Supermarkets urge against panic buying as Government launches ‘preppers’ website – warning families to start a national crisis ’emergency kit’ of tinned food, batteries and bottled water [Video]

By Megan Howe and Rory Tingle, Home Affairs Correspondent For Mailonline 05:12 EDT 22 May 2024, updated 07:12 EDT 22 May 2024

Supermarkets today urged against panic buying as the Government launched a ‘preppers’ website warning families to gather an ’emergency kit’ of tinned food, batteries and bottled water for use in a crisis. 

Oliver Dowden will today advise people to make contingency plans for dealing with potential emergencies to help build ‘national resilience’ and ease pressure on emergency services. 

The Deputy Prime Minister wants to encourage families to stock up with enough food and water to survive for three days without leaving their homes in the event of an emergency like a flood. 

Whitehall sources insisted that the plan was not designed to create a nation of US-style survivalists. One said Mr Dowden’s intervention was not meant to be ‘alarmist’ and was simply ‘common sense’ advice. 

And retailers warned shoppers to take time building their supplies instead of resorting to …