UK officials urge household emergency preparedness

UK officials and resilience experts are urging households to prepare for potential disruptions caused by extreme weather, fires, and other emergencies. Flood resilience campaigner Mary Long-Dhonau OBE recommends that households gradually build an ‘emergency cupboard’ containing non-perishable food and drinking water to manage if access to shops or utilities is interrupted. This advice follows forecasts from the Government Office for Science regarding potential significant El Niño events.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has also called for a ‘whole society approach’ to strengthen national resilience against threats such as floods, fires, and cyber warfare. He advised the public to keep basic supplies at home, including cash, bottled water, and tinned goods, to ensure stability during power cuts or periods when online banking might be inaccessible. Experts suggest including high-protein and carbohydrate items like rice, pasta, peanut butter, and tinned fish in emergency kits.