BBC 'Black Sky event' emergency plans if cyber attack hits

The BBC's 'Black Sky event' plans dictate what the national broadcaster will do in a full-scale UK emergency in which communications including the internet are shut off for three days or more

The BBC has explained their 'Black Sky event' contingency plans which set out what the national broadcaster will do in the event of a major UK emergency where communications including the internet are shut down for three days or longer.

Only an estimated 100 people in the world know the complete details of the BBC's Black Sky plans, which involve operating a dedicated emergency broadcast radio studio. The emergency broadcasting service will rely on secure communication lines that do not depend on internet connectivity and will hold sufficient water, food and fuel to enable it to function for three days without additional supplies.

The emergency radio will inform households what actions to take in such circumstances, including how much water people should be consuming and even what steps to take if water supplies are so severely affected that toilets cannot be flushed.

The BBC disclosed in a report: "The BBC's broadcasts will be sent via radio transmission towers, isolated from the internet and equipped with tanks of between five and 40,000 litres (8,800 gallons) of diesel to keep their generators going for three days - FM radio is power hungry.", reports the Express .

"The teams will be using satellite phones to keep in touch and if these stop working there are pre-agreed protocols and meet-up points.

"Why FM? Because it works almost everywhere, even in a blackout or a crippling cyber-attack."

The release of these plans follows repeated calls from government officials, including Prime Minister Andy Burnham , urging the UK to be better equipped for national emergencies such as power cuts, internet and phone blackouts, and disruption to food, water or fuel supplies.

Households are being advised to stockpile a minimum of three days' worth of food and drinking water, and to keep a battery-powered FM radio at to pick up broadcasts such as the BBC's emergency Black Sky event radio station.

As part of a new Government "be ready" campaign, households are being encouraged to ensure they have three days' worth of essential supplies in the event that everyday services face temporary disruption.

The published checklist recommends stocking up on three days' worth of bottled water and non-perishable food, keeping a battery or wind-up FM radio to hand for updates during outages, and holding cash in reserve should electronic payments or cash machines become unavailable.

According to BBC Newsnight, Iceland supermarket chain recorded a 40% surge in tinned product sales over the weekend.

The programme also reported that Robert Dyas experienced a 160% increase in radio sales compared with the week.

The Government guidance represents the first phase of a three-year campaign designed to help households feel more prepared for disruptive events, such as severe weather , and follows the heatwaves, drought and fires that struck the UK during the summer. The recommended measures include ensuring you have the basics to hand, such as a three-day supply of food and water, as well as checking your eligibility and registering for the priority services register to receive additional support during any outages.

A spokesperson for Iceland told BBC Newsnight: "It's clear consumers have listened to the Government's message as we have seen a 40% increase in sales of tinned products over the weekend and strong sales of bottled water too.

"Our supplies of these products remain healthy."

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting told the programme: "It's encouraging that people are taking practical steps to be ready.

"Having a few everyday essentials at , from tinned food to torches, helps households prepare for disruption, whether that's flooding, power cuts or burst pipes.

"We can all play our part in making Britain more resilient."