The UK has published "Be Ready" household guidance recommending enough supplies to be self-sufficient for three days, Bloomberg reports. The report republished by The Straits Times says the advice appeared on a government website on Oct. 22, alongside a written ministerial statement. The guidance asks households to prepare for temporary disruptions to everyday services.
According to Bloomberg's report republished by The Straits Times, the checklist recommends bottled water and non-perishable food for three days, along with hand sanitizer, a torch, batteries, a radio, cash, copies of important documents and warm clothing. The BBC also describes sleeping bags and first-aid items on the list. It says the guidance suggests an FM radio for updates during outages.
The BBC reports that Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said people and businesses should consider how they would cope with natural disasters, cyberattacks or state-sponsored terrorism. He warned of possible supply-chain disruption caused by "hostile state actors or terrorists." Security Minister Dan Jarvis pointed to storms and wildfires as examples of events that can disrupt phones, power, water and internet service.
Asked on BBC One's Question Time whether the campaign amounted to scaremongering, Streeting said he wanted "people to be alert but not alarmed" and that there was no "specific thing we've got in mind" behind the advice. He said the supplies might help during a power cut or if a cyberattack leaves a local shop unable to take card payments.
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