The UK has told people to fill their pantries with food for three days in case of catastrophe, joining a host of countries urging citizens to ready themselves for core systems failing. Once the preserve of tinfoil-hat enthusiasts and people with suspiciously well-organized garages, crisis-prepping advice has now gone mainstream in government circles - because nothing says "we're on it" like a leaflet suggesting you buy tinned mackerel.
The shift is driven by climate breakdown worsening weather extremes and geopolitical tensions turning cyber-attacks and sabotage into a regular occurrence. Even countries with national strategic food stockpiles - a buffer the UK conspicuously lacks - are asking individuals to do their bit for societal resilience. Nothing builds confidence like a government that admits it might not be able to feed you but hopes you've got a hand-crank radio.
France calls the first 72 hours a "decisive period," during which citizens should monitor TV and radio for official updates and keep an emergency kit close by in case they need to leave fast. Beyond the essentials - food, water, medicine, cash - the French guidelines recommend photocopies of documents, spare sets of house and car keys, and games to pass the time. Because nothing says "societal collapse" like a family game of Uno while the grid flickers. The strategy also emphasises solidarity, urging people to stay in close contact with loved ones, resist rumours and disinformation, and consider volunteering as a reservist or with civil protection organisations. Experts warn that maintaining social cohesion is crucial - presumably so we don't turn on each other over the last tin of mackerel.
Germany has been at this since the 1960s, when West German households were encouraged to stockpile 14 days of canned food - a target few seem to have reached despite cold war tensions. About a decade ago the recommendation fell to 10 days, and guidance issued last October said households should do this "where possible," describing even three days' worth as "a big help." Almost half of Germans fail to meet that threshold, a YouGov poll for the German Press Agency found in January. The Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance recommends durable, ready-to-eat foods in case cookers stop working, plus foods with short cooking times so camping-stove fuel lasts longer in a blackout. The checklist also features a hand-crank or solar-powered radio, a paper list of important phone numbers, and a well-stocked medicine cabinet - because nothing says "modern crisis" like rediscovering the joy of paper.
The US emergency readiness campaign, launched in 2003, recommends people "make a plan today," noting that family members may not be together when disaster strikes. Its toolkit foresees storing one US gallon (3.8 litres) of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation, plus a whistle to call for help, a dust mask to filter contaminated air, and plastic sheeting for shelter. Food supply advice varies by state, from a few days in California to more than two weeks in Hawaii - because nothing says federalism like different expiration dates on disaster. The guidance suggests families rethink their kit each year and store supplies at home, at work and in the car.
Nordic countries have ramped up preparations since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Finland describes home emergency supplies - including backup power and hygiene articles - as an "excellent basis" for many situations, while warning against hoarding. It recommends at least three days' worth, noting these supplies help even when mundane obstacles like illness keep you from the shops. Secure silos of grain making up Finland's strategic reserve provide an extra layer, designed to feed the population for nine months if supply chains collapse or domestic production fails. Sweden's advice, framed around conflict but covering pandemics and extreme weather too, says people can "contribute to collective preparedness" if they can manage alone for at least a week. Tips include growing berries on windowsills, freezing bottles of water that double as ice packs if freezers break and can be drunk once melted, and - if the toilet won't flush - disposing of excrement in plastic bags covered by sawdust. Nothing says "hygge" like a sawdust-covered poop bag.
Norway's guidelines, offered in 30 languages, encourage people to "fend for themselves" for at least a week when systems like the internet, mobile networks and bank payments are down. The country is particularly reliant on electricity for home heating, so it recommends storing warm clothes, sleeping bags and candles, and keeping fireplaces and chimneys clean. "In a crisis or war, people must be prepared for the fact that not everything will work as normal," it warns. "The help will first go to those who need it most." Denmark, meanwhile, offers a sample three-day meal plan: 500g of crispbread, 300g of canned mackerel in tomato sauce, 300g of chickpeas and kidney beans, 500g each of pasta and groats, 1.5kg of tinned vegetables, 100g of nuts and some vegetable oil. Michelin-starred it is not.
Australia's federal government can declare a national emergency, but states and territories handle most management. Most authorities recommend three to seven days of supplies, though New South Wales health recommends planning for two weeks. Its "pantry list" says to give special consideration to family members with special needs - babies, pregnant women, the old or ill. Fire services also have detailed bushfire guidance, from trimming vegetation to wearing a wide-brimmed hat against falling embers and respirator masks for smoke.
India's disaster preparedness checklist, prepared by the National Centre for Disease Control, recommends finding out which hazards threaten your home and identifying safe spots for each type of disaster. It calls for at least three days of water and food, prioritising items requiring little cooking or refrigeration, while avoiding very salty or spicy ones - because a crisis is no time for a curry-induced thirst. The recommended emergency bag includes a battery-operated torch, chlorine tablets to purify water, a first aid book and thick ropes. It recommends practising evacuation drills with all family members twice a year. The checklist also explicitly warns that the climate crisis is likely to lead to more frequent and severe disasters - arguably the most honest line in any government document.
So there you have it: a global consensus that things might go wrong, and your best defence is a hand-crank radio, some tinned fish and a plan. The UK, having finally joined the club, now suggests three days of food. Whether anyone actually stocks up is another matter - but at least the leaflets are free.