For years, keeping emergency supplies was dismissed as overreacting. Now households are being told to prepare for disruption. What's changed?
The BBC examines government advice, sales of emergency supplies and the public response.
A radio. Bottled water. Torches. Cash. It's striking advice in a country where a phone handles our money, directions, contacts and news. What would happen if the systems we depend on stopped working?
The official Be Ready campaign is about a range of potential emergencies, not an announcement of a secret or imminent crisis. But it raises a reasonable question about how dependent we've become on everyday infrastructure.
“Why now? What risks are being considered? And how prepared is my own household?”
A working torch is useful. Knowing who to contact, where to meet and how to check on someone who lives alone may matter even more.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE 72-HOUR CHECKLIST →The Cabinet Office identified cyber and wider resilience risks in its updated register. This is risk planning, not a warning of a particular imminent event.
Source: UK Government National Risk Register update, July 2026Its resilience report describes overlapping pressures on infrastructure and services. The practical implication is to have backup plans for ordinary disruptions.
Source: UK Government Resilience Action Plan report, October 2026Reuters reported uncertainty around possible renewed strikes, alongside diplomatic talks. Reports do not establish an imminent nuclear strike on Iran or a third world war.
Source: Reuters international reporting, November 2026Phones serve as wallets, maps, torches and contact books. Many households depend on the same device for everything.
Extra spending is difficult for families already struggling with everyday food and energy costs. Preparation should begin with free steps and existing supplies.
Essential medicines, care routines, baby supplies and checking on an older relative need specific plans—not just tins and bottled water.
It's the lack of a clear restoration time that makes ordinary decisions harder, from conserving batteries to checking on neighbours.
Start with the free household checklist and printable plan. No expensive supplies or panic-buying required.
GET BOTH FREE PRINTABLE RESOURCES →Prefer to skip email? Get the no-opt-in versionFree downloads · Clear practical next stepsITV looks at local emergency hubs and demand for household essentials.
Both reports describe a genuine public discussion about preparedness and infrastructure resilience. They do not establish that officials possess a secret warning of an imminent nationwide blackout.
The best response is practical: start with your household's actual circumstances, write down key contacts, check what you already own, and plan for the people who rely on you.
The First 72 Hours includes a UK-focused illustrated guide, large-print PDF, printable household workbook and offline reading edition.
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