Emergency booklet boosts preparedness interest and worries some

The publication of a civil protection emergency-preparedness booklet has increased interest in being ready for emergencies, but some readers fear it signals an imminent threat, mbl.is reports. Hjördís Guðlaugsdóttir, who helps run the Preppers in Iceland Facebook group, said she had seen people express that concern.

Hjördís said she did not believe the booklet had been issued because danger was imminent, although she described the state of the world as far from good. She welcomed the guide, particularly for younger people who may not have thought much about emergency preparations.

“This booklet should really have been published a long time ago,” she said, adding that an earlier release might have caused less concern.

The Facebook group now has about 6,050 members, and Hjördís said several people had been joining each day. Discussion has shifted from home gardening and food supplies to questions about equipment, including camping stoves, radios and power banks.

Interest in preparedness also appears to be reflected in shops. Recent reports have described a sharp rise in sales of emergency radios and canned food.

Hjördís said people could prepare without spending heavily or having a large pantry. Even one kitchen drawer stocked with canned goods could be useful, she said. She has long kept food supplies at home, a habit she traces to growing up in the countryside, where shopping trips were less frequent and power cuts could happen at any time.

She also recalled that her family packed a bag with essentials, including nappies and spare clothes for the children, in connection with the South Iceland earthquake. She said people with limited storage space could also put together such a bag.