Young adults lack basic emergency supplies, ministry says
Friday 23rd October 2026 on 13:01 in
Finland
Young adults are among the least prepared for emergencies, Finland’s Ministry of the Interior says. Yle reports that 19-year-old Mikael Vinko, who recently moved into his first home in Lahti, has little food or water stored for a crisis.
The ministry plans to mail a new preparedness guide to households and businesses in mainland Finland in January. The printed guide will explain how people should prepare for disruptions and emergencies.
The Finnish National Rescue Association recommends keeping enough food and water at home for at least 72 hours. It also advises having a battery-powered radio, spare batteries and a power bank.
A person needs about two to three litres of clean drinking water each day, the association says. One to two buckets of water per person per day would also cover cooking and basic hygiene. Vinko has no stored water or container for collecting water from a distribution point. If the water supply stopped, he said, he would walk to a shop to find some.
Vinko’s cupboards contain half a bag of toast, pasta, tortilla sauce, snack bars, muesli and porridge oats. He said he thought he could manage for three days on what he had, suggesting one snack bar a day. He also joked that he could break branches outside and make a fire to cook the pasta.
The association recommends choosing shelf-stable foods that people already eat. Pasta keeps well, but cooking it during a power cut requires an alternative such as a camping stove.
A radio can provide important information during a crisis, although phones and internet connections may continue working to some extent. The association says a power bank is important because phone and computer batteries will eventually run out during an outage.
Getting to know neighbours can also help. People may be able to share information, skills and supplies, and a sense of community can support mental resilience. Vinko has not yet met his neighbours, but said he hoped they would get to know one another. He has recently bought a guitar and joked to a friend about when someone might leave him a note to say hello.