Worried about storms and cyberattacks, UK tells households to stock up for 3 days

The UK government is advising households to stockpile three days' worth of essential supplies amid concerns about storms, cyberattacks and hostile states disrupting everyday services. The Be Ready campaign recommends keeping nine litres of drinking water per person, non-perishable food, a first-aid kit, a torch, blankets, cash and a battery-powered or wind-up radio to help manage for 72 hours if a major emergency occurs.

This advice comes after recent powerful storms in the UK, such as Storm Goretti, left thousands without power, and the potential impact of climate change events like El Niño on food supplies and energy systems. Cyberattacks are also a concern, with the recent PHP security flaw affecting millions of websites and the possibility of Russian hackers targeting the UK's infrastructure.

The Cold Chain Federation warned of Russian cyber-hackers targeting the UK's food supply system. The government emphasizes that the recommendations are about taking sensible precautions to prepare for emergencies rather than causing panic.