Families with children should stock these essential supplies, advises Martat organisation

Families in Finland’s border regions should prepare for potential emergencies such as power outages by maintaining a home stockpile that lasts at least three days, according to guidance from the Martat organisation, as reported by Yle.

Basic emergency supplies should include long-lasting food, bottled water, baby essentials, pet food, cash, and battery-powered devices like radios and torches. Families are also encouraged to practise power-outage scenarios through simple games, such as flashlight hide-and-seek, to familiarise children with emergency routines.

Water and food basics often overlooked

While many households store non-perishable food, water is frequently forgotten, says Tiina Anola-Pukkila, a home economics expert with North Karelia’s Martat. A family of four should stock at least 24 litres of drinking water for three days—plus extra for cooking and hygiene. She recommends keeping a few empty canisters on hand in case water distribution becomes necessary.

For families with infants, essentials include nappies, baby food, formula, sanitising wipes, and iodine tablets. “Fruit purées for babies work well for the whole family—they keep for a long time and are versatile,” Anola-Pukkila notes. Pet food should also be included, alongside backup power sources for phones, a battery-powered radio, and a small amount of cash, as electronic payments may fail if networks are down.

Emergency cooking at home

If electricity fails, preparing hot meals can be challenging—especially in apartments without fireplaces. A portable camping stove, used outdoors, offers a solution. “You don’t need to go into the forest; you can cook for the whole family right in your yard,” Anola-Pukkila suggests. Simple one-pot meals, like pasta or rice dishes, work well on camping stoves, as do quick snacks like popcorn.

The home stockpile should integrate seamlessly into daily life rather than sit unused. Anola-Pukkila advises storing easily prepared carbohydrates (instant mashed potatoes, quick-cook pasta) and proteins (canned beans, textured vegetable protein). However, she warns that frozen food may spoil within days during a prolonged outage.

Martat has been training residents in southeastern Finland and North Karelia on preparedness, emphasising that involving children in planning—such as choosing foods everyone will eat—helps ensure the stockpile remains practical and familiar.