The British government has asked people to keep drinking water, non-perishable food and other essential items in their homes for at least three days i.e. 72 hours. The government’s new Be Ready campaign aims to prepare people for emergencies that could disrupt electricity, water, internet and daily services. These include threats such as cyber attacks, inclement weather, floods, forest fires and targeting of critical infrastructure by enemy countries.

Britain’s Defense Minister Wes Streeting said on October 22 that the country must be prepared for such attacks in which hostile countries could disrupt daily services. He cited situations like disruption of payment systems of shops and disruption of supply chains due to cyber attacks. He said that the country has to strengthen not only military security but also its ability to deal with emergency situations.

Why did the government feel the need to give such advice?

Last year’s winter storms and this summer’s wildfires showed how bad weather can affect normal life, according to the British government. When services like electricity, water, phone and internet are disrupted, people face difficulty in carrying out their daily activities. In such situations, relief and rescue teams may take time to reach those most in need.

Along with this, the government is afraid of cyber attacks by enemy countries and damage to essential infrastructure. For example, if digital payments in supermarkets stop working or ATMs do not dispense money, people may face difficulty in purchasing essential goods. If electricity or water supply is interrupted, it will be difficult to cook food, charge mobile phones and fulfill other needs.

What are the recommended items to keep at home?

According to the British government’s official website, everyone should have three days’ worth of drinking water and food that can be kept safe for longer. The government has made it clear that it is not necessary to make this preparation simultaneously. People can gradually collect goods as per their requirement.

Following are the important things included in the list of Govt.

• Water: 3 liters of drinking water per person per day, ie 9 liters for three days. Additional water may be required for cooking and cleaning.
• Food: Canned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruits and foods that can be stored for a long time.
• Light and warm clothes: torch, extra batteries, blanket, sleeping bag and warm clothes.
• Communication: Battery or hand held radio and power bank to charge mobile.
• Money and Documents: Some cash, copies of important documents like bank cards and passports.
• Health: Carry first aid kit and essential medicines regularly.
• Hygiene: Hand sanitizer, wet wipes and bathroom essentials.
• Special family needs: milk, diapers and wipes for young children; Food and water for pets.
• The government has also been advised to review the expiry date of the goods and the needs of the family every six months.

Cyber ​​attacks and computer malfunctions add to the concern

The issue of cyber security is also behind this campaign. The British government recently mentioned a software security issue related to the PHP programming language. PHP is used in millions of websites around the world. After learning about this security vulnerability, Britain’s National Cyber ​​Security Center has sent 50,000 alerts to affected organizations. This incident shows that a single vulnerability in software can threaten many services.

Is this the first time this has happened in Britain?

No. Britain’s initiative is in line with ongoing emergency preparedness in other European countries. Countries such as France, Ireland and the Netherlands have also advised people to have three days’ worth of essentials for serious emergencies. The European Union has also advised people to have a 72-hour emergency kit ready.

On 14 July 2026, the British government reported on the progress of its Resilience Action Plan, i.e. the plan to strengthen the capacity to deal with crises. Following this on October 22, Security Minister Dan Jarvis made a written statement in Parliament regarding the Be Ready campaign. In which people were advised to keep water and non-perishable food for three days.

This is another important step in the plan. People who may require additional assistance in case of interruption of electricity or water service are advised to register their names in the Priority Service Register. In this, the information of the eligible people remains with the relevant service companies, so that assistance can be provided to them on a priority basis in times of crisis.

Is the government preparing people for war?

The advice of the British Government should not be regarded as a direct declaration of war or a specific warning of any attack. This preparation is for many types of emergencies. such as floods, forest fires, power or water supply disruptions and cyber attacks. Defense Minister Streeting has emphasized threats related to enemy countries, but the government’s B Preparedness List is also meant to prepare the general public in the event of disruption to day-to-day services.