UK households urged to prepare for emergencies and ‘attacks’ in new government guidance

The British public is being urged to prepare for food shortages and widespread disruption from cyber attacks and emergencies under a new national initiative.

The 'Be Ready' campaign marks the beginning of a three-year drive to boost household emergency preparedness, as Defence Secretary Wes Streeting unveils updated advice for threats such as flooding and wildfires.

UK households are advised to take simple steps in case everyday services are disrupted, like keeping a three-day supply of cash, bottled water and tinned food at home.

A new government website has also been launched with an emergency kit checklist that can be downloaded.

Mr Streeting previously called for a "whole society approach" to strengthen national resilience, though he insisted people should remain "alert not alarmed" regarding potential risks.

"Do they have what they need indoors, should they lose access to their online banking for a period? Should they have a power cut?”

The government has released a list of supplies for an emergency kit they say everyone should keep at home.

Here we look at the key items you should stock up on in case disaster strikes.

What is included in the ‘Be Ready’ checklist?

The government says people should put together an emergency kit that includes key provisions you and your household would need during a short-term incident lasting three days, such as a power failure or a disruption to your water supply.

The checklist includes:

• Bottled water - enough bottled water for three days. Each person needs about 3 litres for drinking a day in addition to water needed for cooking and washing.
• Non-perishable food that doesn’t need cooking, such as ready-to-eat tinned meat, fruit or vegetables (and a tin opener). As with water, how much you need will vary based on your own circumstances. Don’t forget food for pets.
• Hand sanitiser and wet wipes for hygiene purposes when the water is off.
• Light and warmth – pack a torch and spare batteries as well as blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing
• A portable power bank for charging your mobile phone.
• A battery or wind-up radio to get updates during a power cut – a car radio can be used, however in severe weather it might be safer to stay inside.
• A first aid kit (or some first aid items) including items such as waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings and gloves, medical tape for dressings, and tweezers.
• Baby supplies such as nappies and baby formula – ready made or ‘ready-to-feed’ formula is best as you may not be able to boil water or sterilise bottles.
• Money and documents - Keep cash in a mix of notes, coins and cards. Copies of IDs and documents. Also write down any important phone numbers and information such as regular medication and doses.

Rather than buying all the items at once, you could just add to your emergency kit when you are able and build it up over time. You should try to store these items together in a single location in your home, ideally in a spot that remains simple to locate if the lights are off.

Maintaining a supply of prescription medication to cover several days is also essential. For those who depend on any medical devices or equipment, ensure that printed physical copies of all operating instructions are kept on hand. Furthermore, any available back-up batteries ought to be kept fully charged at all times.

What should people stockpile?

Wes Streeting previously advised the British public there are certain items they should store for emergencies.

He said: "These are basic things, and of course, you know, a lot of people just have that in their cupboard naturally.

"It’s having some cash at home, having a supply of bottled water indoors, having some tinned goods that you can access if your electric goes and you’re not able to cook on the hob or in the microwave.”

Nutritionists and “preppers” on social media also say people should consider intake of carbohydrates and protein, and so suggest items such as oats, rice and pasta be included in any stockpile.

Kidney beans, peanut butter and tinned fish provide high levels of protein.

What threats is the government worried about?

Andy Burnham’s government is focusing on national resilience in the wake of threats from Russia.

The government is also concerned following the record-breaking heatwaves the UK has experienced this summer, plunging the country into drought and causing numerous wildfires.

It also recently updated its national risk register, with the risk of interference in the UK’s democratic process added to it.

The national risk register is the government’s assessment of the most significant risks facing the UK.

It is a planning tool designed to help professionals prepare for risks and is not intended to be a prediction of future events.

Vladimir Putin’s government warned that British facilities in Ukraine will be considered “legitimate targets” if they are used to support long-range strikes against Russia.

The Independent also reported that rogue drones are targeting Britain’s military bases almost daily, leaving the UK vulnerable to growing threats from Russia and Iran.

Some 340 security incidents involving drones were reported at or near Ministry of Defence sites in the year to August 2026, data obtained under freedom of information laws show. In 2025, there were a total of 250 incidents recorded – double the 126 recorded the year before.

Why are the heatwaves a concern?

Analysts have warned extreme heat and ongoing droughts are putting Britain at risk of its “worst food security crisis in decades”.

The knock-on impact of five back-to-back heatwaves and prolonged dry conditions could destroy farmers’ harvests, leading to food shortages later this year and increasing reliance on foreign imports, according to analysts from the investment bank Shore Capital.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) warned the situation is “increasingly concerning” and that dairy farmers are already using winter feed because grass has stopped growing.