'You never know': The people preparing for the worst

What do you keep at the bottom of your wardrobe? Winter jumpers? Guest towels? Extra blankets?

Helen Frayer has a stash of emergency supplies in hers.

Tinned vegetables, long-life milk and dog food are all secured inside, in case the worst should happen.

Later this year the government is due to unveil its strategy on how the public should better prepare for emergencies.

So how are Frayer and others in Norfolk – including a retired train driver and a tech millionaire – readying themselves in case of crisis?

While the kitchen in Frayer's home in Dereham is kept well-stocked, she has extra supplies stored in her bedroom because "you never know what the weather's going to be".

A former parish council clerk, she has been doing this since last winter, when she became aware of the government advice.

As well as getting emergency supplies, this includes preparing your home, making an escape plan if you need to leave it and swapping contact details with neighbours.

"I love cold prunes and rice pudding," explains Frayer as she considers what her diet might be in case of emergency.

Having been a Girl Guide in her younger years, she says it is "sensible" to be prepared, with food and drink to support her – and her Kokoni rescue dog Daisy – for a few days.

"I think, traditionally, people, particularly in rural areas, have always had emergency supplies in for the winter because winter storms come, the power lines go down, flooding etc," she explains.

The potential for cyber-attacks disrupting food supply chains – a hack on Marks and Spencer left some store shelves bare last year – and the threat of El Niño are also fresh in her mind.

"They reckon we're going to get some really severe weather this year, and I think in the UK we're not prepared for really serious weather," she says.

A keen camper, Chris Campion already had a lot of the kit he needed to put together a "grab bag" in case he and his wife have to evacuate their house in Cantley during an emergency.

A rucksack containing rations, a camping stove, bivvy tin, multi-tool and water purification tablets is now stored in a bedroom "instead of keeping it in a garage".

"So, if something happens, it's in one place," explains the retired train driver, who says solar panels on his roof and a large supply of logs will help in case of power cuts.

With rising global tensions and concerns about climate change, Campion says coverage of preparedness advice had "confirmed my suspicions that the world is changing and becoming a different, more volatile place."

Noting that other countries like Switzerland – where there are spaces in underground bunkers for its population of more than nine million – are better prepared for emergencies than the UK, he says it is common sense.

"I think we should be more aware about threats and how we can sensibly deal with something, you know, that doesn't send everyone crazy buying bog rolls," he says.

"I think if everyone does their little bit, it will make a lot of difference, especially when you've got elderly neighbours.

"If you're able to look after yourself, then hopefully you can spend some time looking after others."

"The assumption is a breakdown of civil society; that the government in London ceases to be able to maintain order in rural Norfolk," says Peter Dawe, outlining his worst-case scenario.

Dawe, who describes himself as a "serial entrepreneur", made millions in the 1990s when he sold Pipex, the UK's first commercial internet provider, with some of the money going towards a farm near Watton.

Over the last two decades he has been planning how the working arable and livestock farm can be self-sufficient in the event of a disaster.

"We have our own flour mill, we have our own oil press, we have our own dairy – we make award-winning cheese – and our own butchery," he explains.

Dawe says that with solar power, the facilities to make biofuel from rapeseed oil and a borehole for water, the farm could support 500 people in the area.

He explains that he thinks the government is most likely to collapse if it can no longer ensure food supplies.

While that may sound far-fetched, earlier this month, the National Audit Office warned the government was too reliant on the private sector to deal with food supply disruption.

And the government's national risk register was updated this year with seven new risks, including cyber-attacks on police systems and water infrastructure, as well as interference in the UK's democratic process.

In the meantime, Dawe says he is building links to others with food production skills "very gently" by hosting a monthly farmers' market.

"We don't go around saying we're expecting imminent disaster. But getting that network is really important."

All counties in England and Wales have local resilience forums, made up of representatives from bodies including emergency services, councils, the Environment Agency and volunteer groups.

Their job is to plan and prepare for localised incidents and emergencies.

In Norfolk, they have coordinated responses to the pandemic, flooding and storms.

"Look at what would help you in your household should you be faced with flooding or wildfire and you have to leave your home in a hurry," advises deputy chief fire officer Scott Norman, chairman of Norfolk's forum.

"You can't be too prepared."

A government spokesperson said: "As announced in July, we'll be launching a campaign later this year to raise awareness of the simple steps households can take to be ready for everyday emergencies, like extreme weather.

"The campaign will bring the UK into line with our neighbours and allies who all run similar campaigns already."

Do you have a story suggestion for Norfolk? Contact us below.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.