“Stock up food and water so you can survive a few days without electricity or running water.” The appeal was launched by Angela Eagle, Minister of the Environment of the British government, who addressed citizens in an interview with the Guardian, inviting them to prepare for extreme weather conditions.
The appeal of the British minister
As also highlighted by the World Meteorological Organization, a United Nations climate agency, El Niño is expected to be “very intense”. According to forecasts, the largest El Niño of the last thousand years is expected, which will bring fires and floods to different parts of the world.
A fear also confirmed by Angela Eagle: “We are about to face probably the biggest El Niño ever seen and this will lead to drier summers, wetter winters and more extreme storms in this country. Also, it will cause a lot more damage in Asia due to flooding, so I think we need to take it seriously. If you have a supply of food that allows you to survive for a while before the emergency services can get to you, you will be in a much better situation than those who don’t. So, you need to prepare to be a a little more resilient.”
The government plan
Meanwhile, the BBC reports that the National Audit Office (NAO), the UK’s independent body responsible for monitoring public spending, warns that the British food supply chain is at risk due to the growing threat of cyber attacks and the climate crisis. The government is overly reliant on the private sector to deal with disruptions to food supplies, the NAO has highlighted. The executive branch is expected to present a national emergency preparedness strategy by the end of the year.