Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has urged households and businesses across the UK to prepare for potential disruptions by stockpiling essential supplies for at least three days. The government’s new “Be Ready” campaign encourages citizens to keep a minimum of nine litres of water per person, alongside tinned or dried food, first aid kits, hand sanitiser, blankets, and alternative power sources such as torches and power banks. The campaign also recommends storing important documents, baby formula, pet food, and necessary medicines.
While official guidance frames the measures as preparation for extreme weather events and other everyday emergencies, Streeting emphasized the broader risks posed by hostile state actors and terrorists. Speaking at the opening of a weapons systems plant in Telford, he highlighted potential scenarios such as supermarket payment systems going offline, which could lead to widespread disruption. Recent intelligence suggests that Russian activities pose a significant threat, with concerns about possible attacks on NATO countries and espionage targeting undersea data cables and pipelines critical to the UK’s infrastructure.
Earlier this year, British intelligence warned of a potential Russian attack on a NATO member by 2030, raising fears of direct conflict. These concerns have prompted plans to introduce legislation to better protect the UK’s undersea cables, especially following revelations that Russian fishing vessels have been monitoring these installations. In addition, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has recently addressed critical vulnerabilities in the PHP programming language, which affected many websites, including government services. Around 32 UK government online platforms were temporarily taken offline as a precaution during this incident, although no major public-facing services were disrupted.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis underscored the importance of individual readiness, noting that following simple advice can alleviate demand on emergency services during severe weather or other crises. The government has mobilized over 500 organizations, including charities and businesses, to help disseminate preparedness messages. A social media and radio campaign is also planned to target vulnerable groups such as families with young children and the elderly.
Experts warn that threats come not only from cyber attacks or state-sponsored actions but also from infrastructure failures and natural events. Examples cited include a widespread blackout in Spain last year caused by a technical fault, which resulted in payment systems failing and shops quickly running out of supplies. Analysts argue that without access to electricity, essentials such as water pumps, heating, refrigeration, and communication devices become unusable, potentially leading to severe public distress within a few days.
Some commentators suggest additional steps to enhance national resilience, such as maintaining national food stockpiles, ensuring the availability of cash during crises, and increasing naval resources to monitor critical undersea infrastructure. They also advocate for more widespread and accessible emergency planning information, noting that past surveys found the majority of the public had not encountered preparedness advice.
As the UK faces a complex range of risks—from cyber threats and geopolitical tensions to extreme weather—government officials emphasize the importance of preparedness at both the individual and community levels to reduce vulnerability and support emergency response efforts.