Being prepared brings peace of mind

In a crisis, the most important thing is for to be people are well-prepared – homes are well-equipped with supplies and there is a well-thought plan to handle the crisis. If actions are planned beforehand and there’s a sufficient amount of supplies, then you can have peace of mind that if a crisis does happen, you will be able to be self-sufficient for a period of time.

Residents in West and South Estonia are best prepared for crises. Several times per year, these areas experience storms that knock out electricity and cause other issues. The most vulnerable individuals in a crisis are urban dwellers, particularly those who live in apartment buildings. Additionally, non-Estonians and people over 65 are the least prepared. The greater the crisis, the longer it will take for help to arrive.
Everything an individual needs to prepare for crises is available on the websites kriis.ee, olevalmis.ee and rescue.ee. Additionally, you should download the app Be Prepared!, which was created by the Women's Voluntary Defence Organisation.

Your home must have enough supplies for at least seven days.

Today, Estonia is not facing a direct military threat. However, Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine has impacts on the entirety of Europe, including Estonia. For example, power outages or cyber attacks can happen, which would disrupt normal day-to-day life. Everyone can prepare themselves for crises by considering their online safety behaviour, keeping enough supplies for seven days at home as well as keeping a full tank of petrol in their car. It’s worth considering alternative means of communication and light sources, and purchasing a camping stove or gas grill so that you can cook the food you’ve stockpiled. Not a single human can manage without water, thus people should remember when they stockpile water that an individual needs three litres of water per day (two for drinking and one for preparing food), which amounts to 21 litres per week.
Kodused-Varud-EST_1.pdf
Meie-Pere-Kriisiplaan-EST_0.pdf

 

A reminder regarding how to prepare for a crisis:

• Think about the tools and supplies your family requires to be self-sufficient for one week. Take into consideration the possibility that you won’t be able to leave your home during a crisis, supplies will not be available from the store and other vital services (electricity, water, etc.) will not work.
• Think about storage, where and how to keep your supplies so that they would be easily available to you and your loved ones.
• You should pack the equipment that you don’t use daily in a separate bag. Some equipment required for evacuation should be kept in the car, for example a charger for charging a mobile phone in the car, a road map, a snow shovel, etc.
• Regularly replenish supplies
• When storing combustible materials (petrol, gas, firewood, etc.) follow both fire safety requirements as well as storage conditions 

 Recommended supplies for seven days:

Drinking water
* Two litres per person for every 24 hours, as well as one extra litre per person for every 24 hours for food preparation

Food
50% of supplies should not require preparation
* Canned food
* Instant soups
* Rusks
* Nuts, dried fruit
* Biscuits, sweets, granola bars, honey
* Baby food, if necessary

 First aid equipment
* First aid kit

Hygiene products
* Soap
* Disinfectants
* Toilet paper
* Paper napkins
 * Wet wipes
* Large rubbish bags (50L)

Light sources
* Flashlight and extra batteries/a flashlight with solar batteries or a dynamo
* Battery-powered lamp or lantern and extra batteries/a kerosene lamp with lamp oil
* Hurricane lamp
* Candles
* Matches

Radio
* Battery-powered radio and batteries for multiple uses/a radio with a solar battery or dynamo

 Tools
* Knife
* Scissors
* Adhesive tape
* Plastic film

Cutlery
* Disposable crockery
 * Tin opener

 Medications
* Prescription medications
* Painkillers
* Antipyretics
* Anti-allergy medications
* Indigestion medications
* Anti-inflammatory medications
* Cold medicine

Combustible materials
* Liquid fuel
* Gas
* Firewood

Power banks
* A power bank for charging mobile devices
 Other essential items
* Enough cash to cover the needs of the entire family for one week
* Mask for respiratory protection (e.g. dust mask)
* Fire extinguisher and fire blanket
* Car fuel
* If required