Government launches 'Be Ready' campaign urging households to prepare for emergencies
Cabinet Office publishes updated advice urging UK households to take simple, low-cost steps to prepare for disruption to power, water and other services.
Updated advice published
The Cabinet Office has published updated advice encouraging households across the UK to take simple steps to stay prepared if everyday services are temporarily disrupted. The advice, published on 22 October 2026, marks the first stage of a three-year campaign called 'Be Ready'.
What the advice covers
The campaign focuses on straightforward actions households can take in advance. These include signing up to the Priority Services Register, a free service that helps gas, water and electricity companies identify customers who may need extra support during an emergency, and keeping a small supply of non-perishable food and bottled water at home. The government says the advice is aimed at helping people cope with events such as severe weather, which can occasionally affect services including power, water, phones and the internet.
Aligned with other European countries
According to the Cabinet Office, the advice to prepare for three days of disruption, which sits at the heart of the campaign, is also used in France, Ireland and the Netherlands. The government says it worked with other countries to learn from their experience and best practice, and worked with local resilience forums across the UK to root the advice in what works for local communities.
Comments from ministers and partners
Dan Jarvis MP, the Security Minister, said that those who can follow the advice should do so, adding that simple steps to prepare for everyday emergencies can reduce pressure on emergency services and help them prioritise people who need more support. He described the campaign as a community-focused effort to improve the UK's resilience as a nation.
Laura Scott, British Red Cross Director for UK Resilience, said people cannot control when emergencies happen but can take simple steps to be prepared so they are ready to help friends, families and neighbours. She said clear and trusted advice, particularly for those most at risk, could help reduce the impact of crises.
Campaign partners and reach
The Cabinet Office says more than 500 organisations, including charities and businesses, have signed up to share the campaign's messaging and assets within their networks and communities. Government channels, including GOV.UK and social media accounts, will also amplify the content. Over the coming weeks and months, social media and radio advertising will be used to reach audiences the government describes as particularly at risk in everyday emergencies, including families with young children and older people.
The campaign was developed in collaboration with charities and campaigners working with under-represented groups, including people with insecure housing and people who use foodbanks. The government notes that the UK has published resilience advice for households since May 2024, and that while the previous "Prepare" website has been updated with new messaging and branding under the 'Be Ready' campaign, much of the underlying advice remains unchanged.
Key takeaways
- The Cabinet Office has published updated advice as the first stage of a three-year 'Be Ready' campaign to help households prepare for disruption to services such as power, water, phones and the internet.
- The advice includes free and low-cost steps, such as signing up to the Priority Services Register and keeping a small supply of non-perishable food and bottled water at home.
- The campaign is based on advice to prepare for three days of disruption, an approach also used by France, Ireland and the Netherlands.
- More than 500 organisations, including charities and businesses, have signed up to share campaign messaging, and the government will use social media and radio advertising to reach families with young children and older people.
- The campaign updates the previous 'Prepare' website with new messaging and branding, though much of the underlying advice, published since May 2024, remains unchanged.
FAQ
What is the 'Be Ready' campaign?
It is a three-year UK government campaign, launched by the Cabinet Office, encouraging households to take simple steps to prepare for temporary disruption to services such as power, water and the internet during events like severe weather.
What steps are households being encouraged to take?
The advice includes signing up to the Priority Services Register, which helps utility companies identify customers needing extra support, and keeping a small supply of non-perishable food and bottled water at home.
Who is behind the announcement?
The advice was published by the Cabinet Office, with comments from Security Minister Dan Jarvis MP and Laura Scott, British Red Cross Director for UK Resilience.
Is this campaign similar to approaches elsewhere?
The government says the campaign brings the UK into line with European peers, including France, Ireland and the Netherlands, which run similar preparedness campaigns based on advice to prepare for three days of disruption.