Around the world, governments are increasingly advising their citizens to have provisions in the case of an emergency such as war, extreme weather and cybersecurity threats. Different countries advise different levels of preparedness. Having emergency supplies for a three-day period is commonly advised.
France and the U.K. recently advised people to have supplies for a period of 72 hours ready. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom said during an interview on BBC Radio, “I do like my beans, so I have plenty of those in the cupboard, and soup. I think those are the kind of things that I would recommend people to have.” Japan, Mexico and the Netherlands also advise an emergency kit for a 72-hour period.
Other countries suggest a longer preparedness period, with Sweden and Norway advising having supplies for about one week, and Germany advising supplies for up to 10 days. Some countries have less time specific advice. India’s National Disaster Management Authority, for example, advises households to have a disaster emergency kit but doesn’t stipulate a timeframe.
In some cases, advice is given for general emergencies while in others, it applies to specific hazards. In the U.S., advice published on Ready.gov, a website of the Department of Homeland Security, states that “Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for several days.” Similarly, Canada advises an emergency kit for a 72-hour period. Other countries have region-specific advice.
For example, in Western Australia has advised that residents in cyclone-prone areas prepare an emergency kit with food, water and medication. Similarly, the city of Cape Town in South Africa tells households to maintain enough supplies to last for at least three days. There has been a specific focus on emergency preparedness in Europe over the past two years.
The European Commission unveiled its Preparedness Union Strategy in March of 2025 and said that Europe faced growing geopolitical tensions and conflicts, as well as the threat of natural disasters owing to climate change. While the exact timeline advice changes, advice on what the contents should be is relatively consistent, with governments advising stocks of non-perishable food, water, medicine, batteries, a flashlight and a radio. Newsweek has compiled a map of countries where governments are advising for emergency preparedness and advising stockpiling of food.
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