France’s emergency kit: the “Tous responsables” 72-hour list in English
In November 2025 the French government published Tous responsables, a practical guide asking every household to keep a kit d’urgence for the first 72 hours of a crisis: 6 litres of drinking water per person in bottles, non-perishable food that needs no cooking, a battery radio, a torch with spare batteries, medicines and a first aid kit, warm clothes and a foil blanket, cash, a phone charger, spare glasses, duplicate keys and copies of documents in a waterproof pouch. Check it twice a year.
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What the French government asks households to do
Tous responsables (“everyone is responsible”) starts from a simple idea: in a major crisis, emergency services must prioritise the most serious cases, so each household should be able to look after itself for the first 72 hours, which the guide calls often the hardest. It covers natural risks (floods, wildfires, storms), technological and industrial accidents, cyberattacks, epidemics and terrorism, and is built around three principles: drink and eat, stay warm, look after your health. It follows the same logic as the EU 72-hour recommendation.
The official kit d’urgence list
| Item in the French guide | Notes |
|---|---|
| Drinking water: 6 litres per person, in bottles | 6 L = 1.6 US gal. In summer, store more |
| Non-perishable food that needs no cooking | Tins, baby food, pet food |
| Battery radio with spare batteries | To follow instructions from the authorities |
| Torch with spare batteries, candles, lighter or matches | Use candles with care; a head torch is safer |
| Medicines (everyday treatment and emergency medicines) | Plus a spare pair of glasses |
| First aid kit | Alcohol, plasters, masks, compresses |
| Basic tools | Multi-tool, tin opener |
| Warm clothes and a foil blanket | For cold and evacuation |
| Cash | Cash machines may not work |
| Phone charger | A charged power bank is better |
| Duplicate house and car keys | |
| Photocopies of key documents in a waterproof pouch | ID card, prescriptions |
| Books and games | To pass the time |
The guide asks you to keep the kit somewhere easy to reach, check it twice a year (expiry dates of medicines and food, and the batteries), and refill it after use. The government’s info.gouv.fr page adds that the kit is just as useful if you have to leave in a hurry. See bug-out bag vs home kit.
How France warns the public
- FR-Alert sends alerts to mobile phones in the affected area, with a loud sound even in silent mode. Keep emergency alerts switched on.
- Sirens of the national warning network are tested at noon on the first Wednesday of each month. A real alert is a rising and falling sound; the end of the alert is a continuous tone.
- Radio and TV: the government advises following the France Télévisions channels and your local public radio station, ici (formerly France Bleu).
- Numbers: 112, 15 (SAMU), 17 (police), 18 (fire brigade), 114 (SMS for deaf and hard-of-hearing people).
Know the risks where you live
The government’s Géorisques website shows the natural and industrial risks for any address in France: flood zones, wildfire risk, clay soils, nearby industrial (Seveso) sites and nuclear plants. Check yours, then adapt the kit: a flood kit near rivers or the Mediterranean coast, an evacuation bag in wildfire areas, and a heatwave kit almost everywhere in summer. If you live near a nuclear power plant, keep the iodine tablets distributed through pharmacies with your kit and take them only when the authorities say so.
Our additions to the French list
- More water in summer: 3 L (0.8 US gal) per person per day; see how much water to store.
- A head torch instead of relying on candles, which cause fires in blackouts.
- A power bank rather than just a charger, since chargers need mains power.
- An emergency toilet solution: see emergency toilet and hygiene.
| Product | Best for | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crank and solar radio | Following official instructions | FM, crank, solar, USB | Check price on Amazon |
| LED head torch | Light without fire risk | AAA batteries | Check price on Amazon |
| 20,000 mAh power bank | Phone charging without mains | USB-C | Check price on Amazon |
| Waterproof document pouch | Copies of ID and prescriptions | Zip seal | Check price on Amazon |
| Foil blanket and whistle | Warmth and signalling | Compact | Check price on Amazon |
We don’t list prices because they change often. Use the button to see the current price on Amazon.
Compare with other countries: Germany, Sweden, the UK, Spain.
Questions people ask
What is the “Tous responsables” guide?
A practical guide published by the French government (prepared by the SGDSN) in November 2025 to help citizens prepare for major crises: natural and industrial disasters, cyberattacks, epidemics and terrorism. It includes the kit d’urgence checklist.
How much water does France recommend for an emergency kit?
The guide lists drinking water “in quantity”: 6 litres (1.6 US gal) per person in bottles. In hot weather we recommend more: about 3 litres (0.8 US gal) per person per day, 9 litres (2.4 US gal) for 72 hours.
What is FR-Alert?
France’s public warning system that sends alerts to mobile phones in an area at risk, with a distinctive sound, even if the phone is on silent.
What are the emergency numbers in France?
112 (European emergency number), 15 (SAMU, medical), 17 (police), 18 (fire brigade) and 114 (by SMS or app, for people who are deaf or hard of hearing).
When are sirens tested in France?
The national warning sirens are tested at midday on the first Wednesday of every month.
Keep reading
- The EU 72-hour recommendation explained
- Germany: what the BBK recommends
- Bug-out bag vs home emergency kit
- How often to check your emergency kit
Sources
- France, SGDSN: “Tous responsables” preparedness guide (PDF, in French)
- info.gouv.fr: Se préparer à une situation d’urgence (in French)
- Service-Public.fr: “Tous responsables”, the practical guide to prepare for crises (26 November 2025, in French)
- Géorisques (French government): the risks where you live
- European Commission (DG ECHO): EU Preparedness Union Strategy, 26 March 2025