Why Governments Now Tell Households to Stockpile: 18 Compared
Quick answer: Governments across Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific now ask households to cope on their own for a short time after a major disruption. The most common target is 72 hours (3 days). Sweden, Norway and Estonia ask for one week, Switzerland for about a week, and Germany for up to 10 days. Most suggest around 3 litres of water per person per day. The reason is simple: in the first days of a big emergency, help goes first to the people in greatest danger.
This is not a sign that something is about to happen. It is the same logic as a spare tyre. The table below shows what 17 countries and the EU recommend, checked against each official site on 1 November 2026.
Why so many governments are saying this now
The advice has spread quickly since 2024, and the reasons are broad rather than one single threat.
- War in Europe. Germany’s revised civil protection guide, published in autumn 2025, now covers what to do if war comes, alongside power cuts and extreme weather. Sweden’s agency changed its name to the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency, and its brochure plans for crisis or war.
- Sabotage and cyber attacks. The European Commission’s Preparedness Union Strategy, presented on 26 March 2025, names cyber attacks and geopolitical crises next to natural disasters. In December 2024 the EstLink 2 power cable between Finland and Estonia failed, and Finland’s grid operator went to court to seize a ship linked to the damage.
- Blackouts. On 28 April 2025 a grid incident caused a widespread blackout across Spain and Portugal. It was a reminder of how much depends on electricity: payments, phones, lifts and water pumps.
- Extreme weather. Storms, floods and heatwaves are the most likely reason most households will ever use their supplies. The UK’s new campaign leads with severe weather.
Read more in our posts on the Iberian blackout, undersea cables and cyber attacks on infrastructure.
The newest campaigns (2025–2026)
- EU, March 2025: the Commission committed to guidance so people can be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.
- Netherlands, November 2025: more than 8.5 million households were sent a booklet on getting through 72 hours without water, power or internet. A new “Denk vooruit” campaign followed in October 2026.
- Belgium, 2026: the National Crisis Centre began a four-year “Prepared Together” campaign and released its practical guide on 1 October 2026.
- UK, 22 October 2026: the Cabinet Office launched “Be Ready”, a three-year campaign asking households to plan for three days of disruption.
- Japan, November 2026: the government says a nationwide appeal will go out as its new Disaster Management Agency opens, repeating the long-standing target of at least three days, ideally a week. See our Japan post.
Country comparison: how long should you be self-sufficient?
“Target” is how long the official advice says a household should manage without outside help. Water figures are for drinking and basic cooking unless noted. Dates are the latest advice or campaign we could confirm.
| Country | Official source | Target | Water guide | Latest advice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | European Commission | At least 72 hours | Not set | Strategy, Mar 2025 |
| Sweden | Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF, formerly MSB) | At least 1 week | Not stated on page | Brochure page reviewed Sep 2026 |
| Norway | DSB | 1 week | Not stated on page | Raised from 3 days, May 2024 |
| Finland | 72 Hours (SPEK and Ministry of the Interior) | At least 3 days | Store drinking water | Brochure, Jan 2025 |
| Denmark | Danish Emergency Management Agency | 3 days | 3 L/person/day | 2024 advice |
| Estonia | Kriis.ee (state crisis portal) | 1 week | 21 L/person/week | Page updated Oct 2022 |
| Germany | BBK | Up to 10 days (3 days already helps) | Not stated on page | Revised guide, autumn 2025 |
| Netherlands | Dutch government | 72 hours | Not stated on page | Booklet, Nov 2025 |
| Poland | Ministry of the Interior (Safety Guide) | At least 3 days | 3 L/person/day | Safety Guide 2025 |
| Belgium | National Crisis Centre | At least 72 hours | 3–10 L/person/day | Guide, Oct 2026 |
| France | SGDSN (“Tous responsables”) | 72 hours | 6 L/person in bottles | Guide, Nov 2025 |
| United Kingdom | Cabinet Office (“Be Ready”) | 3 days | 3 L/person/day | Campaign, Oct 2026 |
| Switzerland | FONES (BWL) | About 1 week of food | 9 L/person (3 days) | Brochure, Feb 2025 |
| Japan | Ministry of Agriculture (food stock guide) | At least 3 days, ideally 1 week | 3 L/person/day (Tokyo) | Appeal due Nov 2026 |
| United States | Ready.gov (FEMA) | Several days | 1 US gallon (3.8 L)/person/day | Page updated Jul 2026 |
| Canada | Government of Canada | At least 72 hours | About 4 L/person/day | Page updated Sep 2025 |
| Australia (Queensland) | Get Ready Queensland | At least 5 days | At least 10 L/person (5 days) | Checklist 2026 |
| New Zealand | Get Ready (NZ Government) | At least 3 days | 3 L/person/day (9 L each) | Updated Jul 2026 |
Australia has no single national figure, so we show Queensland’s state guidance.
Country deep dives: Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK and the US and Canada.
What the advice has in common
Read side by side, the official pages say very similar things.
- Three days is the floor. Almost every country starts at 72 hours. The Dutch and French guides explain why: in the first three days, most people have to rely on themselves while emergency services help those in greatest danger.
- Longer is better where help is far away. The Nordic and Baltic countries, Switzerland and Germany ask for a week or more. Japan says a week is ideal because shops may stay empty for days after a big earthquake.
- Water comes first. About 3 litres per person per day is the most common figure. Some countries add more for washing.
- Use what you already eat. Switzerland and Japan both suggest building your stock from everyday food, eating the oldest first and replacing it.
- Not just food. The lists repeat the same basics: a torch, a battery or wind-up radio, a power bank, cash, a first-aid kit, medicines and copies of documents.
What this means for you, wherever you live
You do not need to live in Europe or Japan for this to apply. Power cuts, storms, water outages and broken supply chains happen everywhere.
- Start with 3 days. That covers most short disruptions and matches the most common advice.
- Then build to a week. If you live rurally, in an earthquake or storm zone, or rely on electric water pumps, aim for 7 days or more.
- Plan water first. At 3 litres a day, a family of four needs 36 litres for three days. Our guide on how much water to store covers containers and shelf life.
- Grow a stock slowly. Buy one or two extra items each shop and eat the oldest first. See stockpiling on a budget and food rotation.
- Pack a grab bag too. Several countries also ask for a small bag in case you must leave. Our 72-hour emergency kit guide has a full list.
Not sure where you stand? See how many days your household would last with our free calculator.
Quick checklist
- Water for at least 3 days (about 3 litres per person per day)
- Food for at least 3 days that needs little or no cooking
- A torch and spare batteries for each person
- A battery or wind-up radio
- A charged power bank
- Some cash in small notes and coins
- Medicines, a first-aid kit and copies of prescriptions
- Copies of key documents and emergency phone numbers on paper
- A plan for how your household will contact each other
- A date in the diary to check and rotate supplies
Each country’s advice is written for its own risks, so check your national or local emergency agency and follow their instructions first.
Sources & further reading
- European Commission – Preparedness Union Strategy
- Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency – In case of crisis or war
- DSB (Norway) – Self-preparedness
- 72 Hours (Finland) – Home preparedness
- Danish Emergency Management Agency – Prepared for crises
- Kriis.ee (Estonia) – How can I prepare for possible crises?
- BBK (Germany) – Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen (German)
- Dutch government – Booklet “Prepare for an emergency” (Dutch)
- Gov.pl – Safety Guide: prepare your surroundings (Polish)
- Belgian National Crisis Centre – An emergency kit at home
- SGDSN (France) – Tous responsables guide (French PDF)
- GOV.UK – Households encouraged to take simple steps to prepare (Be Ready)
- FONES (Switzerland) – Emergency supplies
- Japan Ministry of Agriculture – Food stock guide for disasters (Japanese)
- Ready.gov – Build a kit
- Government of Canada – Making an emergency kit
- Get Ready Queensland – Emergency kit checklist 2026 (PDF)
- Get Ready New Zealand – Emergency supplies, Easy Read (PDF)
- ENTSO-E – Grid incident in Spain and Portugal, 28 April 2025
- Fingrid – EstLink 2 damage investigation
Every fact in this post was checked against the sources listed above on 1 November 2026. Advice changes: always follow your local authorities.
Put it into numbers
See how many days your household would last today, and what it costs to reach your goal.
