UK updates resilience plans and warns public to prepare for possible food and water shortages

The UK government has updated its national resilience plans and is preparing a public awareness campaign later this year to encourage households to take steps for possible food and water shortages. The move is linked to risks from severe weather and cyber attacks, according to the supplied material. It comes as officials say the public should make "small but important steps" to prepare for disruption.

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Cabinet Office Minister Darren Jones said the government regularly assesses the risks the country could face and plans for what may come. He pointed to record temperatures in May and June as an example of the changing pressures facing the UK. He also said artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities for criminals to carry out cyber attacks, while also offering benefits for the economy and security.

The national risk register has previously warned of seven new risks, including a cyber attack on water infrastructure. The supplied material says the major concern is the water supply, with a worst-case scenario in London that could affect more than one million people. In that scenario, an advanced cyber actor infiltrates the operational technology systems of a water company, deploys malware that erases critical data, and disables key components needed to run essential services.

The register says such an attack could leave a water company without visibility or control of its systems, causing major disruption to water supply and wastewater services for a large population. The warning matters because water and food supply are central to public resilience, and the UK imports more than a third of its food. That dependence can increase exposure to shocks from extreme weather, infrastructure failure or cyber disruption.

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The updated plans also reflect a broader shift in how governments are approaching national preparedness. Rather than focusing only on emergency response, the emphasis is increasingly on household readiness and continuity planning. In this case, the government is signalling that resilience is not only a matter for critical infrastructure operators, but also for the public.

What remains unclear is the exact content of the campaign and how detailed the advice to households will be. The supplied material does not say when the campaign will launch beyond later this year, or whether it will include specific guidance on storing water or food. It also does not say whether any new measures are being introduced beyond the updated resilience plans and public messaging.

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