UK households are being urged to stockpile at least six key items in case of national emergencies, including days-long power cuts that could trigger emergency 'Black Sky event' protocols.
The Department of Health and Social Care has prepared scripts to be broadcast over emergency 'Black Sky event' radio, a special emergency radio broadcast that the BBC will produce from a secret studio supplied with three days' worth of food, fuel and water. This is designed to disseminate important public information in a national emergency situation where the internet is lost and power goes down.
Be Ready campaign guidance
The call follows Prime Minister Andy Burnham joining growing calls for the British public to be more prepared and resilient in case of emergencies in future. Households are being encouraged to 'take a few simple steps to stay prepared' if everyday services are temporarily disrupted, under updated advice published by the Cabinet Office.
As part of the UK's Be Ready campaign, households are being urged to stockpile six key items:
- A battery or wind-up torch (and spare batteries) at home. Torches are safer than candles. You probably won't want to use the torch on your mobile phone as this will drain its batteries more quickly
- At least 3 days' worth of bottled water (3 litres per person per day)
- Non-perishable food that doesn't need cooking such as ready-to-eat tinned meat, fruit or vegetables and a tin opener. You should also include ready-made baby formula and pet food if needed
- Cash for essential purchases in case electronic payment systems go offline
- An FM Radio powered by batteries. This will be needed to receive emergency communications if the internet or TV communications are disrupted. This will be able to receive the 'Black Sky event' emergency radio broadcasts
- Essential medicines and first aid supplies
Food safety guidance for power cuts
In the scripts prepared for a potential 'Black Sky event', households will be told via emergency radio broadcasts: "Most people will have no serious negative effects from eating less food than normal for a few days. The most important thing is to make sure the food you do eat is safe. Eat chilled and frozen food that is likely to go off quickly first, followed by food which you normally don't keep in the fridge, but which has a short shelf life. Keep food which you normally keep in the cupboard and that has a longer shelf life until last."
The script adds: "Eat any chilled or defrosted frozen food you have first, because this will go off more quickly. This includes products that say to keep them refrigerated on the label, such as pre-packed sandwiches, salads, cooked meats, cooked leftovers and defrosted pre-cooked frozen food. A fridge should stay cold for around four hours following loss of power. Food in a freezer should stay frozen for up to 48 hours in a full freezer, or 24 hours if it's half full. Remember, if the power has been off for more than four hours, these refrigerated foods are not safe for people who are more likely to become seriously unwell because of food poisoning."
The guidance continues: "Once you have eaten your chilled food and any frozen food that has already defrosted, the next best thing to eat to preserve your food stocks is food that doesn't need to be chilled or frozen. For example, bread and cakes, fresh whole fruit and vegetables, and eggs, as eggs do not need to be kept in the fridge. These foods are likely to be safe if they look and smell normal."
It then states: "Once you no longer have any fresh food available, the next best thing to eat to preserve your food stocks are foods with a longer shelf life. Food that is normally stored at room temperature will continue to be safe to eat, even if the best before date has passed."
