Prime Minister Andy Burnham urges Britons to prepare for crisis situations

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Friday urged people across the United Kingdom to prepare for emergencies and disruptions to essential services, amid increasingly extreme weather events, cyber risks and other threats. The appeal was made following a meeting on tackling wildfires held in Liverpool.

The British government has launched the national “Be Ready” campaign, recommending that households stock up on supplies for at least three days without electricity, water, telecommunications or internet access. The official list includes bottled water, non-perishable food, torches with spare batteries, an FM radio and cash.

Burnham said unexpected events are becoming increasingly frequent and that preparedness should not be confused with panic. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting urged Britons to remain vigilant, including in the face of potential disruptions to supply chains caused by hostile states or terrorists.

At the same time, the government is allocating up to £45 million to tackle wildfires. Helicopters and military aircraft will be equipped for response operations, while firefighters in England will receive additional specialist teams. Authorities link the increase in fires in recent years to drought, extreme temperatures and climate change.