PrepWhat to stock up on if you're worried about war
By SGWNI. Checked on 2 November 2026.
Stock the same basics you’d want for any emergency: water, food that needs no cooking, a torch, a battery or wind-up radio, cash, and your medicines. We found no official UK advice that asks households to stock up for war in particular. The government’s Be Ready campaign asks for 3 days of supplies, and that’s still the right first goal. If you’re worried, this is a calm, useful thing to do about it, and most of it is already in your cupboards.
Is the government telling people to prepare for war?
No. The GOV.UK announcement of Be Ready doesn’t mention war and names no specific threat. Its examples are severe weather such as storms and wildfires, and what they do to power, water, phone signal and internet.
Press reports from October 2026 add some detail. LBC reported that the government stressed the advice isn’t a warning of an imminent threat. Arab News reported a minister raising disruption to supply chains from hostile states or terrorists, and asking how people would cope if supermarket payment systems went down.
The worry is common. In the government’s 2026 survey, 28% of people thought war was likely to affect their local area within two years, up from 19% the year before.
What would actually reach your home
We can’t predict what any conflict would look like, and we don’t try to. What we can do is look at what the official advice plans for: things that stop working for a while. The list is the same whatever the cause.
| If this stops | You’d want |
|---|---|
| Electricity | A torch, spare batteries, a charged power bank, blankets and warm clothes |
| Mains water | 3 litres of bottled water per person per day |
| Shops or deliveries | Food that needs no fridge or cooking |
| Card payments | Cash in coins and notes |
| Internet and mobile | An FM radio on batteries or wind-up, and numbers on paper |
| Pharmacies | Your essential medication, with repeats ordered in good time |
Our Be Ready checklist tool turns this into a list for your household.
The first things to buy
If you do one thing, sort out the water. Only 4% of people had 3 days’ worth at 3 litres a day in the 2026 survey, and our water storage calculator shows what that means in bottles. After that, the British Red Cross order is a good one to follow: medication, water, food, a kit that suits your household, staying informed, and a simple plan.
Be Ready says to request repeat prescriptions up to 5 working days before you need your medicine. That’s a normal, sensible habit. If you’re worried about running short, ask your GP or pharmacist.
If you were told to stay indoors
There’s one scenario where having things at home matters more. UK advice for a radiation emergency is “go in, stay in, tune in”:
- Go in: get indoors, close doors and windows, and stay away from outside walls.
- Stay in: turn off fans and air conditioning. You may need to stay indoors for one to two days.
- Tune in: follow official advice on radio, TV and online.
The UK Health Security Agency says food and drink already indoors, including tap water, will be safe to consume, and that mains tap water is considered safe unless you’re told otherwise. Three days of supplies would cover that, and the radio matters most.
What you don’t need
- Iodine tablets. These are only for specific situations. UK guidance says that if you need them, you’ll get official advice on how to get them, when to take them and how much. They can do more harm than good if taken at the wrong time. Iodised salt isn’t a substitute.
- Specialist survival gear. Be Ready recommends no products. We found no official UK advice to buy a shelter, a gas mask or tactical equipment.
- Months of food, bought in one go. Be Ready says to build up gradually. Press reports said some shops ran short of bottled water, batteries and baked beans in the days after the Be Ready launch, while retailers restocked. Buying steadily keeps shelves stocked for everyone, and it means you won’t be throwing out food you never wanted.
If you’d like to go further
Three days is the UK figure. Sweden asks households to prepare for at least a week, and Germany plans for 10 days. If it would help you feel better, build towards 2 weeks over a few months. That’s our suggestion, not an official one. How much food a family should keep explains the numbers, and our food stockpile calculator makes a shopping list.
Choose food you’d eat anyway, then use it and replace it. Check it every six months, as Be Ready suggests.
Looking after yourself
Worry about the news is tiring, and doing something practical can help. Pick one item from your list this week. Talk to a neighbour and swap numbers, which Be Ready also suggests. When it’s done, it’s done, and you can stop thinking about it for six months.
If worry is affecting your sleep or your daily life, talk to your GP.