The UK Government has urged all Britons to ensure they know how to get home from work without relying on their mobile phone, as part of new emergency guidance unveiled last week. The advice forms part of the Be Ready campaign, launched by Andy Burnham, which encourages households to take simple steps to stay prepared if everyday services are disrupted.
Be Ready campaign aims to boost household preparedness
The Be Ready campaign marks the initial phase of a three-year initiative to help households throughout the UK feel more prepared for incidents such as severe weather, which can impact services including electricity, water, telephone lines and internet connectivity.
Just days after the emergency preparedness campaign was unveiled, the UK was hit by Storm Austen and Storm Boelo, which caused widespread disruption across the nation including power outages and significant problems for public transport networks, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Government guidance on essential supplies
Members of the public have been advised to keep three days' worth of supplies, including food, water, batteries, torches, baby or pet food, amongst other items. Alongside listing the key essentials, the Government has released an "emergency checklist" outlining the steps people should take to ensure they are adequately prepared.
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."
Advice on managing without a phone
The Government has urged people to "know" how to make their way home from work without relying on their mobile phone, should phone and broadband services become unavailable. The guidance states: "Think through how you would get home without relying on mobile apps."
"Know your usual route, but also be aware of at least one alternative, such as a different train line, bus route or road," the guidance adds. Further recommendations include jotting down five essential pieces of information and keeping them somewhere "easy to find" in the home – this covers important telephone numbers, a record of regular medication and insurance policy details.
The Government stated: "As digital services become increasingly integral to everyday life, we all rely on phone and internet services more than ever before – for work, healthcare, banking and staying in touch. It is important to be as prepared as you can be for situations where those services are temporarily unavailable." Service disruptions can arise as a result of severe weather, power outages or a provider failure, and are typically "short or localised", though in certain cases disruption can last "for a number of days".
