Families across the United Kingdom are being urged to stock up on bottled water, canned food and other essential supplies to prepare for emergencies, amid growing concerns over severe weather, cyberattacks and potential disruptions to food supplies.
Speaking at a resilience summit in Liverpool, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said people should take sensible steps to ensure they have enough supplies at home to cope with difficult situations as storms hit parts of the country.
“Unexpected events seem to be becoming increasingly common,” he said, adding: “This is not about panic buying… It is simply about taking sensible precautions to make sure you have enough at home to get by if a difficult situation arises.”
Government recommendations advise households to keep enough essential supplies to last three days, including nine litres of water per person and non-perishable foods such as canned meat, vegetables and dried fruit.
The guidance also recommends keeping a battery-powered or wind-up FM radio, a torch, blankets, a first-aid kit, hand sanitiser, wet wipes, toiletries and a portable phone charger.
Households are also advised to keep cash in case electronic payment systems fail, along with copies of important documents and essential supplies for babies and pets.
The advice comes after the National Audit Office warned that Britain’s food supply chain faces growing risks from cyberattacks and the climate crisis. It said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs had not done enough in recent years to strengthen resilience.
However, Burnham rejected claims that the government had failed to prepare adequately.
He emphasised the need for greater public preparedness as unexpected events become more frequent, including severe weather and power outages.
