Responsible or panicked? Meet the people around the world already preparing for crisis

Responsible or panicked? Meet the people around the world already preparing for crisis

Andreas from Sweden was prompted into action after government advice was posted through his door.

Sales of tinned food, radios and torches rose sharply in some shops after the UK government told households what to stock up on in the event of a national emergency.

Although having this kind of stash, or personal crisis kit, is new to the UK, it is already routine in many places around the world.

Countries dealing with extreme weather, natural disasters and tense geopolitical situations regularly issue preparedness advice, with some even delivering booklets straight to homes.

So what do these emergency supplies look like for different people, and how do they manage them?

Thirty-year-old Andreas Wennerberg had never really considered preparing for emergencies until a government booklet arrived at his door two years ago.

Sent to every household in Sweden, it explained what to stock up on and how to behave "in case of crisis or war".

Andreas, who lives in Stockholm, put together a fairly modest stockpile in his basement, including a crank radio, a tank with 10 litres of water and about €200 (£170) in cash. He says he already had some of the items.

He describes it as a "wake-up call", but admits he has not fully followed the advice.

"I feel secure… I'm not that worried."

Dan C, a physiotherapist in Maryland, began building his emergency supplies after becoming a father. So far, he has spent about $6,000 (£4,470), storing everything on shelves in his basement.

"It's part of my responsibility as a parent," says Dan, 38, who has two children under 10.

A few years ago, his house was cut off during a "very cold" February and the family had no power for two days. Although he had already started stocking up, "there were numerous gaps in what I had prepared for," he says.

Dan's supplies now include 150 gallons of water and several large soft plastic water storage containers that can be filled and kept in the bath. He also keeps items such as chlorine dioxide tablets, which are often used to make water from streams or rivers safe to drink.

His "rotating pantry" - made up of long-life foods such as oats, quinoa and peanut butter - is used regularly for cooking and then replaced so "it's not just sitting there expiring". For his family of four, he has around three months of food supplies.

Dan also has solar panels, a camping stove, a tent, wood supplies and a propane fireplace insert that can run off grid - without electricity or wood. He also stores extensive medical supplies, including bleeding control kits.

In the US, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, external advises people to put together an emergency kit, make a family emergency plan and learn how to respond to different incidents.

Dan says that when it comes to emergency planning, "there can be a tendency to catastrophise," but for him it is about being a "responsible homeowner".

Ayumi T, who lives in Tokyo, has kept an emergency bag for years in case of events such as earthquakes, typhoons and extreme heat.

But after an earthquake in 2024 killed hundreds of people and caused widespread damage to Japan's Noto Peninsula, Ayumi stocked up even more.

Tokyo's government has a 68-page disaster prevention guide, external, which explains what to keep in an emergency kit and what to do in certain emergency situations.

In her emergency rucksack, kept in her wardrobe, Ayumi stores clothes, towels, menstrual products, disposable chopsticks, sticky notes, disposable masks and a disposable toilet, like those used by hikers and campers.

"A lot of it is old stuff I don't use anymore," says Ayumi, 27, who works at a university.

Every New Year, her family checks their kits and updates them if needed, replacing out-of-date food, for example.

Over the past five years, "it's been on my mind, 'what happens in case of emergency?'", Nicole Bonds says.

The leadership coach in Atlanta says this is because she has noticed "significantly more and more" severe weather patterns and storms around the world, along with a lack of preparedness.

Her motto is "don't panic, be prepared", she says.

Alongside a large selection of cleaning and hygiene products, Nicole, 48, has bought batteries, a power bank, first-aid supplies, rechargeable fans, blankets and sleeping bags.

To keep costs down, she picks up a small amount of supplies "here and there" to gradually build her stock. She keeps some of the items under her bed, in packing bags and in her kitchen cabinets.

Where Michael Stuut lives in the Netherlands is below sea level. He says he worries about extreme weather, but also about possible war.

The 39-year-old, who lives in Hoorn with his wife and five-year-old son, began preparing his kit a few years ago.

Michael keeps a solid supply of power equipment as well as food - including a Starlink Mini, a small and lightweight satellite device for internet access.

He stores supplies in his attic and a crawl space under the house - where there is about 120 litres of water, cash, a first-aid kit and a generator.

Earlier this year, Michael created an app to track his food supplies and when they may expire.

"Being prepared isn't about panic," he says. "It's about being the calm one when the lights go out."

In late 2025, Dutch authorities launched a campaign telling households to keep 72 hours' worth of supplies, much like UK authorities have just done.

At the start of his prepping journey, Michael's wife did not see the need, but he says she now understands its importance. They have told their five-year-old that the supplies are simply for when they do not want to go to the shop, adding that they "don't want to burden him".

Michael is sceptical of the three-day advice - also recommended by the UK - but says: "Every household that has a few basic things at home makes it easier for the emergency services to help the people who need it most."