From Sweden to Japan: The households already stockpiling for crisis

Sales of tinned food, radios and torches spiked in some shops after the UK government advised households on what to stock up on in case of a national emergency. While a personal crisis kit is a new concept for many in the UK, it is common in countries facing extreme weather, natural disasters or fraught geopolitical situations, some of which deliver preparedness guidance directly to homes. Andreas Wennerberg, a 30-year-old living in Stockholm, began preparing after a government booklet arrived through his door two years ago. Posted to every household in Sweden, it detailed what to stock up on and how to act in case of crisis or war. He built up a relatively small stockpile in his basement, including a crank radio, a tank holding 10 litres of water and about 200 euros in cash, some of which he already owned. He described the booklet as a wake-up call but admits he has not followed the guidance in full, saying he feels secure and is not particularly worried. In the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency advises people to assemble an emergency kit, make a family emergency plan and stay informed about how to respond to different incidents. Dan C, a 38-year-old physiotherapist in Maryland, started his emergency supply after becoming a father to two children under 10, describing it as part of his responsibility as a parent. He has spent about $6,000 so far, storing supplies on shelves in his basement. A few years ago his house was cut off during a very cold February and the family spent two days without power. Although he had already begun keeping supplies, he says there were numerous gaps in his preparations. His stash now includes 150 gallons of water, soft plastic storage containers that can be filled and kept in the bath, and chlorine dioxide tablets for making water from streams or rivers safe to drink. His rotating pantry of long-life foods such as oats, quinoa and peanut butter is used for cooking and replaced regularly, providing about three months of food for his family of four. He also keeps solar panels, a camping stove, a tent, wood supplies, a propane fireplace insert that can run off grid, and extensive medical supplies including bleeding control kits. He says emergency planning can carry a tendency to catastrophise, but for him it is about being a responsible homeowner. In Japan, 27-year-old Ayumi T, who works at a university in Tokyo, has kept an emergency bag for years in case of earthquakes, typhoons and extreme heat. After an earthquake in 2024 killed hundreds of people and caused widespread damage to the Noto Peninsula, she stocked up further. Tokyo's government publishes a 68-page disaster prevention guide detailing what to keep in an emergency kit. Her rucksack, kept in her wardrobe, holds clothes, towels, menstrual products, disposable chopsticks, sticky notes, disposable masks and a disposable toilet of the kind used by hikers and campers. Each new year her family checks the kits and replaces out-of-date food. In Atlanta, Nicole Bonds, a 48-year-old leadership coach, says preparedness has been on her mind for the past five years as she noticed significantly more severe weather patterns and storms around the world. Her motto is don't panic, be prepared. She has bought batteries, a power bank, first-aid supplies, rechargeable fans, blankets and sleeping bags, along with cleaning and hygiene products, gradually building her stock with small purchases and storing items under her bed, in packing bags and in kitchen cabinets. Michael Stuut, 39, lives in Hoorn in the Netherlands, in a home below sea level, and worries about both extreme weather and the possibility of war. He keeps power equipment and food, including a Starlink Mini satellite device for internet access, and stores about 120 litres of water, cash, a first-aid kit and a generator in his attic and a crawl space under the house. Earlier this year he created an app to log his food supplies and their expiry dates. Being prepared isn't about panic, he says, it is about being the calm one when the lights go out. In late 2025, Dutch authorities launched a campaign instructing households to hold 72 hours' worth of supplies, similar to the advice recently issued in the UK. Michael's wife initially saw no need for the preparations but he says she now understands their importance. The couple have told their five-year-old son the supplies are simply for when they do not want to go to the shop, saying they do not want to burden him. While sceptical of the three-day advice also recommended by the UK, he notes that every household with a few basic things at home makes it easier for emergency services to help those who need it most. In the UK, Burnham has suggested stocking up on tinned food and bottled water, guidance that has prompted many households to consider assembling their own crisis kits for the first time. Additional reporting by Hanae Takahashi and Richard Frost.