Emergency preparedness at home – a one-week checklist
By HemRedo · 2026-11-05
When the power goes out, the taps stop running, or shops can no longer receive deliveries, everyday life can quickly become difficult. With supplies to manage at home for at least a week, you can look after yourself and the people you live with while society deals with the disruption. Start with the essentials and build up your supplies gradually.
Start with water
Allow approximately 3–5 litres of water per adult per day for drinking, cooking and basic hygiene. The Swedish brochure “If Crisis or War Comes” specifies at least 3 litres per person per day, while the Swedish Food Agency’s broader planning guidance is 3–5 litres per adult per day. For one adult, seven days means approximately 21–35 litres. You may need more in hot weather, during illness or in other circumstances. Store water in clean, tightly sealed containers intended for drinking water, somewhere cool and dark.
Plan food for seven days
Choose food your household actually eats, that provides energy and can be stored without refrigeration. Include food that can be eaten without cooking. Examples include canned food, crispbread, nuts, grains, dried fruit and shelf-stable spreads. Remember allergies, baby food and pet food. Consider how you would prepare meals without electricity.
Warmth and lighting
Gather warm clothes, blankets and sleeping bags. Choose torches or battery-powered lighting. Never use a barbecue or fuel-burning equipment indoors unless it is explicitly designed for safe indoor use. Follow fire-safety instructions and be aware of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Information and communication
Keep a battery-powered, hand-crank or other radio that works without mains electricity. Know that Sveriges Radio P4 serves as Sweden’s emergency information radio channel. Write down important telephone numbers, charge power banks and agree on how your family will contact one another if mobile networks are unavailable.
Hygiene, health and individual needs
Review any essential prescribed medicines and how you would manage hygiene, toilet needs, menstrual products, nappies and waste during a water outage. Adapt your plans to disabilities, pets and other individual needs. Keep a basic first-aid kit.
Getting-started checklist
- Enough water for your household for seven days
- Enough food for a week that can be eaten or prepared during a power outage
- A torch and spare batteries
- A radio that works without mains power
- A power bank and important phone numbers on paper
- Blankets, warm clothing and a safe plan for staying warm
- Hygiene supplies and first-aid essentials
- Essential personal supplies, including children’s and pets’ needs
- A simple family plan: who does what during an outage?
Make it easy to get started
You do not need to buy everything at once. Take stock of what you already have, gradually fill the gaps and review your supplies regularly. HemRedo can help you keep an overview of your supplies and identify what needs replenishing.