More Danes take courses to prepare for emergencies

Free courses across Denmark are teaching people how to manage for three days during a crisis and help their neighbours, DR reports. The Danish Emergency Management Association held courses for 14,500 people last year and expects at least as many to attend this year.

The courses cover what to do if electricity or water supplies are cut off. Around 30 people attended one at Hammerum-Gjellerup Library near Herning.

“I want to be prepared for whatever it might be, whether it’s a cyberattack, war or … well, I don’t think zombies are very relevant, but you never know,” participant Cathy Bilgrav said.

Another attendee, Peter Thygesen, said he wanted to know where to go and how to respond if an alert was issued.

This year, the association is placing extra emphasis on neighbours preparing together. That could mean buying an emergency generator as a group or agreeing how to look out for one another, said senior project manager Malou Laursen.

People who manage well on their own in everyday life can become vulnerable if the power goes out, Laursen said. It can help to know that neighbours will check in on them.

The association has 100 volunteer instructors who run the courses around the country. They are free, with at least 20 people required to register for each session and a venue with audio-visual equipment provided.