25th October 2026
The Government is asking households across the UK to prepare for at least three days of disruption by keeping essential supplies at home. It is a simple message, but one that has particular relevance in Scotland, where severe weather, long travel distances and the vulnerability of rural transport links can make an emergency more difficult to manage.
The new Be Ready campaign, launched in October, encourages households to prepare for events ranging from power cuts and flooding to interruptions to water supplies and communications. The aim is not to suggest that a major disaster is imminent. It is to help people manage for a short period if the services they normally depend on are disrupted.
For people living in Scotland's towns and cities, that might mean coping with a power cut or being unable to get to the shops for a few days. For those in the Highlands and Islands, the consequences can be more serious if snow, flooding, fallen trees or ferry cancellations interrupt supplies and travel.
But how many households are actually prepared?
The figures reveal a gap
Research published by the Cabinet Office in 2026 provides a useful starting point. A survey of more than 10,000 UK adults, conducted between February and May, found that around 60% said they had enough non-perishable food requiring no cooking to last approximately three days.
The figures for other essentials were much less reassuring. Only 4% said they had enough bottled drinking water for three days, based on the Government's guideline of three litres per person per day. Just 13% felt their household was largely or totally prepared for an emergency.
These figures suggest that keeping food in the cupboards is relatively common, but being ready for a wider disruption is much less so.
A household might have tins of soup, packets of pasta and a freezer full of food. Yet a prolonged power cut could affect cooking, refrigeration, lighting, heating and communications. If water supplies were also interrupted, even a well-stocked kitchen might not be enough.
For Scotland, there is another consideration. An emergency that lasts only a few hours in a well-connected urban area can have longer-lasting consequences in a remote community where replacement supplies, repair crews or emergency assistance may take longer to arrive.
Scotland's particular vulnerabilities
Scotland has considerable experience of severe weather disrupting everyday life. Heavy rain can cause flooding and landslips, while winter storms can bring down trees, damage power lines and close roads. Snow and ice can make travel difficult, particularly on exposed rural routes.
The effects are not confined to remote areas. Towns can experience flooding, electricity failures and transport disruption too. However, distance and geography can make recovery more complicated in parts of the Highlands, the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland.
Caithness and Sutherland provide a useful example. Communities may depend on a relatively small number of main roads for access to shops, fuel, medical appointments and deliveries. A closure or serious disruption on an important route can affect more than the immediate area.
Island communities face additional challenges when ferry services are interrupted. Deliveries may be delayed, and businesses and households can have fewer alternatives than their counterparts in larger towns.
Electricity is another consideration. A power cut can mean more than losing lights and television. It may affect electric cooking, heating controls, broadband and mobile charging. In some homes, it can also affect water supplies, particularly where pumps are required.
None of this means that Scotland should expect emergencies more frequently than every other part of Britain. It does mean that preparation needs to reflect local conditions rather than assume that every household has easy access to shops, alternative transport and nearby assistance.
What should households keep?
The Government recommends preparing gradually, using normal shopping trips to fill any gaps rather than rushing out to buy everything at once.
The essentials include drinking water, food that can be eaten without cooking, a torch, spare batteries, a battery-powered or wind-up radio, a first-aid kit and necessary medicines. A power bank for a mobile phone can also be useful.
Households should consider their own circumstances. Someone who relies on medication, has young children or needs electrical equipment for medical reasons may require additional arrangements.
In Scotland, it is also sensible to consider how a household would cope during cold weather. Warm clothing, blankets and a plan for keeping vulnerable family members comfortable can be important if heating fails. Anyone using alternative heating or cooking equipment must follow the manufacturer's safety instructions and never use outdoor barbecues or camping stoves indoors because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Three days is a starting point, not a guarantee that every emergency will be over within 72 hours. The purpose is to give households some breathing space while services are restored and emergency organisations concentrate on those who need immediate assistance.
Lessons from the past
For many families, keeping a reserve of food and household essentials was once an ordinary part of managing a home. Wartime rationing and the shortages that followed taught previous generations to avoid waste, make provisions last and use what they had available.
Those habits were not necessarily part of an organised emergency plan. They were practical ways of running a household when supplies could not always be taken for granted.
Modern shopping habits are different. Supermarkets offer extensive choice, deliveries can arrive quickly and many people buy only what they expect to use over the next few days. This is convenient while everything works normally, but it can leave less room for disruption.
There is no need to return to the restrictions of the past. A modest reserve of useful supplies is enough to make a difference, provided it is checked and replenished rather than left forgotten at the back of a cupboard.
Preparation without panic
For households on tight budgets, buying additional supplies can be difficult. The sensible approach is to use what is already available, identify missing essentials and add a few items during ordinary shopping trips. There is no need to spend heavily or stockpile months of provisions.
Local authorities, community organisations and neighbours can also have an important role, particularly in rural areas where people may be isolated or need help during severe weather. Household preparation cannot replace emergency services, resilient infrastructure or effective public planning. Nor should it become an excuse to leave vulnerable people to fend for themselves.
The Cabinet Office figures show why the new campaign deserves attention. Although many people report having enough basic food, very few say they have the recommended amount of bottled water, and only a small minority consider themselves well prepared overall.
It remains to be seen whether the campaign will change those figures. Future surveys should establish whether households are acting on the advice and whether the improvements last.
For Scotland, the message is straightforward. A little preparation can make a power cut, a period of severe weather or a temporary interruption to deliveries easier to manage. In remote communities, where alternatives may be limited, it can be especially valuable.
Being prepared does not mean expecting the worst. It means recognising that roads can close, electricity can fail and supplies can be delayed.
Three days of essentials may seem a modest request. But resilience begins at home, and a few practical steps taken in advance can make a considerable difference when normal life is interrupted.
The simplest advice is also the most useful: check what you already have, make good use of it, and fill the gaps before you need to.