UK ‘Black Sky event’ extreme snow and big freeze emergency plan for households

UK ‘Black Sky event’ extreme snow and big freeze emergency plan for households Emergency plans for a UK-wide 'Black Sky event' include plans for drinking water mixed with bleach. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Add us as preferred source Comments By Alex Evans , Deputy Audience Editor 21:34, Sun, Nov 8, 2026 Updated: 21:41, Sun, Nov 8, 2026 UK government calls on households to be ready for emergencies A plan drawn up to help households through an unprecedented national power cut which lasts for several days - and coincides with extremely cold weather - has set out what people will be told to do via emergency radio.

The government's Department of Health and Social Care has pre-written scripts to be handed to the hosts of a national emergency radio station which will be run by the BBC using stockpiles of fuel and food , broadcast to FM radios during a potential 'Black Sky' event, where electricity and communication like internet has been disrupted for several days. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Those scripts include contingencies on the advice which will be given to households over this emergency radio station on how to deal with a long-lasting power cut during extremely cold weather.

The script will say: "We have planned in case this extraordinary situation happened and this advice has been created by doctors and scientists to help keep you and your family healthy. State pensioners told how to stay warm during Polar Vortex snow without heating BBC emergency plans for UK ‘Black Sky event’ with ‘3 days of food and fuel' A Black Sky event plan is in place (Image: Getty) "Some parts of the UK are currently experiencing extremely cold weather.

In this broadcast, I am going to provide you with information on how to stay safe during this time." Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT It goes on: "During this time there are things you can do to keep warm. For most people cold weather will be inconvenient but not dangerous, however cold weather can cause serious health problems for some groups. Babies, young children, pregnant women, older people and people who need care are at particular risk from cold weather.

If you are in one of these groups or look after someone who is, you should pay particularly close attention to this advice." Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT The advice the script gives includes: "You are advised to wear several thin layers of clothing and wrap up warm. While you are sitting, keep your feet raised because air near the floor is colder. Get up and move around and stretch at least every hour. Get everyone in the house to gather in one room to share warmth.

Put something like a towel or sheet under the doors of the rooms you are using to reduce draughts. Close your curtains and blinds when it gets dark to help keep the heat in. Use blankets or sheets to cover your windows if you don’t have curtains or blinds. Close the windows and doors in rooms you are not using. "Becoming very cold can have serious effects on your health. Look out for the signs of hypothermia in people in your home. You are looking for shivering, cold and dry skin, skin and lips that are blue or grey (which may easier to see on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet of black or brown skin), slurred speech, slow breathing and appearing tired or confused."

Among the advice on alternative sources of heating, it adds: "You may have some other ways of keeping warm. Be very careful when using heating appliances that are not mains powered. If you have a portable gas heater that uses gas bottles and is approved for indoor use, make sure the room is well ventilated and follow all instructions carefully as the fumes can be dangerous. If you have a generator, place it outdoors at least six metres or 20 feet away, with the exhaust facing away from windows or doors.

If you have a wood burner or other non-electric stove, make sure the room is well ventilated and follow all instructions carefully to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Never leave a fire, portable heating appliance or generator unattended and keep a fire extinguisher nearby. "Only use the recommended type of fuel for heating appliances. Do not burn old furniture, pallets or fence panels, household rubbish or fuels such as petrol, diesel or lighter fluid as this could cause an explosion, fire or release of harmful chemicals."

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You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . UK households have been urged to stockpile (Image: Getty) The BBC has revealed it has ‘Black Sky event’ plans in place which dictates what the national broadcaster will do in case of a full-scale UK emergency in which communications including the internet are shut off for three days or more. The emergency broadcasting service will have secure lines of communication which are not dependent on internet connections and will have enough water, food and fuel to allow it to operate for three days without any further supplies.

The emergency radio will broadcast what households should do in that situation, including how much food and water people should be drinking and even what to do if water supplies are so disrupted that toilets won’t flush. The plans being made public come as repeated calls are made by government officials, including Prime Minister Andy Burnham, for the UK to be more prepared for national emergencies such as power cuts, internet and phone blackouts and disruption to food, water or fuel supplies.

Under the new Government campaign, households are being urged to be prepared if everyday services are temporarily disrupted with three days of key supplies. Households should stockpile at least three days of food and drinking water, according to government advice, and have a battery powered FM radio at home to receive emergency broadcasts. Three days of drinking water is roughly three litres per day per person, according to the UK's Be Ready advice.

The Government advice marks the first stage of a three-year campaign which aims to make households feel better prepared for disruptive events, such as severe weather, and comes in the wake of heatwaves, drought and fires that hit the UK during the summer. See more of the stories you love from Daily Express and find us easily in Google by making us a Preferred Source. Free and easy-to-do, just click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

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