Skip to contentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.Join todayAlready a member? Log inRosie Slater & Rebecca WhittakerFriday 23 October 2026 08:02 BSTHouseholds are being advised to stock up on tinned food (Getty/iStock)The UK government has launched the Be Ready campaign, a three-year initiative urging households to prepare for potential emergencies including cyber attacks, power cuts, and extreme weather.The public is advised to keep a three-day supply of essential items at home, such as bottled water, tinned food, cash, prescription medication, and fully charged back-up batteries.A new government website has been created featuring a downloadable emergency kit checklist to help households gradually build up their emergency provisions.The national resilience drive comes amid heightened concerns over foreign threats, rogue drone incidents near British military sites, and risks to democratic processes.Analysts and agricultural leaders have warned that recent record heatwaves and prolonged dry conditions could trigger severe food shortages later this year.In fullUK households urged to prepare for emergencies and ‘attacks’ in new government guidanceMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in