Britons advised to prepare for emergencies in attempt to ‘bring UK into line with European allies’

It marks the first phase of a broader effort to strengthen public resilience, with advice published today encouraging people to take a handful of practical, largely cost-free measures well before any emergency strikes.

Among the key recommendations is registering for the Priority Services Register, a free scheme that enables gas, water and electricity providers to identify customers who may require additional help during an emergency.

Households are also urged to maintain a modest stock of long-life food and bottled water at home.

At the core of the guidance is the principle that people should be ready to manage independently for up to three days if services are interrupted, a benchmark already adopted by several European nations.

Many of the suggested actions cost nothing at all, while others have been designed to keep expenses to a minimum.

The launch also brings Britain into step with its European counterparts, which already operate comparable public readiness programmes.

Ministers drew on lessons and best practice from abroad when developing the guidance, with France, Ireland and the Netherlands all advising their populations to prepare for a similar three-day period without normal services.

Local resilience forums throughout the UK were also closely consulted to ensure the advice reflects what works at community level.

More than 500 organisations nationwide, spanning charities and businesses alike, have already committed to distributing campaign materials through their own networks and communities.

In the weeks ahead, targeted radio and social media adverts will focus on groups considered most vulnerable during everyday emergencies, particularly families with young children and older people.

The campaign was shaped in partnership with charities and advocates representing communities that are frequently overlooked, including those in insecure housing and food bank users.

The goal is that if those who can prepare do so, emergency responders can concentrate resources on the most vulnerable.

Backing the initiative, Security Minister Dan Jarvis declared that “those who can follow this advice should follow this advice”.

He said: “By taking simple steps to be ready for everyday emergencies like severe storms, people can reduce pressure on emergency services, helping them prioritise people who need more support in an emergency.

“This is just the sort of community-focused campaign the UK needs to improve our resilience as a nation. It will bring us into line with European counterparts, where advice like this is a normal part of everyday life.”

Laura Scott, Director for UK Resilience at the British Red Cross said: “We can’t control when emergencies happen, but we can all take some simple steps to be prepared, so that when they do, we are ready to help our friends, families and neighbours.

“We know from our work across the UK that local people know their communities best and want to play a part when a crisis happens.

“Having clear and trusted advice for people, especially those who may be more at-risk, could help reduce the impact of crises and even save lives.”