A little preparation helps everyday life stay manageable when services are interrupted. A power cut, storm, flooding or water outage can affect lighting, communication, food preparation and access to drinking water.
The European Commission promotes at least 72 hours of household self-sufficiency as a minimum baseline for emergencies. That means being ready to meet your household’s essential needs during the first three days, while emergency services prioritise people who need help most.
A simple household checklist
- Water: about 3 litres per person per day, or about 9 litres each for three days. Allow extra for individual needs and pets.
- Non-perishable food that suits your household, including options that need little preparation.
- A torch or lantern, with spare batteries or a way to recharge it.
- A battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
- A charged power bank and the cables you need.
- A first aid kit.
- Essential medicines and any personal medical supplies.
- Copies of important documents and useful contact numbers.
- Some cash.
- Warm blankets.
Start with what you already have and build your supplies gradually. Keep essentials somewhere easy to find, check dates and battery levels regularly, and follow local authorities’ advice during an emergency.
Where ReadyCore fits
ReadyCore focuses on the gear part of your 72-hour essentials: practical equipment for lighting, radio listening, backup power and first aid. Your household’s food, drinking water, medicines and personal arrangements complete the plan.
Sources: European Commission household preparedness guidance and Government of the Netherlands emergency-kit checklist.