Full list of 13 items to stock
- Bottled water (3 litres per person per day for at least 3 days)
- Non-perishable food to last at least 3 days that does not require cooking or refrigerating (e.g. tinned meat, fruit or vegetables) and tin opener
- Hand sanitiser, wet wipes, hygiene and bathroom products
- Torch (battery/wind up) and spare batteries - torches are safer than candles
- Blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing
- FM radio (battery/wind up) to get updates during a power cut
- Portable power bank to charge phone and medical devices (if compatible)
- Cash (mix of coins and notes) and cards
- Copies of IDs/important documents
- First aid kit / first aid items
- Essential medication or medical supplies to last several days
- Baby products (e.g. nappies, wipes and ready-made formula)
- Pet products (food and bottled water)
The campaign is part of a wider effort to improve national resilience and align the UK with European countries where such preparedness advice is a normal part of everyday life.
