Risks Of War, Cyberattacks, And Bad Weather: US, Europe, Japan Urge Households To Stockpile Emergency Supplies

Governments in the US, Japan, Britain, and several European nations are advising citizens to prepare for crises by building emergency stockpiles of basic goods. Rising risks of war, severe weather, power outages, and cyberattacks have led officials to urge citizens to stay self-sufficient without relying on immediate external support.

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Which Countries Have Issued Emergency Advisories?

• Germany
• Norway
• Finland
• France
• European Union
• Switzerland
• Ireland
• Sweden
• Czechia
• Lithuania

How Long Should You Prepare For?

• 2 to 3 Days: Britain's "Be Ready" campaign and Japan's advisory suggest keeping at least three days of supplies.
• 7 to 10 Days: Countries like Finland, Sweden, and Norway have recommended storing enough supplies for 7 to 10 days.
• 90 Days: The United States has a 90-day plan for its military bases so defence operations can continue during a major crisis.

Why Were These Alerts Issued?

Governments are issuing these warnings to mitigate the impact of several scenarios, including:

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• Hybrid And Cyber Attacks: Growing risk of targeted disruptions to power grids, banking networks, and internet service.
• Bad Weather: Floods, severe storms, and major earthquakes.
• Infrastructure Failure and War: Potential threats to critical supply chains and transportation networks during geopolitical escalation or war.

Country-Specific Guidelines

Britain: The "Be Ready" campaign advises citizens to keep a 3-day supply of fresh water, non-perishable food, necessary medicines, a flashlight, batteries, a radio, a power bank, and cash.

United States: While no such advisory has been issued for the public, the military is preparing its bases to operate independently for 90 days without external supplies in the event of a war, cyberattack, or attack on infrastructure.

Japan: The government and its National Disaster Management Agency have advised citizens to store food, water, and emergency items for at least 3 days, and up to a week if possible, to deal with power, water, and transport outages after a major earthquake.

Other countries have issued similar advisories for their citizens.

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