Andy Burnham urges UK households to stockpile these 13 key objects – see full listing

Andy Burnham’s government has encourages UK households to take simple steps to stay prepared if everyday services are temporarily disrupted by severe weather or other emergencies

UK households have been urged to stockpile 13 essential items as part of the Government’s new emergency Be Ready campaign.

Launched last month, the initiative aims to encourage British households to take a handful of straightforward steps to remain prepared should everyday services face temporary disruption.

This marks the first phase of a three-year campaign designed to help households across the UK feel more equipped for events such as extreme weather, which can impact services including electricity, water, phones and the internet.

Just days after the emergency preparedness campaign was unveiled, the UK was hammered by Storm Austen and Storm Boelo. The storms unleashed chaos across the country, including power outages and severe disruption to public transport networks.

Launching the campaign, Security Minister and MP Dan Jarvis said: “Those who can follow this advice should follow this advice. 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,” reports the Manchester Evening News.

“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.”

Following the launch of the campaign last week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham stressed that the public needs to be better equipped for handling emergencies.

Households have been urged to keep a three-day supply of provisions, including food, water, batteries, torches, baby or pet food, amongst other items. Alongside listing these necessities, the Government has published an “emergency checklist” outlining what people should do to stay prepared.

Beyond this guidance, residents are being urged to get familiar with three crucial elements in their homes. To be able to shut off water, gas or electricity in an emergency, all UK households should know the location of the following: the water stop cock, the gas isolation valve, and the electricity isolation switch.

Part of the Government’s emergency preparedness plan states: “If you have time and it is safe to do so, you might need to turn off the mains water, gas or electricity to your home during an emergency. Familiarise yourself with where these are.”

The warning added: “WARNING: You can turn the water and electricity back on yourself but NOT THE GAS. This must be done by a qualified engineer.”

Full list of 13 things UK households should stock:

1. Bottled water (3 litres per person per day for at least 3 days)
2. Non-perishable food to last at least 3 days that does not require cooking or refrigerating (e.g. tinned meat, fruit or vegetables) and tin opener
3. Hand sanitiser, wet wipes, hygiene and bathroom products
4. Torch (battery/wind up) and spare batteries – torches are safer than candles
5. Blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing
6. FM radio (battery/wind up) to get updates during a power cut
7. Portable power bank to charge phone and medical devices (if compatible)
8. Cash (mix of coins and notes) and cards
9. Copies of IDs/important documents
10. First aid kit / first aid items
11. Essential medication or medical supplies to last several days
12. Baby products (e.g. nappies, wipes and ready-made formula)
13. Pet products (food and bottled water)