How many days of supplies, by country

• The EU's 72-hour emergency kit
• Germany's emergency supplies list, 10 days
• Germany's go-bag: BBK list
• Switzerland's emergency supplies list
• Austria's emergency supplies
• Sweden's one-week emergency list
• Norway's one-week home preparedness list
• Finland's 72-hour home supply (kotivara)
• Denmark's three-day home supply list
• The Dutch emergency kit (noodpakket)
• Belgium's emergency kit, item by item
• France's 72-hour kit d'urgence
• Spain's 72-hour emergency kit
• Poland's emergency kit list
• Lithuania's 72-hour emergency kit
• Romania's 72-hour emergency kit
• The UK government's emergency kit list
• Canada's 72-hour emergency kit list
• The FEMA emergency kit list, item by item
• Mexico's emergency backpack list
• Japan's emergency supplies list

The idea is the same everywhere: after a storm, flood or blackout, emergency services reach the worst-hit people first, and everyone else waits at home for a few days. Canada puts it plainly: "Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours." The UK's Be Ready campaign says "Being ready for 3 days helps you manage while support reaches those in need."

In March 2025 the European Commission set the same target for the whole Union. Its Preparedness Union Strategy says it "will propose guidelines for Member States to reach population self-sufficiency of at least 72 hours." Belgium's crisis centre already writes it that way: "binnen de hele Europese Unie raden we iedereen aan om een noodpakket in huis te hebben waarmee je minstens 3 dagen (72 uur) zelfstandig verder kan" (across the whole EU we advise everyone to keep an emergency kit at home that lets you manage on your own for at least 3 days).

• France: "Préparer un kit d'urgence 72h en amont permet si nécessaire, de rester chez soi en sécurité dans l'attente des secours." (A 72-hour kit lets you stay safely at home while you wait for help.)
• Netherlands: "Met een noodpakket ben je de eerste 72 uur na een ramp of noodsituatie goed voorbereid." (With an emergency kit you are prepared for the first 72 hours after a disaster.)
• Japan: the Prime Minister's Office asks for at least 3 days of water and food (最低3日分), and adds that for a large-scale disaster "1週間分", a week's stock, is desirable.
• Mexico: CENAPRED says the food, medicine and batteries in the mochila de emergencia should "duren 72 horas y alcancen para toda la familia" (last 72 hours and be enough for the whole family).
• Romania: the DSU asks for an emergency backpack plus supplies to manage at home "timp de cel puțin trei zile, în cazul în care apa, gazul și electricitatea vor fi întrerupte" (for at least three days if water, gas and electricity are cut).
• Finland: enough supplies that your household manages "ainakin 3 vuorokautta" (at least 3 days).
• Denmark: a home stock "til at kunne klare dig i tre døgn" (to manage for three days).
• Lithuania: PAGD asks whether your home can cover its main needs for "bent 72 valandas" (at least 72 hours).
• Poland: the Interior Ministry's guide heads its section "ZAPASY DOMOWE NA MINIMUM 3 DNI" (home supplies for at least 3 days).

Germany has the longest number on the list. The federal civil protection office (BBK) writes: "Sie sollten sich für möglichst zehn Tage selbst versorgen können. Aber auch ein Vorrat für zumindest drei Tage hilft schon sehr."

In English: you should be able to supply yourself for ten days where you can, but even a stock for at least three days helps a lot. So the German figure has a floor of 3 days and a target of 10.

FEMA's Ready.gov gives no fixed number of days for the household kit: "Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for several days."

It does give a water figure: one gallon (about 3.8 litres) per person per day, for drinking and sanitation. Our 72-hour kit list takes three days as the starting point.

• A manual can opener.
• Infant formula, bottles and diapers if there is a baby at home.
• Pet food and extra water for your pet.
• Prescription medicines and the basics such as pain relievers and antacids.
• Plates, cups and utensils you can use without washing up.
• What keeps and what to eat once the fridge is off: emergency food without power and the pantry guide.