Prepare for supply chain disruption from cyber or climate emergencies, Streeting warns public
The defence secretary warned the public and businesses needed to think about how they would cope with natural disasters and cyber attacks.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has cautioned citizens and enterprises to contemplate coping mechanisms for natural calamities, cyber assaults, or state-sponsored terrorism, as the government initiates a nationwide resilience discussion. Streeting emphasized the necessity of being cognizant of emerging risks to the UK, urging households to stockpile food, bottled water, and first aid supplies.
He highlighted potential threats such as wildfires this summer and anticipated flooding in the winter. Furthermore, he cautioned about the growing sophistication of cyber attacks on businesses and supply chain disruptions induced by hostile entities or terrorists. A pertinent query, Streeting posed, is what we would do if the payment systems of a local supermarket were compromised?
The government envisions bolstering the UK's readiness for emergencies, including power, water, phone, and internet services, through the "Be Ready" campaign. This campaign advises households to stockpile non-perishable food, bottled water, a torch, sleeping bags, and first aid items, as well as a portable radio for updates during outages and a list of radio frequencies for emergency broadcasts.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis stressed that these guidelines will enable emergency responders to prioritize assistance to those in greater need during crises, aiming to enhance the nation's resilience. This initiative builds upon comparable campaigns in European nations like France, Ireland, and the Netherlands, where such advice is commonplace.
Recently, Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle warned that the powerful El Niño event could result in more severe storms, prompting households to stock up on food for enhanced resilience. An audit report from the National Audit Office (NAO) criticized the UK's food supply chain for being vulnerable to outbreaks of plant or human diseases, cyber attacks, and extreme weather, asserting that Defra had failed to adequately improve supply chain resilience in recent years.
The government's national security strategy underscores the need for active preparation for potential direct threats, referencing Russia's war against Ukraine and Iranian hostile activities within the UK.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
