What the official guides from Europe recommend
We have read the home guides from the European Commission, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland and Catalonia. Here they are together, point by point, each with its source.
Updated 15 November 2026. Independent website: we do not speak for any organisation.
The 6 most important points
- At least 72 hoursThis is what the European Commission wants every home to be able to cope with, without outside help. European Commission
- From 3 days to 10 daysFinland and the EU talk about 72 hours, Switzerland and Sweden about a week, and Germany about 10 days if possible. BBK BWL
- From 1.5 to 3 litresThis is the water per person per day for drinking (and in some cases cooking) that the guides ask for. Catalonia says at least 1.5 L; Switzerland and Sweden say 3 L. Catalonia BWL MCF
- All 6 guidesAll of them ask for a battery or wind-up radio, a charged phone battery, cash and each person's own medicines.
- 1 month of medicinesSweden recommends keeping a month's supply of the prescription medicines you take all the time. MCF
- Outdoors onlyGermany, Sweden and Finland say the camping stove is used outside the home. BBK MCF 72tuntia.fi
The full comparison
Swipe the table sideways to see all the countries →
| What | European CommissionEuropean Union | BBKGermany | BWLSwitzerland | MCFSweden | 72tuntia.fiFinland | Civil ProtectionCatalonia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water per person per day | No litresWater for drinking, basic cooking and hygiene. | 2 litres«Ideally 2 litres per person per day». Of this, 0.5 L is for cooking. | 3 litres«At least 9 litres per person», for 3 days, for drinking and cooking. | 3 litres or more«At least three litres a day». 3 to 5 L with basic hygiene. | 2 litres for drinkingAt least 5 L bottled per person for 72 h; about 2 L a day for drinking only. | 1.5 litres«1.5 litres per person per day, as a minimum». |
| Days to cope | At least 72 hoursGuidelines for self-sufficiency of at least 72 hours. | 10 days«10 days if possible». At least 3 days already helps a lot. | About 7 daysFood for «about one week». | 1 weekPreparing for one week (hemberedskap). | At least 72 hoursFood so the family can cope for «at least 72 hours». | — |
| Food | No fridge neededStored at room temperature and eaten with little or no preparation. | For 10 daysBe able to stock up for 10 days if possible. | Non-perishableNon-perishable food for one week. | FillingStored at room temperature and quick to prepare. | In the cupboardsEnough food for the whole family. | — |
| Cooking without power | — | Outdoors onlyCamping stove or barbecue, «outdoors only». | Stove and fuelGas stove, grill or chafing dish, with fuel. | Better outdoors«Stove and fuel. Preferably use it outdoors». | In the yardCamping stove or barbecue in the yard. | — |
| Radio | YesBattery radio to receive emergency information. | YesSolar, battery or wind-up. | YesBattery radio. | YesBattery, solar or wind-up. | YesBattery radio. | YesWith batteries or wind-up. |
| Phone battery | YesCharged power banks. | YesCharged power bank. | YesPower bank. | YesPhone and spare batteries charged. | YesCharged backup power source. | YesPhone with charger and, if possible, a power bank. |
| Cash | Small notesSmall notes and coins, in case digital payments fail. | YesCash. | Small notesSmall notes and coins. | 1,000 kronor per adultRecommended by the Swedish central bank, in notes of different values. | A littleA little cash. | YesCash and a bank card. |
| Medicines | YesMedicines and first aid supplies. | Your ownPersonal medicines. | Your ownPersonal medicines, medical products and painkillers. | 1 month«For a whole month» if you take prescription medicines all the time. | Essential onesThe essential medicines. | Long-termFirst aid kit and long-term medication. |
| Toilet without water | — | Bags in the toiletLarge, strong rubbish bags to hang in the toilet. | Rubbish bagsRubbish bags. | Bag or bucketBag in the toilet, bucket toilet or bucket with a lid. | Bag in the toiletA plastic bag under the toilet seat. | — |
| Documents | YesIdentity documents, cash and basic supplies. | ProtectedIn a fireproof or waterproof container. | — | YesIdentity documents, bank card and cash. | — | Waterproof bagIdentity documents (for example your passport), health card and insurance policies, best in a waterproof bag. |
“—” means that guide does not say this in the texts we have read. The quotes are translated by us.
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How we made this comparison
We have read the official home guides from the European Commission, Germany (BBK), Switzerland (BWL), Sweden (MSB and MCF), Finland (72tuntia.fi) and Catalonia. We read them in full, in their original language (PDFs and web pages), between October and November 2026.
The table only shows what we read in the text of each guide. If a guide does not mention something, we write «—». We do not fill gaps with what it probably says.
We have not included a national guide from Spain, because the Spanish Civil Protection website does not have a home kit list. We use the one from Civil Protection of Catalonia, which is regional.
Things can change. If you find a mistake or a new guide, tell us. We review this page every few months.
Official sources
We have read these documents. Where the guides are in other languages, we translated the quotes ourselves.
- European Commission: 72-hour self-sufficiency guidelines for the public (SWD(2026) 826)PDF in English, 30 October 2026.
- European Commission: Preparedness Union Strategy (joint communication)26 March 2025. Action on self-sufficiency for at least 72 hours.
- BBK: «Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen» (German civil protection guide)German-language PDF, 2025 edition.
- BBK: checklists for preparedness (Germany)German-language PDF.
- BWL: «Kluger Rat – Notvorrat» (Switzerland)Swiss Federal Office for National Economic Supply. German-language PDF.
- MSB/MCF: «Om krisen eller kriget kommer» (Sweden, 2024)Leaflet sent to every home. Swedish-language PDF.
- MCF: home preparedness, «Hemberedskap – preppa för en vecka» (Sweden)Swedish Civil Defence agency. In Swedish. Includes the pages on water, medicines and cash.
- MCF: access to water in a crisis (Sweden)In Swedish.
- MCF: medicines for a month at home (Sweden)In Swedish.
- MCF: payments and cash in a crisis (Sweden)In Swedish.
- 72tuntia.fi: the home stock, «Kotivara» (Finland)In Finnish.
- 72tuntia.fi: water, «Vesi» (Finland)In Finnish.
- 72tuntia.fi: what to do in a power cut (Finland)In Finnish.
- Civil Protection of Catalonia: emergency equipmentGeneralitat de Catalunya, Department of the Interior.
In an emergency, call 999 or 112 and always follow what the authorities say.