Kaulav/Prepare/European Union

How long does the EU say to be prepared? At least 72 hours.

The European Commission's Preparedness Union Strategy (March 2025) asks for population self-sufficiency of at least 72 hours as a minimum baseline. Its Guidelines on Population Preparedness (October 2026) name the essential needs: food, water, medicines, communication and cash. Each country sets its own household checklist.

The EU baseline
at leasthours
at least 72 hours on your own, by official advice
010 days
Water
Set by each country
see the country guides
Emergency
free from any phone
At a glance

The official numbers for the EU

Every figure comes from the official source, linked below.

Self-sufficiencyAt least 72 hoursA minimum baseline
WaterNot set by the EUSee your country's guide
Essential needsFood, water, medicines, communication, cashGuidelines on Population Preparedness, October 2026
Emergency number112
The kit

The essential needs the EU names

The EU publishes no household checklist. Its 2026 guidelines name these essential needs and leave the details to each country.

  1. Food01
  2. Water02
  3. Medicines03
  4. Communication04
  5. Cash05
Beyond the kit

Also advised

What the official guidance adds.

Sources

Straight from the source

Kaulav is independent. We summarise official guidance, link to it, and never rewrite safety steps.

Does the EU recommend a 72-hour emergency kit?

“Promote at least 72 hours of self-sufficiency as a minimum baseline”

The EU asks for population self-sufficiency of at least 72 hours as a minimum baseline. It doesn't publish a household kit list; national governments do.

Quoted from the official source. In an emergency, call 112.
Good to know

Questions people ask

Does the EU recommend a 72-hour emergency kit?

The EU asks for population self-sufficiency of at least 72 hours as a minimum baseline. It doesn't publish a household kit list; national governments do.

What does the EU say households need?

Its 2026 Guidelines on Population Preparedness name food, water, medicines, communication and cash as essential needs, plus an emergency plan, an evacuation bag and first-aid skills.

Which EU countries does Kaulav cover?

Germany, the Netherlands, France and Sweden, plus the UK and the US. Each guide links to the official source.

From the official advice to your kitchen table

Kaulav turns this into
your household's plan.

A kit sized to who lives with you, reminders before anything expires, offline maps and a power-cut mode, all built on the EU's official advice. Works with no internet. iPhone, early 2027.

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Every government gives a different number

United KingdomdaysCabinet OfficeUnited StatesSeveral daysReady.gov · FEMAGermanyideallydaysBBKNetherlandshoursNCTV · Denk vooruitFrancehoursSGDSNSwedenat leastdaysMSB, now MCFEuropean UnionYou are hereat leasthoursEuropean Commission