hour emergency kit guidelines: European Commission details seven needs By Luís Henrique Costa
2 min read
 |
Households across the 27 EU member states should be able to meet their basic needs alone for at least 72 hours, according to guidelines the European Commission published on November 3, 2026. The document considers scenarios in which power, water, phone networks and shops stop working, whether because of extreme weather, geopolitical tension or a cyberattack.
The text is a set of recommendations, not obligations. Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, who oversees Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, presented it at the European Civil Protection Forum in Brussels. “Everyone should be able to cope independently for three days in an emergency,” she said in an earlier statement on the topic.
What the kit should hold to cover three days without power or networks
The list puts basic self-sufficiency first, with no reliance on electricity or public networks. The Commission names categories of needs but does not set quantities, which national authorities define.
- Drinking water, calculated on daily consumption per person
- Non-perishable food that needs no refrigeration or cooking
- First-aid kit with antiseptics, dressings and painkillers
- Continuous-use medicines in enough quantity for the period
- Portable radio with spare batteries to follow official bulletins
- Hand torches and extra rechargeable batteries
- Portable chargers and external batteries for mobile phones
- Compact hygiene items, including soap and wipes
The 72-hour target began with the 2025 Preparedness Union Strategy
The 72-hour goal first appeared in the Preparedness Union Strategy, launched in March 2025 after a report by former Finnish president Sauli Niinistö. That plan asked member states to make sure citizens have supplies for at least 72 hours if they are cut off from essential goods.
In 2026, the Commission grouped its guidance into four areas: self-sufficiency for 72 hours, preparedness education, disability-inclusive planning and risk communication. A Citizens’ Panel of 150 people from across the bloc met between March and May 2026 and helped shape the text.
Storage, family plans and cash for a blackout
Residents should keep food in containers sealed against moisture and place the supply bag near an exit that is easy to reach. The material also advises checking expiry dates on canned goods every six months.
Read also: Santa Catarina floods swamp 14 cities during coastal surge
Households should keep cash in moderate amounts to cover immediate costs if bank terminals fail. Families should also agree on alternative meeting points in case phone lines collapse.
Civil defence authorities in each member state will issue further instructions tailored to local geography and municipal evacuation plans. The Commission also proposed an annual EU Preparedness Day on October 23, starting in 2027, which still needs approval from the European Parliament and the Council.
