BBC prepares emergency radio studio in case of UK disaster

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has developed an emergency work plan in the event of a large-scale destruction of national infrastructure or a major natural disaster. According to the corporation, there is a special scenario codenamed “Black Sky”, in which the country may be left without electricity, water supply and mobile communications.

It is planned to employ about 100 employees to ensure continuous information to the population. They will work in a special emergency radio studio equipped with autonomous means of communication and reserves of necessary resources. The available fuel, water and food should last at least three days without additional supplies.

The main task of the reserve service will be the transmission of prepared government instructions. In particular, residents will be explained how much liquid should be consumed daily and how to get rid of household waste in the absence of a working sewer and the ability to flush toilets.

Additional information will be shared with journalists stationed in emergency operations centres across the UK. For this purpose, mobile satellite stations are provided, capable of supporting the transmission of information independently of the usual communication infrastructure. The system will continue until the exhaustion of diesel fuel reserves.

The radio signal is planned to be distributed through towers not connected to the Internet and equipped with backup fuel storage. The volume of diesel reserves at individual facilities ranges from 5 to 40 thousand liters. This should be enough to keep the generators running for about three days, since FM transmission requires a significant amount of electricity.

Satellite telephones are provided to maintain communication between employees. Alternative instructions, including agreed collection sites, have been developed in advance in case of refusal.

The BBC's preparations come amid a government campaign to improve emergency preparedness. On October 22, the British government announced the launch of the Be Ready program, aimed at preparing citizens for possible military threats and other crises.

Residents are advised to form home supplies of food and drinking water for at least three days. Also, the authorities advise to keep at home cash, copies of passports, a list of important phone numbers, necessary medicines, portable chargers, radios and lights.

The campaign is part of a broader government program to strengthen the resilience of civil society. The British government intends to carry out this work for three years.

On October 24, British Defense Secretary Wez Streeting published an article in The Daily Telegraph, in which he stated the need to prepare the country for war within the next thousand days. However, he did not specify with which state London could enter into armed conflict.