By Sohaib Shams
The British government has launched a national initiative urging households to prepare for emergencies including extreme weather, cyber attacks, and potential conflict, with Defence Secretary Wes Streeting unveiling updated guidance.
Government Launches 'Be Ready' Campaign
The 'Be Ready' campaign begins a three-year drive to boost household emergency preparedness, advising the public to keep a three-day supply of cash, bottled water, and tinned food. A new government website provides a downloadable emergency kit checklist, and sales of tinned food, wind-up radios, and torches have spiked since the announcement.
Emergency Kit Checklist
The checklist includes bottled water (3 litres per person per day), non-perishable food, hand sanitiser, torches with spare batteries, blankets, portable power banks, battery or wind-up radios, first aid kits, baby supplies, cash, and copies of important documents. Streeting told BBC Newsnight that having everyday essentials helps households prepare for disruption from flooding, power cuts, or burst pipes, emphasizing a "whole society approach" to national resilience.
Threats from Russia and Cyber Attacks
The government highlights threats from Russia, with Streeting warning that adversaries could be ready to attack the UK by 2030, giving about 1,000 days to prepare. He referenced Russian warnings that British facilities in Ukraine could be considered legitimate targets. Data shows rogue drones targeting UK military bases almost daily, with 340 security incidents reported at Ministry of Defence sites in the year to August 2026, double the previous year.
Extreme Weather Concerns
Extreme heatwaves and droughts also concern the government, with analysts warning of the worst food security crisis in decades, as farmers' harvests are at risk and dairy farmers already using winter feed.
