Residents in the United Kingdom and Ireland are being encouraged to be prepared for a possible emergency, including potential food shortages or cyber attacks.
British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting unveiled a “Be Ready” campaign in an effort to boost household emergency preparedness. Similarly, residents of Ireland received a booklet in the mail in September titled “Be Emergency Ready.”
“This is terrifying,” one Irish woman shared via TikTok while showing viewers details of the pamphlet.
Ireland’s Campaign
“This is terrifying. Absolutely terrifying,” the woman said. “The very first thing: Make sure you have enough food and water to see you through an emergency. So now we all have to become preppers.”
Other tips for preparedness include storing important documents in resealable waterproof bags, making sure to have two to three liters of drinking water per day for each person in the household, and having a printed road map in the event that GPS is unavailable.
The 17-page document was distributed to 2.2 million households nationwide.
“Ireland regularly reviews the risks we face so that government, communities and households can prepare for emergencies,” the government shared via the official website.
According to The Irish Times, the updated guidelines were influenced by events like Storm Éowyn, which left nearly 800,000 households without power in January 2025.
“I encourage everyone to take the time to read the booklet when it arrives, work through the checklist, complete the important information section and keep it somewhere easy to find. A small amount of preparation today can make a significant difference tomorrow,” Minister Helen McEntee said.
European Commission — which launched a preparedness strategy in March 2025 — cited Russia’s war on Ukraine, rising geopolitical tensions, and electronic warfare as potential threats to Europe.
U.K.’s Campaign
Similar to Ireland’s push for its citizens to be prepared, the United Kingdom is advising households to take simple steps to be better equipped in the event of an emergency.
Some tips the British government encourages include keeping a three-day supply of cash on hand and stocking up on food and water.
“It’s just a simple ask of people,” Streeting told the U.S. Sun in September. “Do they have what they need indoors, should they lose access to their online banking for a period? Should they have a power cut?”
In addition to cash, food and water, a torch, spare batteries, hand sanitizer and sanitary products, a battery-powered radio, a first aid kit, and baby supplies are on the list.
“These are basic things, and of course, you know, a lot of people just have that in their cupboard naturally,” he added. “It’s having some cash at home, having a supply of bottled water indoors, having some tinned goods that you can access if your electric goes and you’re not able to cook on the hob or in the microwave.”
Financial Secretary James Murray cited emergencies such as cyber attacks, floods and wildfires, as potential emergencies facing the country.
UK, Ireland Residents Urged to Prepare for Emergency: What to Know