Governments of Multiple Countries Urge Citizens to Stockpile Food, and the Reasons Behind This Are Complex

Illustrative photo: A man shopping in a Beijing supermarket, August 13, 2023. (Pedro Pardo/AFP)

[People News] Recent media coverage has revealed that numerous countries worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan, have called on their citizens to stock up on essential supplies such as food and water. Images circulating on social media indicate that 17 governments and the European Union are advising citizens to store supplies at home. Among these, Sweden, the Republic of China (Taiwan), Norway, Estonia, and Switzerland recommend having a week's worth of supplies, while countries like the United Kingdom, France, Finland, Poland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Latvia, and Lithuania suggest at least three days' worth.

Dan Bongino, who served as the Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) during the Trump administration, recently issued a warning urging all Americans to prepare at least three days' worth of food, drinking water, and emergency supplies for their households. This preparation is in anticipation of potential power outages, cyberattacks, or other unexpected crises. He stressed that being prepared in advance is not about inciting panic, but rather a necessary step to protect oneself and one's family during uncertain times.

In a report by Japan's Fuji News Network, Japan's Minister of Disaster Management, Hosono Goshi, announced that the government will issue an emergency call on November 2, urging households to prepare at least three days' worth of essential supplies, ideally a week. This includes drinking water, canned goods, rice, and emergency toilets. Each person is advised to prepare at least three litres of water per day, along with flashlights, medications, and cash.

Various online sources indicate that the reasons behind countries urging their residents to stockpile supplies differ significantly. For instance, Japan's primary motivation is to prepare for natural disasters like earthquakes. In contrast, nations such as the United States and the United Kingdom are focused on threats related to war and cyberattacks.

Documents reviewed by Fox News Digital reveal that the U.S. Pentagon is implementing a plan known as 'FORTRESS.' This initiative mandates that major military bases maintain operational capabilities for at least 90 days without external support in the event of communication disruptions. This includes ensuring the availability of essential resources and services such as electricity, water, fuel, and communications, thereby minimising dependence on the civilian power grid.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Sean Parnell remarked, 'We do not want to rely on conventional civilian municipal infrastructure for defence operations. We cannot do that because it poses an unacceptable risk.'

Additionally, the Pentagon is working on alternative supply chains and strategic reserves to guarantee a steady supply of weapons, fuel, and other critical materials. The strategy involves implementing large-scale battery storage systems and microgrids, enabling military facilities to operate independently from the civilian power grid. Furthermore, the U.S. Army plans to invest up to $2.2 billion to deploy small nuclear reactors at five military bases, including Fort Bragg and Fort Hood.

This strategy is reportedly designed to prevent hackers from the Chinese Communist Party from breaching critical U.S. infrastructure, as well as to counter potential sabotage actions by Russia. The Pentagon predicts that large-scale conflicts could damage the infrastructure that supports military operations within the United States, and it also foresees significant disruptions to the global supply chains that provide weapons, equipment, and essential supplies to the military.

On October 22, the UK initiated a publicity campaign. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting warned in The Telegraph that by 2030, adversaries like Russia could possess the capability to attack NATO countries, leaving the UK and its allies with just over a thousand days to bolster their defences.
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