Experts outline how households can prepare for three days without utilities

Danish households can take simple steps to prepare for a crisis, including storing water and keeping a battery-powered or hand-cranked FM radio, experts told DR. They also advised people to reduce their dependence on electricity, tap water, mobile networks and shop supplies.

Two years ago, the Danish Emergency Management Agency urged people to prepare to manage for three days during a major crisis. But only 39 per cent of Danes have followed the recommendations, according to DR.

Start with your own needs

Rasmus Dahlberg, a lecturer in societal security at Roskilde University, said people should consider their own resources and responsibilities. Someone living alone may need less preparation than a household with children or pets, he said.

Dahlberg recommended starting with basic steps, such as keeping a supply of drinking water and buying some food that can be stored for longer. He suggested buying a pack of bottled water and putting it away for use if the water supply is interrupted.

People can find the authorities’ checklist for a three-day supply at samsik.dk/forberedt. The website also has a calculator to help households estimate how much they need, said Laila Reenberg, director of the Agency for Societal Security.

How much water to store

The authorities recommend three litres of water per person per day for three days. That amounts to 10 to 30 litres for many households, depending on how many people live together, Dahlberg said.

Water can keep for a long time when stored in approved containers or bought as bottled water. If kept in a dark cellar or cupboard, water in containers can, for example, be replaced every six months. Dahlberg said larger or smaller bottles make little difference, though larger ones use less plastic.

Prepare to help neighbours

Reenberg advised people who want to help neighbours to talk with them about how they can support one another and divide tasks. The Agency for Societal Security has guidance on local preparedness at samsik.dk/lokalt-beredskab.

Dahlberg urged people to remain calm, saying that Denmark is fundamentally a safe and secure society where people look after one another. He said following the authorities’ preparedness recommendations can help households get through a crisis with support from others.