Not panic, but preparation: ordinary people around the world are building emergency stockpiles

After the UK government advised households what to stock up on in case of a national emergency, sales of tinned food, radios and torches spiked in some shops. While having this personal crisis kit is new to the UK, it is common in many places across the world. Countries facing extreme weather, natural disasters and fraught geopolitical situations regularly issue preparedness guidance — some even delivering booklets directly to homes.

For 30-year-old Andreas Wennerberg of Sweden, it began with such a government booklet. Posted to every household in Sweden two years ago, it detailed what to stock up on and how to act "in case of crisis or war". Andreas, who lives in Stockholm, built up a relatively small stockpile in his basement, including a crank radio, a tank with 10 litres of water and about €200 (£170) in cash; he already owned some of the items. It was a "wake-up call", he says, but he admits he hasn't followed the guidance in full.

Dan C, a physiotherapist in Maryland in the US, started his emergency supply after becoming a father. The 38-year-old has two children under 10, and has so far spent about $6,000 (£4,470), storing it on shelves in his basement. "It's part of my responsibility as a parent," he says.

A few years ago his house was cut off during a "very cold" February and the family was without power for two days. Though he had already started keeping supplies, "there were numerous gaps in what I had prepared for," he says. His stash now includes 150 gallons of water and several large water storage containers made of soft plastic, which can be filled and kept in the bath. He also keeps chlorine dioxide tablets, which are often used to make water from streams or rivers safe to drink.

Dan's "rotating pantry" — long-life food supplies like oats, quinoa and peanut butter — is regularly used for cooking and then replaced, so "it's not just sitting there expiring". For his family of four, he has about three months of food supplies. He also has solar panels, a camping stove, a tent, wood supplies and a propane fireplace insert that can run off grid, without electricity or wood. He keeps extensive medical supplies, including bleeding control kits. In the US, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) advises people to assemble an emergency kit, make a family emergency plan, and be informed about how to respond to different incidents. Dan says that when it comes to emergency planning, "there can be a tendency to catastrophise," but for him, it's about being a "responsible homeowner".

Ayumi T, who lives in Tokyo, Japan, has kept an emergency bag for years in case of events like earthquakes, typhoons and extreme heat. But after an earthquake in 2024 killed hundreds of people and caused widespread damage to Japan's Noto Peninsula, Ayumi stocked up even more. Tokyo's government has a 68-page disaster prevention guide, which details what to keep in an emergency kit and what to do in certain emergency situations.

In her emergency rucksack, kept in her wardrobe, Ayumi keeps clothes, towels, menstrual products, disposable chopsticks, sticky notes, disposable masks and a disposable toilet, like those used by hikers and campers. "A lot of it is old stuff I don't use anymore," says Ayumi, 27, who works at a university. Every new year, her family check their kits and update them if necessary, replacing out-of-date food, for example.

Nicole Bonds, a leadership coach in Atlanta in the US, says that over the past five years "it's been on my mind, 'what happens in case of emergency?'" Nicole, 48, puts this down to noticing "significantly more and more" severe weather patterns and storms around the world and a lack of preparedness. Her motto is "don't panic, be prepared". As well as a large selection of cleaning and hygiene products, Nicole has bought batteries, a power bank, first-aid supplies, rechargeable fans, blankets and sleeping bags. To keep it affordable she picks up a small amount of supplies "here and there" to gradually build up her stock. She keeps some of the items under her bed, in packing bags and in her kitchen cabinets.

Where Michael Stuut lives in the Netherlands is below sea level. The 39-year-old, who lives in Hoorn with his wife and five-year-old son, says he worries about extreme weather but also possible war. He started preparing his kit a few years ago. Michael keeps a healthy stash of power equipment as well as food — including a Starlink Mini, a small and lightweight satellite device for internet access. He keeps supplies in his attic and a crawl space under the house — here lies about 120 litres of water, cash, a first-aid kit and a generator. Earlier this year, Michael created an app to log his food supplies and when they might expire. "Being prepared isn't about panic," he says. "It's about being the calm one when the lights go out."

In late 2025, Dutch authorities launched a campaign that instructed households to have 72 hours' worth of supplies, much like UK authorities have just done. At the beginning of his prepping journey, Michael's wife didn't see the need, but he says she now understands the importance. They have told their five-year-old the supplies are simply for when they don't want to go to the shop, adding they "don't want to burden him". Michael is sceptical of the three-day advice — also recommended by the UK — but says: "Every household that has a few basic things at home makes it easier for the emergency services to help the people who need it most."