The National Risk Register 2026, explained for households
Every couple of years the Cabinet Office publishes its assessment of the most serious risks facing the UK. Here's what the 2026 edition highlights — and, calmly, what it means for your home.
National power outage
Catastrophic (5/5)Water infrastructure failure
Catastrophic (5/5)What a household can actually do
The government's own Prepare campaign answers this, and it's refreshingly ordinary: keep a few days of water and food, a torch and a power bank, a battery radio, and a small grab bag. Our two-minute tool sizes it to your household.
Common questions
What is the National Risk Register?
It's the public version of the government's National Security Risk Assessment — the Cabinet Office's own assessment of the most serious risks that could affect the UK, with each risk's likelihood and potential impact. The 2026 edition was published in July 2026.
Should I be worried about the risks in it?
No — the point isn't fear, it's preparation. Most listed risks are low-likelihood, and the government's own advice is the same calm, practical checklist we follow: store some water, keep a torch and power bank, have a few days of food. The register simply explains why those sensible habits are worth having.
How likely is a national power outage?
The National Risk Register 2026 rates a national electricity failure as low-likelihood but high-impact. Household preparedness for a power cut — light, a way to charge a phone, warm layers, some food that needs no cooking — is proportionate regardless of the exact odds.
Source: National Risk Register 2026 (Cabinet Office, 14 Jul 2026). Figures are the government's own reasonable-worst-case planning assumptions, not forecasts. PreparedBritain is independent and not affiliated with HM Government.
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