Overview
- The government quietly relaunched its emergency guidance on Thursday, Oct 22, publishing a new Be Ready website with a downloadable checklist that asks households to hold supplies to last roughly 72 hours.
- The official checklist lists nine core items to build gradually: bottled water, non-perishable food, cash and key documents, a battery or wind-up radio, a charged power bank, a torch with spare batteries, a first-aid kit and medication, baby supplies where needed, and pet food and water where applicable.
- Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Security Minister Dan Jarvis framed the advice around rising risks such as extreme weather, sophisticated cyber attacks and hostile-state activity while stressing the guidance is precautionary and urging people to be “alert but not alarmed.”
- The Be Ready launch begins a three-year public information campaign backed by advertising, social media and partnerships with more than 500 groups, with outreach aimed at older people, families and those on the Priority Services Register.
- Opponents say the message risks shifting responsibility from government action on defence and infrastructure to households, and officials warn communications will avoid causing panic by urging people to build kits slowly during normal shopping trips.