15 gadgets each residence wants now as Polar vortex may hit UK this winter
The Cabinet Office is urging UK households to stock 15 essential items and prepare for emergencies, as forecasters warn a polar vortex split could bring snow, ice and disruption to Britain from late November into December
This year’s polar vortex break is a phenomenon completely unprecedented in modern observation(Image: iiievgeniy via Getty Images)
The government is urging Brits to take straightforward precautions to remain safe and brace themselves for a potential emergency, as a polar vortex collapse is anticipated later this month and into December.
Meteorologists at the Met Office say that a Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event has weakened and split the polar vortex remarkably early in the season – a phenomenon entirely without precedent in modern observations.
This atmospheric upheaval, likely driven by a powerful El Niño event, threatens to destroy the stable Atlantic jet stream that typically keeps British winters mild and wet – suggesting an extraordinarily bitter winter could be on its way.
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In late October, the Cabinet Office released guidance on how to remain prepared for emergencies, including climate-related disruptions to essential services such as power, water, phones and the internet.
The campaign points to incidents such as recent storms and wildfires across the UK as proof of “how severe weather events can cause disruption to our everyday lives and impact the services we rely on, from phone signal to water and the internet”, reports the Express.
Special measures are advised for households with babies, elderly people and pets(Image: John Lamb via Getty Images)
According to the government, there is a range of essential items everybody should keep readily available at home, sufficient for 3 days. Listed below are the items and quantities recommended to have at home in the event of an emergency:
- Bottled water – three litres per person, per day, for drinking, plus extra for cooking and washing’
- Non-perishable food – such as tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts;
- Hygiene products – hand sanitiser, wet wipes, bathroom products;
- Torch and spare batteries;
- Blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing;
- FM radio – for updates in case of outages;
- Charged power bank for phones or medical devices;
- Cash and cards – in case electronic payments or ATMs are disrupted;
- Copies of IDs and documents;
- Essential contact details and emergency services;
- First aid kit – including waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash, dressings and gloves;
- Essential medication – prescription medicine should be enough for five working days, if possible.
It is recommended to store non-perishable food(Image: Getty)
If you care for babies, infants, elderly people, or pets, you may also require additional items:
- Baby formula – ready-made is better, as it might be impossible to boil water depending on the circumstances;
- Nappies and wipes;
- Pet food and water
The guidelines further advise checking around the home for these items before purchasing anything new, and suggest donating any surplus supplies you may have.
The post notes that “you may be able to help someone by photocopying or printing important documents for them,” and recommends brushing up on basic first aid skills while also checking whether your workplace has emergency procedures in place.
To keep the whole family safe, plan your home’s best escape route well in advance, and agree on a meeting point with loved ones – ideally somewhere easy to locate and publicly accessible within your community.
Lastly, to stay up to date on potential outages and dangerous conditions, sign up for alerts and warnings, and familiarise yourself with the various hazards and emergencies that could arise.
