Households within the European Union have received a recommendation to assemble three-day emergency kits in anticipation of potential future conflicts.
The European Union has advised all residents across its 27 member nations to be prepared for 72 hours of self-sufficiency by storing essential items such as food, bottled water, flashlights, matches, energy bars, and identification documents in a waterproof container.
This initiative, part of a broader “preparedness strategy,” was officially introduced by EU crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib earlier this year, following recommendations from a report submitted to the European Commission by former Finnish president Sauli Niinistö last year.
Ms. Lahbib emphasized the increasing complexity and interconnectedness of the current threats facing Europe, stating, “Knowing the appropriate actions in case of danger, envisioning various scenarios, is a method to prevent panic,” referencing the rapid depletion of toilet paper stocks at the onset of the pandemic.
She also underscored the necessity for the EU to establish a “strategic reserve” and accumulate critical supplies, including firefighting aircraft, medical, energy, and transportation equipment, as well as specialized tools to counter chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear hazards.
Certain EU legislators have called for the commission to take further action by dispatching preparedness guides to every household within the EU.
This strategy drew inspiration from similar preparedness plans in Germany and the Nordic countries, where public information brochures have been distributed, and apps have been developed to instruct individuals on appropriate actions during a military attack or other national emergency.
“We are advising member states: 72 hours of self-reliance is our recommendation,” stated Ms. Lahbib, the European commissioner for preparedness and crisis management, during a media briefing.
In response to inquiries about recommended supplies for citizens to stockpile, she referred viewers to a video on her social media platform, where she showcased an emergency kit containing identification documents in a waterproof cover, canned food, bottled water, matches, a Swiss army knife, cash, playing cards, medications, and a compact radio.
Several European countries have already implemented comparable preparedness protocols. Swedish authorities suggest maintaining a supply of water, energy-dense food, blankets, alternative heating sources, and investing in a battery-operated radio at home.
Norway advises individuals to acquire non-essential medications, including iodine tablets in case of a nuclear incident. German households have been encouraged to retrofit their cellars, garages, or storage areas as shelters, with new home constructions in Germany legally mandated to include secure shelters – a measure already in place in Poland.
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