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UK government urges households to prepare for emergencies and cyber attacks
The UK government has launched new guidance urging households to prepare for emergencies, including cyber attacks, by keeping supplies like cash, water, and food at home.
Ross Grant3 min read
The short version
The UK government is asking people to get ready for emergencies that could disrupt daily life, like cyber attacks or power cuts. They suggest keeping extra water, food, cash, and other essentials at home for at least three days. The advice is meant for everyone in the UK. The goal is to help people cope if services like banking or electricity are temporarily unavailable.
By the numbers
- 3 daysrecommended supply of essentials for each householdThe Independent
- 340drone security incidents near UK military sites in a yearThe Independent
- 126drone security incidents in 2024The Independent
- 250drone security incidents in 2025The Independent
What happened?
The UK government has launched new guidance urging households to prepare for emergencies, including cyber attacks and food shortages. The 'Be Ready' campaign asks people to keep a three-day supply of essentials like cash, water, and tinned food at home. The advice was announced by Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. Only The Independent has reported this so far.
Who is affected
The new guidance applies to all UK households. The government is asking everyone to take steps to prepare for emergencies that could disrupt daily life. This includes families, individuals, and anyone living in the UK. The advice is not targeted at any specific group, but aims to improve national resilience as a whole [The Independent (opens in a new tab)].
What you should do
The government’s ‘Be Ready’ campaign recommends that households keep a three-day supply of essential items. The official checklist includes:
- Bottled water (about 3 litres per person per day)
- Non-perishable food that does not need cooking (such as tinned goods)
- Hand sanitiser and wet wipes
- A torch and spare batteries
- Blankets, sleeping bags, and warm clothing
- A portable power bank for charging phones
- A battery or wind-up radio
- A first aid kit
- Baby supplies if needed
- Cash in various forms
- Copies of important documents and written contact details
- Prescription medication and instructions for medical devices
The advice is to build up these supplies over time and store them together in an easy-to-find place. The government has published a downloadable emergency kit checklist on a new website.
The response
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting announced the campaign and said people should be “alert not alarmed.” He described the advice as a “simple ask,” encouraging people to think ahead about what they might need if services like online banking or electricity are temporarily unavailable. The campaign is set to run for three years, aiming to boost household preparedness for a range of threats, including cyber attacks, extreme weather, and even war. The government has also updated its national risk register, which now includes risks like interference in democratic processes and drone incidents near military sites.
What threats is the government worried about?
The guidance comes amid concerns about several risks:
- Cyber attacks that could disrupt banking or utilities
- Food shortages due to extreme weather and drought
- Flooding and wildfires
- Interference in democratic processes
- Drone incidents near military bases (340 incidents reported in the year to August 2026)
Analysts and the National Farmers Union have warned that ongoing heatwaves and droughts could lead to the worst food security crisis in decades. The government says the national risk register is a planning tool, not a prediction, but it reflects the most significant risks facing the UK.
Has this happened before?
The number of drone security incidents near Ministry of Defence sites has increased sharply in recent years: 126 incidents in 2024, 250 in 2025, and 340 in the year to August 2026. This shows a growing trend in security threats that the government wants households to be prepared for.
This story is based on a single report from The Independent. No government agency or official website has published the guidance directly at the time of writing.
Why it matters
This is the first time the UK government has given such detailed advice to households about preparing for cyber attacks and other emergencies. It shows that the government sees cyber threats and extreme weather as real risks to daily life. Being prepared can help people stay safe and reduce disruption if something happens.
Key points
- UK government urges all households to prepare for emergencies, including cyber attacks.
- Advice includes keeping three days' worth of water, food, cash, and other essentials.
- The campaign responds to risks like cyber attacks, extreme weather, and drone incidents.
- A new emergency kit checklist is available for download.
- Only one news outlet has reported this guidance so far.
Sources
The Independent
Reference
