The booklet was distributed to all UK households but received some criticism[by whom?] – comparing it to Protect and Survive, a 1980s series of public information films and a booklet that instructed people on how to remain safe from nuclear war. Some sections of the media[which?] also accused the government of "scaremongering".[citation needed]
Within a day of the website accompanying the booklet being launched,[2]aparody website under the URL preparingforemergencies.co.uk was created by English web developer and influencer Tom Scott, who was a linguistics student at the University of York at the time.[3][4] Said to be from "HM Department of Vague Paranoia", it parodied the seemingly obvious advice given by the booklets, and gave advice such as: "Alien Invasion: Negotiate using sign language, if possible. Failing that, and assuming they aren't armed with futuristic ray guns, run like hell".[4] The Home Office initially objected to the website, stating that the URL was too similar to that of their own website, preparingforemergencies.gov.uk, and demanded the website be taken down.[2] However, after a link to the official website was added, the Home Office conceded the issue, and allowed the site to remain online.[4]
^"Let's get prepared". Staffordshire Prepared. Staffordshire Civil Contingencies Unit. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
^"Don't Panic - Prepare!"(PDF). City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. Archived(PDF) from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
