The UK Government has urged households to prepare for emergencies by keeping essential supplies at home for at least three days, as part of a new national preparedness campaign.

The “Be Ready” campaign, announced on 23 October, encourages people to maintain basic supplies such as bottled water, non-perishable food, cash and power banks so they can manage temporary disruption to essential services.

The Government said recent cyber incidents and the UK’s experience of extreme summer weather, including heat and wildfires, underline the importance of improving national resilience.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the country needed to become more proactive in preparing for emergencies rather than waiting until a crisis occurs.

Officials say household preparedness can help people cope during interruptions to electricity, communications or other services while emergency teams focus on the most urgent needs.

The guidance does not mean a specific emergency is imminent. Instead, it forms part of a broader effort to improve readiness for possible disruptions caused by severe weather, cyberattacks and other incidents.