Government launches new advice to help households prepare for emergencies

The government has launched updated guidance encouraging households to take simple steps to prepare for unexpected emergencies and temporary disruptions to essential services.

The advice, published on 22 October 2026, forms part of the new three-year Be Ready campaign, which aims to improve household preparedness across the UK.

The campaign focuses on practical actions that can help people manage situations such as severe storms, flooding and interruptions to electricity, water, telephone and internet services.

What can households do?

The government is encouraging residents to consider preparing for up to three days of disruption.

Suggested actions include:

• Keeping a small supply of bottled water and non-perishable food.
• Making sure essential medicines and other important supplies are accessible.
• Knowing how to access reliable information during an emergency.
• Checking whether they are eligible for additional support through the Priority Services Register.
• Considering how they would manage if electricity, internet or telephone services were temporarily unavailable.

Many of the recommended steps are free or inexpensive.

Additional support for vulnerable residents

The Priority Services Register helps utility companies identify customers who may need additional assistance during an emergency.

This can be particularly important for older people, disabled residents and those who rely on electricity or other essential services for medical or care needs.

The role of community organisations

Voluntary and community groups can play an important role in sharing preparedness information and helping residents understand what support is available.

Community centres, neighbourhood groups and organisations supporting vulnerable people may wish to incorporate the guidance into their existing activities.

Being prepared can help reduce the impact of unexpected disruption and ensure emergency services can prioritise those most in need.

Read more: Government announcement on emergency preparedness