UK launches Be Ready campaign for three days of disruption

The UK government has launched its Be Ready campaign, urging households to keep essential supplies on hand to manage up to three days of disruption. The guidance is intended to help people cope with emergencies while support is directed to those most in need, officials said. The recommended supplies include food that can be stored without refrigeration or cooking, drinking water, a torch, a battery-powered or wind-up radio, a power bank, basic first-aid items and essential medicines. The guidance recommends roughly three litres of water per person per day for drinking, with additional water for cooking and washing. Households are also advised to keep some cash in case electronic payments or cash machines are unavailable, alongside copies of important documents. The checklist suggests keeping blankets and warm clothing for heating outages, and writing down radio frequencies to receive updates if other communications fail. Families are encouraged to account for their needs, including baby formula, medical supplies and pet food, and to build up missing items gradually. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the preparations address possible disruption from severe weather,...