Map Shows Which Countries Are Telling People to Stock Up on Food

Governments in many countries are telling people to keep emergency food, water, and supplies at home. The advice is meant to help people stay safe during crises like wars, extreme weather, or cyberattacks. France and the United Kingdom are among the latest countries to remind their citizens to be ready. Officials say people should not wait for a disaster to happen before they start preparing.

Most countries suggest having enough supplies to last at least three days, or 72 hours. France, the U.K., Japan, Mexico, and the Netherlands all recommend a 72-hour emergency kit. Some countries go further — Sweden and Norway suggest keeping about one week of supplies, while Germany advises having up to 10 days' worth. A government account for the French region of Normandy posted on social media: 'Don't wait for the emergency: prepare now!'

The U.K.'s Prime Minister shared his own tips in a radio interview on the BBC. 'I do like my beans, so I have plenty of those in the cupboard, and soup,' he said. He added that those are the kinds of things he would tell people to keep on hand. Simple, affordable foods like canned goods are a popular recommendation from many world leaders.

Not every country gives a specific time frame for how long supplies should last. India's National Disaster Management Authority tells households to have an emergency kit ready, but does not say exactly how long it should last. In the United States, the website Ready.gov — run by the Department of Homeland Security — says people should have 'food, water and other supplies to last for several days.' Canada also recommends a 72-hour emergency kit for its citizens.

Some places give advice based on local risks. Western Australia tells people in areas prone to cyclones to prepare a kit with food, water, and medicine. The city of Cape Town in South Africa advises households to keep at least three days of supplies. This kind of region-specific advice helps people prepare for the dangers most likely to affect their area.

Europe has paid extra attention to emergency preparedness in the past two years. In March 2025, the European Commission announced its Preparedness Union Strategy. The group said Europe faces growing dangers, including conflicts between countries and natural disasters made worse by climate change. The goal of the strategy is to help people and governments across Europe be ready for a wide range of emergencies.

No matter the country, the advice on what to keep in an emergency kit is fairly similar. Governments usually recommend non-perishable food, clean water, medicine, batteries, a flashlight, and a radio. Non-perishable foods are items that do not spoil quickly, like canned soup, dried beans, and crackers. Having these basic items on hand can make a big difference when help is hard to reach.

Dan Bongino, a former deputy director of the FBI and a podcast host, also spoke about emergency preparedness on his show. He told his viewers not to panic, saying, 'The way to reduce anxiety and panic in tumultuous times is to be prepared.' He recommended having an emergency radio, batteries, food, and water filtration tablets. His advice matched what many governments around the world are saying.

In the United States, military leaders are also thinking about preparedness on a larger scale. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently wrote a memo saying that more U.S. military bases need to be able to run on their own for at least three months. On September 30, he announced a plan called FORTRESS, which stands for Federal Operations for Resilience, Troop Resources, Energy, Supply and Survivability. He called it the 'nation's insurance policy' to make sure the military can keep working even if normal supply chains are cut off.