The government has updated its national resilience plans and urged the public to take ‘small but important steps’ to prepare for potential shortages.
A new public awareness campaign is set to come out later this year to help people prepare for potential food and water shortages in the event of severe weather or cyber attacks.
Cabinet Office Minister Darren Jones said: ‘It is right that we consistently evaluate the risks we could face and plan for what may come.
‘This year we saw temperatures across the UK breaking records in May, only to be exceeded again in June, and AI offers new ways for criminals to carry out cyber-attacks against us, as well as offering huge opportunities for our economy and security.
‘The government will do all it can, and we are well prepared – but we can all play our part to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.’
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Breaking NewsThe UK has previously been warned that seven new risks, including the threat of a cyber attack on water infrastructure, are possible.
The national risk register added seven other risks facing the UK this year as well.
The major one is the water supply. A worst-case scenario would take place in London and impact more than one million people.
‘The reasonable worst‑case scenario assumes an advanced cyber actor
infiltrates the OT systems of a water company,’ the register said.
‘The attacker deploys malware that erases critical data and disables key components controlling essential operational functions.
‘This results in the water company losing visibility and control of its systems, causing a major disruption to water supply and wastewater services for a large population.’
The UK imports over a third of its food, meaning that food and water supply are at a greater risk than in some other countries.
A nationwide resilience plan could help Brits prepare for emergencies and disruption, whether it be for food supply, water, weather, or worst-case scenarios.
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