https://safeprepared.com/news/We cover news from public bodies and utility companies for UK households on power cuts, weather, water, health, safety and security. Each report includes the date and sources, with links to our guides.en-gb https://safeprepared.com/news/devon-county-council-backs-south-west-water-s-appeal-save-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/devon-county-council-backs-south-west-water-s-appeal-save-2026/Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTDevon County Council has backed South West Water's appeal for households and businesses to cut unnecessary water use, saying parts of Devon remain in severe drought despite recent rainfall. https://safeprepared.com/news/emergency-services-warn-halloween-increase-preventable-firework-incidents-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/emergency-services-warn-halloween-increase-preventable-firework-incidents-2026/Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe PSNI and Northern Ireland Fire Service have urged the public to use fireworks legally and safely over Halloween, predicting more calls about anti-social behaviour and firework misuse. https://safeprepared.com/news/emergency-services-issue-joint-bonfire-night-safety-appeal-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/emergency-services-issue-joint-bonfire-night-safety-appeal-2026/Fri, 30 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTNorth Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust and North Wales Police have issued a joint appeal on firework, bonfire and burn safety ahead of Bonfire Night. https://safeprepared.com/news/burst-water-main-hits-water-supply-oldham-postcodes-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/burst-water-main-hits-water-supply-oldham-postcodes-2026/Wed, 28 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTUnited Utilities says repairs to a burst water main on Rochdale Road in Oldham are complete and the main is being refilled, with tankers kept in the area as the incident remains active for OL1, OL8 and OL9. https://safeprepared.com/news/south-west-water-asks-customers-save-water-during-stormy-weather-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/south-west-water-asks-customers-save-water-during-stormy-weather-2026/Wed, 28 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTSouth West Water has published an article dated 28 October 2026 explaining why it is asking everyone to save water during stormy weather, as drought conditions continue in its region. https://safeprepared.com/news/sepa-issues-flood-warnings-across-western-isles-ahead-high-tides-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/sepa-issues-flood-warnings-across-western-isles-ahead-high-tides-2026/Tue, 27 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTSEPA has issued flood warnings across the Western Isles in response to sustained challenging weather and high tides scheduled for the evening of 27 October 2026, the Comhairle has said. https://safeprepared.com/news/sepa-issues-flood-warning-st-margaret-s-hope-amber-flood-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/sepa-issues-flood-warning-st-margaret-s-hope-amber-flood-2026/Tue, 27 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTSEPA has issued a Flood Warning for St Margaret's Hope from about 9:30am on Tuesday 27 October, with an Amber coastal flood risk across Orkney and a Met Office Yellow wind warning from 3am to 9pm. https://safeprepared.com/news/environment-agencies-issue-flood-warnings-across-england-scotland-wales-storms-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/environment-agencies-issue-flood-warnings-across-england-scotland-wales-storms-2026/Mon, 26 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Environment Agency issued 10 flood warnings and 65 alerts on Monday morning, with SEPA reporting 10 warnings and 11 alerts and Natural Resources Wales nine alerts, after Storm Boelo and Storm Austen. https://safeprepared.com/news/product-safety-report-issued-runfeng-water-beads-asphyxiation-risk-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/product-safety-report-issued-runfeng-water-beads-asphyxiation-risk-2026/Mon, 26 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Office for Product Safety and Standards has published a product safety report for 20,000pcs Runfeng Water Beads, which pose a serious asphyxiation risk to young children, and the Amazon listing has been removed. https://safeprepared.com/news/flood-alert-issued-aberdeenshire-aberdeen-city-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/flood-alert-issued-aberdeenshire-aberdeen-city-2026/Mon, 26 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTSEPA has issued a Flood Alert Update for Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City, warning of coastal flooding from high spring tides, storm surge and wave overtopping through Tuesday and possibly into Wednesday morning. https://safeprepared.com/news/onbuy-listings-affected-baby-sleeping-bags-removed-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/onbuy-listings-affected-baby-sleeping-bags-removed-2026/Mon, 26 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Office for Product Safety and Standards has reported that three baby sleeping bags sold via OnBuy present a risk of asphyxiation and overheating, and the marketplace has removed the listing. https://safeprepared.com/news/wish-removes-listings-unsafe-baby-sleeping-bags-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/wish-removes-listings-unsafe-baby-sleeping-bags-2026/Mon, 26 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Office for Product Safety and Standards has reported two baby sleeping bags sold via Wish as presenting a risk of asphyxiation, and Wish has removed the listings. https://safeprepared.com/news/third-storm-forecast-north-scotland-tuesday-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/third-storm-forecast-north-scotland-tuesday-2026/Sun, 25 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTSSEN says it is preparing for a third storm in less than a week forecast to bring high winds and heavy rain to the north of Scotland on Tuesday, as it works to restore power after Storm Boelo. https://safeprepared.com/news/storm-boelo-brings-weekend-emergencies-across-scotland-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/storm-boelo-brings-weekend-emergencies-across-scotland-2026/Sat, 24 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Scottish Fire and Rescue Service handled almost 700 calls and attended 699 incidents, 163 of them weather-related, across Scotland during Storm Boelo from 24 to 26 October. https://safeprepared.com/news/rail-closures-speed-restrictions-across-western-northern-scotland-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/rail-closures-speed-restrictions-across-western-northern-scotland-2026/Sat, 24 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTScotRail has closed or will close several lines in western and northern Scotland and impose speed restrictions from late Saturday night through Sunday as Storm Boelo brings gusts of up to 80mph. https://safeprepared.com/news/scottish-government-resilience-room-activated-ahead-storm-boelo-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/scottish-government-resilience-room-activated-ahead-storm-boelo-2026/Sat, 24 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTScottish ministers activated the Scottish Government's Resilience Room ahead of Storm Boelo, with an amber wind warning covering mainland Scotland and the Western Isles from Saturday evening until Sunday night. https://safeprepared.com/news/network-rail-imposes-speed-restrictions-ahead-storms-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/network-rail-imposes-speed-restrictions-ahead-storms-2026/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTNetwork Rail imposed speed restrictions on routes to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow Central to Carlisle and Glasgow Central to Edinburgh Waverley as Storm Boelo brought an amber wind warning for mainland Scotland. https://safeprepared.com/news/rail-speed-restrictions-ferry-cancellations-storms-hit-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/rail-speed-restrictions-ferry-cancellations-storms-hit-2026/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTNetwork Rail imposed speed restrictions on routes to and from Aberdeen, Glasgow Central to Carlisle and Glasgow Central to Edinburgh Waverley, and ferry sailings between Largs and Cumbrae were cancelled, as Storm Austen brought heavy rain to Scotland on Friday 23 October 2026. https://safeprepared.com/news/ssen-moves-yellow-alert-north-scotland-ahead-storm-boelo-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/ssen-moves-yellow-alert-north-scotland-ahead-storm-boelo-2026/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTSSEN has moved to Yellow Alert status in the north of Scotland ahead of Storm Boelo, with the Met Office warning of gusts up to 83mph and an Amber wind warning across Scotland. https://safeprepared.com/news/britain-s-electricity-supplies-expected-remain-secure-winter-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/britain-s-electricity-supplies-expected-remain-secure-winter-2026/Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe National Energy System Operator says new analysis expects Britain to have sufficient electricity supplies this winter, in a Winter Outlook published on 23 October 2026. https://safeprepared.com/news/ready-campaign-launched-first-stage-three-year-household-preparedness-campaign-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/ready-campaign-launched-first-stage-three-year-household-preparedness-campaign-2026/Thu, 22 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Cabinet Office has published updated household resilience advice and launched the Be Ready campaign, the first stage of a three-year effort to help UK households prepare for disruption to everyday services. https://safeprepared.com/news/product-safety-report-issued-shark-tail-baby-sleeping-bag-sold-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/product-safety-report-issued-shark-tail-baby-sleeping-bag-sold-2026/Wed, 21 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued a product safety report for a Shark Tail Baby Sleeping Bag sold via Wish, citing a serious risk of asphyxiation, and the listing has been removed. https://safeprepared.com/news/carroll-s-tullamore-recalls-traditional-lasagne-undeclared-egg-milk-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/carroll-s-tullamore-recalls-traditional-lasagne-undeclared-egg-milk-2026/Sun, 18 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTCarroll's of Tullamore is recalling 350 g packs of Traditional Lasagne with a use by date of 04 November 2026 because undeclared egg and milk are not named on the label, with distribution limited to Northern Ireland. https://safeprepared.com/news/severe-drought-declared-parts-six-english-counties-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/severe-drought-declared-parts-six-english-counties-2026/Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTSevere drought status has been declared for parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West Sussex after the driest April to September in over a century depleted reservoir levels. https://safeprepared.com/news/las-urges-londoners-learn-life-saving-skills-ahead-winter-cardiac-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/las-urges-londoners-learn-life-saving-skills-ahead-winter-cardiac-2026/Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTLondon Ambulance Service reports that cardiac arrests in London rose by 20 per cent in winter compared with summer across two years, and is offering free life-saving training ahead of Restart a Heart Day. https://safeprepared.com/news/flood-re-research-finds-tapes-outperform-sandbags-keeping-floodwater-out-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/flood-re-research-finds-tapes-outperform-sandbags-keeping-floodwater-out-2026/Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTResearch commissioned by Flood Re and carried out by the University of Hull found that low-cost tapes kept more floodwater out of doorways than traditional sandbags in simulated flooding tests. https://safeprepared.com/news/national-burns-awareness-day-2026-marked-cool-call-cover-advice-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/national-burns-awareness-day-2026-marked-cool-call-cover-advice-2026/Wed, 14 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTSouth Wales Fire and Rescue Service marked National Burns Awareness Day on 14 October 2026 by setting out the Cool, Call and Cover first aid steps for burns and scalds. https://safeprepared.com/news/storm-austen-named-first-storm-2026-27-season-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/storm-austen-named-first-storm-2026-27-season-2026/Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Met Office named Storm Austen as the first storm of the 2026/27 season, with amber wind warnings issued for Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and parts of Devon and yellow warnings for much of the UK. https://safeprepared.com/news/nhs-inform-updates-norovirus-guidance-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/nhs-inform-updates-norovirus-guidance-2026/Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTNHS inform has updated its norovirus guidance, covering symptoms, how the virus spreads, prevention at home and when to phone 111 or seek emergency care. https://safeprepared.com/news/halo-foods-recalls-skinny-crunch-light-peanut-butter-bars-undeclared-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/halo-foods-recalls-skinny-crunch-light-peanut-butter-bars-undeclared-2026/Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTHalo Foods is recalling Skinny Crunch Light Peanut Butter Bars mispacked in Skinny Whip Toffee wrappers that do not declare peanuts, the FSA said in an allergy alert. https://safeprepared.com/news/government-chaired-taskforce-meet-assess-flood-readiness-ahead-winter-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/government-chaired-taskforce-meet-assess-flood-readiness-ahead-winter-2026/Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTA government-chaired taskforce is to meet this week to assess the country's flood readiness for winter, as the Met Office issues a yellow wind warning for parts of Scotland. https://safeprepared.com/news/las-finalises-most-detailed-winter-planning-date-early-respiratory-surge-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/las-finalises-most-detailed-winter-planning-date-early-respiratory-surge-2026/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTLondon Ambulance Service has finalised its most detailed winter plan to date, including AI note-taking and more crews, after record September demand and an early rise in respiratory calls. https://safeprepared.com/news/nifrs-launches-fire-safety-week-2026-figures-house-fire-fatalities-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/nifrs-launches-fire-safety-week-2026-figures-house-fire-fatalities-2026/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTNorthern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service has opened Fire Safety Week 2026 with figures showing that 62 of the 89 people who died in house fires in Northern Ireland between 2015 and 2025 lived alone. https://safeprepared.com/news/flood-action-week-launched-raise-flood-risk-awareness-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/flood-action-week-launched-raise-flood-risk-awareness-2026/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Environment Agency's Flood Action Week runs from 12 to 18 October 2026, with councils and community groups across England urging households to check their flood risk and make a plan. https://safeprepared.com/news/met-office-warns-increased-flood-risk-wetter-late-autumn-early-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/met-office-warns-increased-flood-risk-wetter-late-autumn-early-2026/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Met Office says wetter than normal conditions are more likely across the UK in late autumn and early winter, as the Government launches a taskforce focused on flooding this winter. https://safeprepared.com/news/fss-fsa-warn-consumers-businesses-not-eat-sell-certain-eggs-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/fss-fsa-warn-consumers-businesses-not-eat-sell-certain-eggs-2026/Sat, 10 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTFood Standards Scotland and the Food Standards Agency have told consumers and businesses not to eat, sell or distribute raw shell eggs from a Ukrainian producer after Salmonella was identified in the product. https://safeprepared.com/news/fsa-issues-food-alert-action-withdraw-recall-eggs-one-ukrainian-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/fsa-issues-food-alert-action-withdraw-recall-eggs-one-ukrainian-2026/Sat, 10 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Food Standards Agency has issued a Food Alert for Action telling businesses to withdraw and recall eggs from one Ukrainian supplier after Salmonella Enteritidis was found in samples, and advising consumers not to eat them. https://safeprepared.com/news/yorkshire-moves-drought-status-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/yorkshire-moves-drought-status-2026/Fri, 09 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTYorkshire moved into drought status on 9 October 2026, the Environment Agency has confirmed, as reservoir storage across England remained at 54 per cent of capacity and well below average for the time of year. https://safeprepared.com/news/further-hosepipe-restrictions-sussex-all-exemptions-removed-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/further-hosepipe-restrictions-sussex-all-exemptions-removed-2026/Fri, 09 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTSouth East Water has removed all remaining hosepipe exemptions for its Sussex customers from 9 October 2026, leaving hosepipe use permitted only for health, safety or welfare purposes. https://safeprepared.com/news/minister-calls-public-get-flood-aware-ahead-winter-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/minister-calls-public-get-flood-aware-ahead-winter-2026/Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTNorthern Ireland's Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has urged households to get flood aware ahead of winter, as her department proposes the North's first national flood forecasting service. https://safeprepared.com/news/opss-responds-prevention-future-deaths-report-tumble-dryer-fire-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/opss-responds-prevention-future-deaths-report-tumble-dryer-fire-2026/Wed, 07 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe product safety regulator has responded to a coroner's prevention of future deaths report on a Hoover tumble dryer linked to a fatal house fire in West Yorkshire in June 2025. https://safeprepared.com/news/moderate-surface-water-flooding-impacts-possible-parts-england-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/moderate-surface-water-flooding-impacts-possible-parts-england-2026/Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Flood Forecasting Centre's Flood Guidance Statement warns that moderate surface water flooding impacts are possible in parts of England on Tuesday 6 October and more widely on Wednesday 7 October 2026. https://safeprepared.com/news/south-east-water-apply-non-essential-use-ban-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/south-east-water-apply-non-essential-use-ban-2026/Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTSouth East Water applied to the Government on 2 October 2026 for a non-essential use ban in its Sussex supply area, as Ardingly Reservoir fell to 22.8 per cent full and most English reservoirs remained below half capacity. https://safeprepared.com/news/moderate-surface-water-flood-impacts-possible-cumbria-friday-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/moderate-surface-water-flood-impacts-possible-cumbria-friday-2026/Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Flood Forecasting Centre says moderate surface water flooding impacts are possible in Cumbria on Friday 2 October, with moderate river impacts possible into Saturday. https://safeprepared.com/news/vat-removed-electricity-bills-1-october-2026-31-march-2027-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/vat-removed-electricity-bills-1-october-2026-31-march-2027-2026/Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe government has announced that VAT will be removed from domestic electricity bills from 1 October 2026 until 31 March 2027, applying to all tariffs including fixed deals. https://safeprepared.com/news/storms-austen-boelo-cause-power-cuts-central-southern-england-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/storms-austen-boelo-cause-power-cuts-central-southern-england-2026/Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTSSEN says engineers have restored power to more than 59,680 customers across central southern England after Storms Austen and Boelo, with 139 customers still waiting on Sunday evening. https://safeprepared.com/news/storm-boelo-brings-wet-windy-weekend-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/storm-boelo-brings-wet-windy-weekend-2026/Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTStorm Boelo will reach the UK from the Atlantic on Saturday, bringing gusts of 60 to 70 mph to Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England and heavy rain spreading eastwards. https://safeprepared.com/news/met-office-partners-introduce-harmonised-impact-matrix-nswws-flood-guidance-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/met-office-partners-introduce-harmonised-impact-matrix-nswws-flood-guidance-2026/Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Met Office, the UK's four hydrological agencies and the Flood Forecasting Centre have introduced a harmonised impact matrix for weather warnings and Flood Guidance Statements, with changed impact level terminology. https://safeprepared.com/news/storm-austen-named-first-named-storm-season-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/storm-austen-named-first-named-storm-season-2026/Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Met Office has named Storm Austen as the first named storm of the season, with a yellow wind warning covering south-west England, southern Wales and parts of the south coast on Friday 23 October. https://safeprepared.com/news/national-risk-register-refreshed-alongside-implementation-report-2026/https://safeprepared.com/news/national-risk-register-refreshed-alongside-implementation-report-2026/Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:00:00 GMTThe Cabinet Office has published its 2026 implementation report on the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, alongside a refreshed National Risk Register reflecting new cyber and infrastructure risks.