Every Briton should stockpile water and food supplies, government advises
News Source
β’Thu, 22 Oct 2026 18:10:11 GMT
π° What Happened
Every household in Britain is now being told to keep three days of water and food at home. New government guidance says people should store up to nine litres of bottled water and enough food to last 72 hours.
The Be Ready campaign also suggests blankets, cash, a first aid kit, a torch with batteries and a wind-up radio. Security minister Dan Jarvis said anyone who can follow the advice should do it.
Defence secretary Wes Streeting said Britain must prepare for what he calls "state-sponsored terrorism" from Russia. He spoke at a new Rheinmetall tank gun factory in Telford.
π The Backstory
Britain rarely runs public safety campaigns like this. Governments worry about being accused of scaring people. The last big one was Protect and Survive in 1980, which told households how to shelter from a nuclear attack and store food for 14 days.
France, Ireland and the Netherlands already tell people to prepare for 72 hours. Ministers chose this week because winter storm season is coming. Storm Goretti left tens of thousands of homes without power in January.
Officials also fear a possible super El Nino that could make 2027 the hottest year on record and shake global food supplies.
π― Why It Matters
Shops restock slowly when roads close or card payments fail. A few days of supplies at home can carry a family through the first, hardest stretch.
Every household in Britain is now being told to keep three days of water and food at home. New government guidance says people should store up to nine litres of bottled water and enough food to last 72 hours.
The Be Ready campaign also suggests blankets, cash, a first aid kit, a torch with batteries and a wind-up radio. Security minister Dan Jarvis said anyone who can follow the advice should do it.
Defence secretary Wes Streeting said Britain must prepare for what he calls "state-sponsored terrorism" from Russia. He spoke at a new Rheinmetall tank gun factory in Telford.
Britain rarely runs public safety campaigns like this. Governments worry about being accused of scaring people. The last big one was Protect and Survive in 1980, which told households how to shelter from a nuclear attack and store food for 14 days.
France, Ireland and the Netherlands already tell people to prepare for 72 hours. Ministers chose this week because winter storm season is coming. Storm Goretti left tens of thousands of homes without power in January.
Officials also fear a possible super El Nino that could make 2027 the hottest year on record and shake global food supplies.
Shops restock slowly when roads close or card payments fail. A few days of supplies at home can carry a family through the first, hardest stretch.