A three-day household plan is a manageable place to begin. The EU Preparedness Union Strategy describes a minimum 72-hour self-sufficiency objective, while national authorities can give longer or more detailed advice.
Read the level of guidance
An EU strategy, a national household checklist and a live municipal instruction serve different purposes. Start with the strategy for context, then use the official guidance where you live. Do not assume an EU-level objective replaces a national recommendation or tells you when help will reach your particular street.
- Keep the national preparedness page bookmarked.
- Check publication dates and geographical scope.
Build a practical first stage
Organise familiar food, drinking water, lighting, communication and personal care around your household's actual needs. Use three litres of drinking water per person per day as this site's planning baseline, with extra for other uses. Add supplies gradually and rotate them through normal life rather than treating three days as a shopping challenge.
- Check existing supplies before buying.
- Include medicines through normal professional advice.
Extend according to local needs
If national guidance recommends longer reserves, work towards that target within space, budget and care requirements. Extra supplies do not remove the need to follow evacuation orders or seek help for urgent needs. A plan should also include neighbours, support providers and the services you rely on, because preparedness is more than stored goods.
- Keep a portable departure bag separate.
- Review after a move or household change.
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