Hard times can come not only because of war, but if you are prepared for it, you are prepared for anything.
Dir.bg
Tensions in interstate relations are growing from slow and steady to fast and even more steady. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, security in Europe and the world has become more fragile, and the fears of the forest have become stronger.
It is enough to read the latest. First, a New York Times article announced that Washington was allowing Kiev to strike with American missiles deep into Russian territory, then Vladimir Putin signed a new military strategy in which Moscow’s response could be nuclear, and today it became clear that six ATACMS launched from Ukraine hit a target in the Bryansk region, about 150 km across the border. And all this in less than 48 hours.
Along with this, natural disasters and large-scale cyberattacks periodically put the orderly way of life we are used to at risk. Add to this the growing economic crisis, and we can understand why a number of major countries are starting to inform their populations how to deal with emergencies.
While political hypnosis with the mantra “elections to the hole” dictates the agenda in Bulgaria, the governments of countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland and Lithuania are already preparing their citizens for a bad military, climate, economic or energy scenario.
Here’s how:
Sweden
This is what the cover of the brochure “In Case of Crisis or War” looks like Photo: msb.se
This week, the Swedish government began issuing a special booklet that should reach every household in the country. It advises the population on how to prepare for and cope with war or other unexpected crises.
In 32 pages, “In Case of Crisis or War” combines advice with illustrations. It is an updated version of a booklet that Sweden has published five times since World War II, but now the focus of the content on the danger of war is particularly strong.
Among the advice for dealing with crises, the emphasis is on creating stocks of water and food with a long shelf life.
The booklet has been printed in more than 5 million copies, and digital versions are available in several other languages - including English, Arabic, Farsi, Ukrainian, Polish, Somali and Finnish.
Finland
Finland recently launched a comprehensive online site on “incident and crisis preparedness.” The digital brochure can be read in English here and answers a huge number of questions in detail about a wide range of crises – a new pandemic, war, water supply cuts, cyberattacks and more.
In addition to advice on stocking up on food, water and medicine, the site has information on how to organize an evacuation.
One of the highlights is to always keep some cash in case ATMs stop working. Other practical advice includes keeping wood or other fuel-burning stoves in good condition – even if they are not currently being used.
In 2023, Finland conducted a census of its shelters and bunkers, the total number of which exceeded 50,000. 83% of them are equipped to deal with radioactive contamination. The shelters have fans, impenetrable doors, beds and even dry toilets, as required by the latest law, which dates back to 2011.
The bunkers are in good condition because their neglect is punishable by law. The Ministry of the Interior explains that billions were spent on their construction during the Cold War and it would be unwise and irresponsible to neglect and abandon this investment to chance.
Denmark
This is the list published by the Danish Emergency Management Agency Photo: Beredskabsstyrelsen
In the summer, the Danish Emergency Management Agency announced that it had sent an email to citizens with information on how much water, food and medicine they would need to survive a three-day crisis of a large-scale nature. The authorities have also created a website where the digital brochure can be found.
“If you can manage on your own for three days in the event of a crisis, the authorities can focus on stabilizing the situation and helping where it is most needed,” Copenhagen explained.
Regardless of the nature of the crisis, the greatest threat to citizens will be the loss of utilities – access to water, food and electricity. In this case, each household member should have a planned 3 liters of drinking water per day, food that does not require cooking, medicine and iodine tablets.
Having batteries, candles, blankets, cash and even radio stations is advisable. The Danish government has published an online list of must-have items for surviving a crisis, which is also available in English here.
Norway
This is the minimum stock of food and medicine set by the Norwegian Civil Protection Service. Photo: Sikkerhverdag.no
This year, Norwegians received a brochure urging them to be prepared to cope on their own for a week in the event of extreme weather, war or other threats.
“We have sent out 2.2 million paper copies, one for every household in Norway,” said Tor Kamfjörd, who is responsible for the self-preparedness campaign at the Norwegian Directorate of Civil Protection (DSB).
The emphasis is again on creating stocks of water, food and medicine that can get you through the most difficult first days or weeks after a hypothetical global war or crisis.
Included in the lists of items to keep at home are long-life foods such as canned beans, energy bars and biscuits. Medicines should not be forgotten, including iodine tablets in case of a nuclear accident.
In addition to the physical brochure, Norway has also created an online preparedness website. The capital Oslo also has its own digital brochure. It is emphasized that everyone should have a stock of sanitary products for personal hygiene. The lack of water for a longer period of time also means preparing a reserve toilet. Dealing with this problem is important and can limit the occurrence of future epidemics in large cities.
Germany
The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief in Germany also has an online brochure. It starts with a very important piece of advice – plan calmly. “During an evacuation, it is difficult to think about everything in a stressful situation. It is better to plan in advance.”
The brochure advises that the evacuation luggage should be a maximum of one backpack per person, because this allows for greater mobility. “Take into account the possibility that it may be a long time before you can enter your home again,” advises the Federal Office.
The website also contains a list of the most important things that people should have in a crisis. This includes personal medication, first aid supplies, a battery-operated radio, spare batteries, a folder with documents – personal, movable and immovable property.
The food in the survival kit should be in dust-proof packaging, the water in bottles, and the clothing should be suitable for bad weather conditions.
The brochure was last updated in 2020. Berlin has not considered renovating it or issuing a physical copy.
Meanwhile, a few months ago, several German municipalities requested money from the federal budget to restore their bunkers and bring them into usable condition.
Switzerland
Perhaps the best prepared country for a global war or crisis is Switzerland. It has a large number of bunkers in good condition. There are over 360,000 of them, and they can accommodate the entire population of the country.
Since 2011, Switzerland has been upgrading its defenses against nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) threats. The specific reason for the decision is the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan.
“Over the past ten years, Switzerland has strengthened its level of nuclear and radiological protection, which was already high,” says Anne Eckhardt, a biophysicist and chairwoman of the Federal Civil Protection Service.
Eckhardt also claims that Switzerland has the capacity to provide medical assistance to people in areas affected by radiological accidents.
Another advantage is that the Swiss Civil Protection operates independently of the fire and police forces and is on a mandatory conscription basis.
“Civil defense duties are performed by those unfit for military service but fit for civil defense service. People may also volunteer to perform civil defense duties,” Swiss law states.
Russia
This week, Russia announced the start of mass production of mobile bunkers. The KUB-M shelters are designed to protect the population from all types of weapons, including nuclear, chemical and biological.
The mobile bunkers consist of a room for 54 people and a technical block. The shelter can protect not only from the light radiation of a nuclear explosion, but also from radioactive contamination.
Bunkers of this type would be very useful in border settlements that are often exposed to shelling, Russian media explain.
It is known that many of Russia’s metro stations are adapted for shelters. However, the country has not prepared a widely available physical or online brochure for dealing with emergencies.
Poland
In recent months, Poland has announced that it will build a massive line of trenches and fortifications along its borders with Russia and Belarus. Warsaw is also preparing a new civil defense law.
It will include a plan for mass evacuations and provisions for secure government communications, Interior Minister Tomasz Simoniak announced in mid-summer.
Poland has pledged to allocate around 1 billion euros annually for civil defense, starting with renovating bunkers, building new shelters and improving its civil defense measures.
Warsaw has also committed to drawing up a plan for mass evacuations of its population from its eastern borders.
Lithuania
The mass evacuation plan is at the heart of Lithuania’s civil protection concept this year. Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite has called on the other Baltic states – Estonia and Latvia – to develop a similar plan.
“By developing shelter and mass evacuation networks, it is becoming increasingly clear that the only way we can continue to keep people safe is by working together. We can no longer rely on civil protection measures – we need to review and adapt them to hybrid and military threats,” Bilotaite said in September.
In the event of military aggression against Lithuania, the country plans to undertake a mass evacuation of its civilian population to neighboring or other EU countries. However, this is not the only measure.
The Lithuanian parliament has approved a Program for Strengthening and Developing Civil Protection until 2030 with funding of 285 million euros. The money will be used to modernize and expand shelters. Attention is being paid to radiation protection and increasing emergency preparedness.
USA
One of the best online brochures for dealing with emergencies can be found on the website of FEMA – the US emergency management agency.
The list of the most necessary things to stock up was last updated in September 2024. The site can be found information on how to proceed in various disasters and crises, how to prepare children for them. Attention is also paid to organizing mutual aid groups – with friends, neighbors or local communities. The site also has information on how to evacuate.
The high level of organization makes the USA one of the most prepared countries for crises.
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