The Cabinet Office published updated household emergency advice on 22 October 2026, launching the first stage of a three-year "Be Ready" campaign. The guidance is aimed at helping people prepare for events such as severe weather that can occasionally disrupt power, water, phones and the internet.

Suggested steps include signing up to the Priority Services Register, which helps gas, water and electricity companies identify customers who may need extra support, and keeping a small supply of non-perishable food and bottled water at home. The government said the advice to prepare for three days of disruption is also used by France, Ireland and The Netherlands, and that it worked with local resilience forums across the UK. More than five hundred organisations have signed up to share campaign materials, and social media and radio advertising will target families with young children and older people.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said people who can follow the advice should do so, adding that simple steps can reduce pressure on emergency services. British Red Cross UK resilience director Laura Scott said clear, trusted advice for people, especially those more at risk, could help reduce the impact of crises. The government said it has published household resilience advice since May 2024 and that much of the guidance remains unchanged.