Burnham urges households to stock up on tinned food and bottled water
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has advised people to stock up on tinned food and bottled water to prepare for emergencies. Speaking at a wildfire resilience summit in Liverpool, he said that "unexpected events seem to be becoming more and more common" when discussing emergency preparedness, according to the BBC.
The government recommends that households keep three days' worth of bottled water and tinned food for crises such as war, an online attack or a natural disaster. Its emergency checklist puts water at nine litres per person, enough for three days. It also recommends non-perishable food, such as tinned meat and vegetables or dried fruit.
Other guidance covers the details. Emergency food advice says to avoid items tinned in brine or syrups. Hygiene advice for when the water is off includes hand sanitiser and wet wipes. Britons have been asked to put together "Be ready" kits containing three days' worth of non-perishable food.
Households were also advised to keep a three-day supply of cash, in case everyday services are disrupted, the Independent reported.
Not every minister has followed the advice. Treasury minister James Murray said he had not yet followed the government's guidance on stockpiling supplies for a crisis.
The advice has been in preparation for some months. In July, the government announced plans to set out "small but important steps" for households to prepare for food and water shortages, the BBC reported. In August, the Guardian reported that citizens would be told to stock up on tinned food amid threats from the climate crisis and hostile states.
