UK households are being advised to write down five crucial pieces of information on paper and keep them stored somewhere "easy to find" within their home as part of the Government's new emergency Be Ready initiative.
The Be Ready initiative was unveiled last week and seeks to prompt UK households to implement a few straightforward measures to remain prepared should everyday services be temporarily interrupted. It arrives as the opening phase of a three-year initiative to help households throughout the UK feel more confident in preparing for incidents such as extreme weather, which can impact services including electricity, water, telephone and internet connections.
Within days of the emergency preparedness initiative being unveiled, the UK was hit by Storm Austen and Storm Boelo, which caused widespread disruption across the nation including electricity outages and significant disruption to public transport networks, reports the Manchester Evening News.
What households should write down
The Government's guidance states: "Write down important phone numbers on paper and store them somewhere easy to find in a power cut."
- The phone number to report a power cut (105 in England, Scotland and Wales and 03457 643643 in Northern Ireland)
- Phone numbers of anyone you would want to contact in an emergency
- A list of your regular medication
- Frequencies of radio stations you use for news updates
- Insurance policy details
Official backing for the campaign
Unveiling the initiative, 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 of the campaign last week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that people need to be better equipped to handle emergencies, and has stood behind Government guidance to stockpile food, water and other essential supplies.
Advice on supplies and preparation
Mr Burnham remarked that "unexpected events seem to be becoming more and more common", and suggested that alongside the recommended emergency provisions, people should be permitted "a glass or two" of wine to help them through a challenging situation. This follows Housing Secretary Angela Rayner's recent quip that her own emergency survival kit would feature a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc wine.
Mr Burnham said: "I'm not sure that that's the top of the list in terms of the advice that we're giving to the public. You need to have a clear head when it comes to a challenging situation. So some tins of food, some bottled water, I think maybe. But I'm sure people are allowed a glass or two as well to get them through a difficult situation."
Members of the public have been urged to keep three days' worth of supplies to hand, including food, water, batteries, torches, baby or pet food, amongst other items. Alongside outlining these essentials, the Government has also published an "emergency checklist" advising residents on the steps they should take to remain prepared.
