The British government now recommends that every household have water, food and essential supplies to last three days in case of an emergency.
The Prime Minister Andy Burnham himself says he keeps beans, soup and savory crackers at home.
But this initiative is neither a warning of imminent war nor a British exception: from France to Sweden, several European countries already encourage households to prepare reserves.
The Three Numbers to Remember
72 hours: the autonomy duration requested of British households by the “Be Ready” campaign, launched on 22 October 2026.
9 litres: the recommended drinking-water reserve per person for three days.
13 %: share of people in the United Kingdom who report feeling prepared for an emergency that deprives the household of essential services, according to a study cited by the government.
London wants households to be self-sufficient for three days
On 22 October 2026, the Cabinet Office launched the preparedness campaign “Be Ready”. Planned over three years, it invites households to anticipate a water or power outage, a storm, a flood, or interruptions to telephone, internet or payments. The core message: keep enough to cover essential needs for 72 hours, the time for relief services to prioritize the most vulnerable people.
The approach is gradual: use what is already in pantry cupboards, top up reserves as you shop, and renew items before their expiry date. It is neither an obligation to buy nor a call to empty supermarkets.
According to a statement from Security Minister Dan Jarvis to Parliament, only 13 % of residents surveyed feel prepared for an interruption of the services they depend on, while 84 % want more public information. The government says it consulted more than 500 organisations before updating its guidance.
Beans, Soup and Crackers: The Prime Minister’s Personal Stock
Asked by the BBC, Prime Minister Andy Burnham explained that he keeps at home cooked beans, soup and the Twiglets, savory biscuits he particularly enjoys. He stressed the need to prepare a reasonable stock, without compulsive buying or panic.
Housing Minister Angela Rayner had, in a lighter tone, mentioned wine, custard, beans and cosmetic products. Andy Burnham responded that alcohol was not a priority at the start of a crisis. Defense Secretary Wes Streeting spoke of the risks of natural disasters and attacks on critical infrastructure, notably cyber threats and hostile actions attributed to states.
The government notes that no specific event or imminent war motivates the guidance. It is about improving daily resilience against several kinds of risks, and not announcing an expected attack.
What should be kept in your emergency kit?
The official British guide recommends 3 litres of drinking water per person per day, i.e., 9 litres for three days. A family of four should therefore budget 36 litres for drinking, with additional quantities for cooking, hygiene, infants, or animals.
On the food side, it suggests three days of non-perishable items, easy to eat without refrigeration or cooking: canned goods, dried fruit, nuts or household staples. The kit may also include a flashlight, batteries, a battery-powered FM radio or a hand-crank radio, a charged external battery, essential medications, a first-aid kit, hygiene products, blankets and copies of important documents.
Authorities also advise planning for a little cash in small denominations if payment terminals or ATMs are unavailable, as well as paper-written phone numbers. Households are urged to tailor contents to children, dependents and pets.
Be mindful of actual water needs
The British 9 litres correspond to three days of drinking water at 3 litres per day. France plans 6 litres per person in its 72-hour kit.
These national benchmarks do not necessarily cover all cooking or hygiene needs, and requirements increase with heat, age or health status.
France, Germany, Sweden: other countries have already adopted this approach
The United Kingdom joins a broader European movement. In its preparedness strategy, the European Commission encourages the implementation of guidelines enabling residents to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.
National guidance varies. France recommends a three-day kit; the Netherlands and Belgium also favor 72 hours. Finland and Ireland advocate for three days of autonomy. Sweden aims for at least a week, while Germany advises ideally ten days, while considering three days as a first useful level.
| Country | Authorities’ Recommendation |
| United Kingdom | 3 days — 9 litres of drinking water per person |
| France | 72 hours — 6 litres of water per person in the kit |
| Netherlands | 72 hours — 3 litres of water per person per day |
| Belgium | 72 hours of minimum autonomy |
| Finland | 72 hours of minimum autonomy |
| Sweden | At least 7 days of preparedness |
| Germany | Ideally 10 days; 3 days already useful |
| Ireland | Up to 3 days of reserves |
These durations are voluntary preparedness targets: they do not mean a catastrophe is forecast for a specific date. Sources: national civil protection agencies and the European Commission.
Why the cyber risk worries London particularly
British authorities cite cyberattacks among possible disruptions to daily life. The news provided a concrete example on 22 October: in front of the House of Lords, Minister Liz Lloyd indicated that 32 government services were unavailable and four partially unavailable during the handling of a critical vulnerability affecting the PHP language.
According to the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), urgent updates were necessary. The interruptions reported were primarily preventive, the time to secure the systems. The authorities did not present these 32 interruptions as breaches.
Another point of fragility: in a report published on 4 September 2026, the National Audit Office notes that the resilience of the British food supply chain still needs to be strengthened against disruptions that could affect energy, transport, businesses and digital networks.
Why the recommendations do not mean that a war is approaching
European preparedness campaigns respond to a range of possible situations: floods, storms, power outages, water-distribution interruptions, cyberattacks, industrial accidents or security crises. Some countries, notably Sweden, also consider the possibility of armed conflict in their civil protection messaging.
But preparing for multiple risks does not mean they expect them to occur. The aim is to enable households to manage the first hours of a disruption and to let relief teams focus on vital emergencies.
And in Tunisia: what reasonable precautions for a family?
The European approach can provide practical guidelines for Tunisian families, especially in case of prolonged water or electricity outages or severe weather. However, it does not constitute a new official directive from Tunisian authorities.
Without rushing to stockpile, a household can ensure it has drinking water, non-perishable foods that keep at room temperature, a working lamp, a charged phone battery, essential medicines and relatives’ contact details on paper. Quantities should be adapted to the household’s needs and to the heat.
The central message of the British campaign thus comes down to one idea: preparing a few essential items before a breakdown avoids having to search for them during a crisis. This prevention does not require excessive purchases or constant worry.
