The BBC has secretly prepared emergency scripts to be read out on the radio in case of major blackouts in the UK this winter, due to energy shortages.
According to a report from The Guardian, the BBC has, as part of routine planning for emergency scenarios, created scripts which would help “reassure the public” if there was to be a “major loss of power” in the National Grid, which supplies England, Scotland, and Wales. Northern Ireland is not part of the same electric grid and would therefore be unaffected.
During national emergencies, the BBC has a responsibility to provide information to the country, as part of government civil planning. The BBC scripts, which would be broadcast on FM and long-wave frequencies that are usually used for BBC Radio 2 and 4, would warn members of the public that blackouts could last for up to 48 hours.
One script for a hypothetical news bulletin warns that “emergency services are under extreme presssure… [and] people are being advised not to contact them unless absolutely necessary.” Another script notes that “the government has said it’s hoped power will be restored in the next 36 to 48 hours. Different parts of Britain will start to receive intermittent supplies before then.”
JUST IN – BBC has prepared secret scripts that could be read on air if energy shortages cause blackouts or the loss of gas supplies this winter — Guardian
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) October 18, 2022
Further notices to the public include informing the British people that internet and mobile phone access would stop working, along with gas supplies, ATMs, and traffic lights, causing disruption on the road network.
The scripts leave space for fictional government ministers to comment, including one labelled as “Jose Riera.” A real life Jose Riera is currently employed within the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as the head of news.
It is unclear as to whether the government had any input into the scripts themselves. A government spokesman did say that they were “confident that [blackouts are] not a a scenario we will face this winter.”
However, John Pettigew, the chief executive of the National Grid, said on Monday that if everything possible went wrong, there could be rolling blackouts between 4 and 7PM on “really, really cold days” in January or February. Valiant News reported that the government was considering a public information campaign on energy rationing, before plans were dropped.
On Wednesday evening, the British government defeated a Labour motion to ban fracking, despite 40 Conservative MPs rebelling against the government.
RSM4
October 23, 2022 at 3:09 am
Like an old joke: Alert everyone that communications have completely broken down!
Blackout happens – then the BBC broadcasts that there is no power. It will be helpful for people who have battery powered radios. Cell phone towers will also have no power.
About as idiotic as NYC Emergency Preparedness messages that are to be broadcast in the event of a Nuclear Event (explosion).
First of all, an EMP will immediately fry all electrical and electronic equipment. Hey, maybe they’ll stand on top of tall buildings and shout like medieval town criers.