Store water to prepare for emergencies UK to be told

People may be advised to keep bottled water, tinned food and other basic supplies on hand in case of a national emergency <i>(Image: Henry Nicholls/PA Wire)</i>
People may be advised to keep bottled water, tinned food and other basic supplies on hand in case of a national emergency (Image: Henry Nicholls/PA Wire)
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Households will be told to stock up on essentials as part of a new government campaign to improve the nation’s resilience.

The scheme, led by the UK Government, aims to improve public resilience in the face of national emergencies such as flooding, extreme weather and cyber-attacks.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "Safeguarding national security is the first priority of any government.

"We’re committed to raising awareness of simple steps households can take to make themselves more resilient, as well as driving forward the home defence programme to build our country’s preparedness for various threats."

What will the British public be advised to do in the case of a national emergency?

People may be advised to keep bottled water, tinned food and other basic supplies on hand, along with information on how to cope during a crisis, The Guardian reports.

The goal is to ensure most households can look after themselves in an emergency, allowing government resources to focus on the most vulnerable.

Andy Burnham, now the MP for Makerfield, has spoken repeatedly about the threat of flooding to communities and the inadequacy of government planning and response.

Louise Haigh, the Cabinet Office minister, is said to be overseeing cross-departmental crisis planning to ensure faster support for affected communities.

Preparation for a range of scenarios—including cyber-attacks, extreme weather, and military threats—has intensified in recent months following a series of incidents both in the UK and abroad.

Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, warned before leaving office that Russia could attack a Nato country within four years, citing western intelligence assessments.


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Additionally, last week, hackers linked to Iran were blamed for a cyber-attack that led to the temporary shutdown of a British power plant.

The government said the attack targeted a small-scale energy generator and did not pose a risk to the wider energy system.

It marks an apparent escalation in the threat posed by Iran to UK infrastructure.

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