Pentagon Orders US Military Bases to Prepare for 90 Days Without Civilian Infrastructure; Britain Advises Households to Stockpile Food and Water

The US Department of Defense has begun developing plans to ensure that major American military installations can continue essential operations independently for at least 90 days without relying on civilian electricity, water, fuel or supply networks. Meanwhile, the British government has advised households to maintain emergency supplies of food, water and other essential items sufficient for at least three days.

According to internal Pentagon planning documents reported by Fox News Digital, the US military is assessing the requirements for making major installations self-sufficient in the event of disruptions to civilian infrastructure. The initiative is part of the FORTRESS programme (Federal Operations for Resilience, Troop Resources, Energy, Supply and Survivability), announced by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on September 30.

Speaking at his State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Hegseth described the initiative as an "insurance policy" for national security. He said every major military installation should be capable of generating its own electricity independently of the civilian power grid, ensuring continued operations if an adversary targets critical infrastructure through cyberattacks, sabotage or other hostile actions.

Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell stressed the importance of reducing dependence on civilian infrastructure, saying that relying on municipal systems to support national defence represented an unacceptable risk. He described electricity as an increasingly critical element of modern warfare, warning that power disruptions could affect military communications, water supplies, logistics, production facilities and command structures.

Under the proposed 90-day standard, military installations would need independent access to electricity, water, fuel and communications. The plans reportedly include portable nuclear reactors, large-scale battery storage systems and microgrids capable of operating independently after disconnecting from the civilian electricity network.

The initiative also envisages maintaining strategic reserves of ammunition, fuel, critical minerals, spare parts and medical supplies. Other measures include developing alternative supply chains for essential materials and preparing arrangements to convert civilian factories into defence production facilities during a national emergency.

According to the report, approximately 500 military installations across the continental United States are being assessed. However, full implementation could take several years or even decades. The Pentagon has not announced a final budget or implementation timeline. The US Army has already advanced related projects involving small nuclear reactors at several military installations.

Separately, the British government has launched its "Be Ready" campaign, advising households to prepare for possible emergencies by keeping at least three days' worth of essential supplies at home.

The recommendations include non-perishable food, bottled drinking water, cash, a torch, blankets, a battery-powered or wind-up radio, a first-aid kit and other basic necessities. Authorities recommend storing approximately three litres of drinking water per person per day, in addition to extra supplies for cooking and hygiene.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Defence Secretary Wes Streeting have linked the guidance to potential disruptions caused by severe weather, cyberattacks and supply-chain emergencies. The campaign is intended to strengthen household and national resilience rather than signal an imminent specific threat.

The American and British initiatives are separate and are not part of a coordinated programme. While Washington is focusing on ensuring that military installations can continue operating during a prolonged breakdown of civilian infrastructure, London is encouraging ordinary households to prepare for a range of possible emergencies.