UK households encouraged to keep three days of supplies
The Be Ready checklist covers water, food, light, cash and medical supplies, and says nobody has to do it all at once.
The Cabinet Office has launched a three-year “Be Ready” campaign encouraging households across the UK to prepare for three days of disruption to power, water, phones and the internet.
Dan Jarvis, the security minister, said in the announcement on 22 October: “Those who can follow this advice should follow this advice.” Jarvis added that by taking simple steps for everyday emergencies such as severe storms, people can “reduce pressure on emergency services”, helping them prioritise people who need more support.
The checklist on the Be Ready website groups items under water, food, hygiene, light and warmth, communication, money and documents, medical supplies, baby products and pet products.
It lists 3 litres of bottled water per person per day for drinking, with more needed for cooking and washing. For food, it suggests items with a long shelf life that need no refrigeration or cooking, such as tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts, and says it is best to buy food people would usually eat.
The list also includes a torch with spare batteries, which it says is safer than candles, blankets or sleeping bags, a battery or wind-up FM radio and a charged power bank.
The checklist advises keeping cash, in a mix of coins and notes, in case electronic payments or cash machines are disrupted. It also says to request repeat prescriptions up to five working days before medicine runs out.
Step by step
The website says people do not need to do it all at once. It suggests picking up an extra item or two on regular shopping trips to spread the cost, and checking expiry dates every six months. It acknowledges that not everyone will be able to take every action.
One step costs nothing: signing up to the Priority Services Register, which helps gas, water and electricity companies identify customers who may need extra support in an emergency. The Cabinet Office said other steps were designed to be as low-cost as possible.
The Cabinet Office said the campaign brings the UK into line with European peers, and that France, Ireland and the Netherlands use the same three-day advice. The government has published resilience advice for households since May 2024; the Be Ready campaign updates the earlier “Prepare” website with new messaging and branding, but the release says much of the advice has not changed.
More than 500 organisations have signed up to share campaign messages, and advertising will target families with young children and older people.
For local advice in Scotland or Northern Ireland, the website points readers to the Ready Scotland and NI Direct websites. It also says the site will not be updated with live information during an emergency.
Laura Scott, British Red Cross director for UK resilience, said: “Having clear and trusted advice for people, especially those who may be more at-risk, could help reduce the impact of crises and even save lives.”
