Governments in Japan and the United Kingdom are intensifying calls for their citizens to prepare for a range of potential emergencies by keeping essential supplies readily available. Both nations are advising households to stock enough provisions to last between three days and a full week, anticipating scenarios where public services might be disrupted.
Japan Prepares for Major Disasters
Japan's disaster management minister, Goshi Hosono, announced that the government will issue an urgent request to ministries, prefectures, and citizens on November 2, coinciding with the establishment of the country's new Disaster Prevention Agency. Hosono emphasized the need for a minimum of three days' worth of supplies, ideally extending to a week, stressing that households should be self-sufficient in food, water, and sanitation.
The push for preparedness in Japan is driven by the country's vulnerability to national-level disasters. These include the potential for a Nankai Trough earthquake, a major seismic event directly beneath the capital, significant earthquakes along the Kuril and Japan trenches, and a possible volcanic eruption of Mount Fuji. The new Disaster Prevention Agency will specifically focus on these large-scale threats.
Minister Hosono also highlighted the importance of improving evacuation shelters, aiming to enhance facilities from the current standard of 'TKB' (toilets, kitchens with warm meals, beds) to 'TKBB' by adding bath facilities.
UK Launches "Be Ready" Campaign
Across the globe, the UK government has launched its own "Be Ready" campaign, advising citizens to keep at least three days of emergency supplies at home. This guidance includes stocking bottled water, non-perishable food, essential medicines, toilet paper, torches, and cash.
The renewed emphasis on household preparedness in Britain follows recent disruptions, such as a major PHP software glitch that affected several services and triggered millions of hacking attempts. The government's advice also considers risks from wildfires, extreme weather events, cyber incidents, potential actions by hostile states, and organized crime.
This approach aligns with recommendations from the European Commission, which last year urged EU citizens to prepare a 72-hour emergency kit. The overarching message from both Japan and the UK is clear: households should possess the capacity to manage independently for several days if emergency services or public support systems become unavailable.