Guides

Practical guides to being ready for 72 hours on your own: what to buy, how much you need and what to do when it happens.

• Best portable power station for blackouts in EuropeHow much capacity you need, and the five models worth buying. 9 min read
• EcoFlow vs Jackery vs BluettiWhich brand to pick, compared on what matters in a blackout. 7 min read
• A budget 72-hour kitEvery item, with the simplest version that still works. 5 min read
• What to do in a power blackoutThe first 30 minutes, the first night, and day three. 6 min read
• The 72-hour emergency kit checklistInteractive and printable. Tick what you own. 4 min read
• How much water to store for 72 hoursLitres per person, containers, storage and what to do if it runs out. 8 min read
• 72-hour emergency food list (no cooking)What to buy for three days without a fridge or stove, with a sample menu. 8 min read
• The 2025 Iberian blackout: 10 lessons for your kitWhat happened in Spain and Portugal on 28 April 2025, and what it teaches households. 8 min read
• Best emergency radio: crank, solar and batteryWhat matters in an emergency radio, and which type to buy. 7 min read
• Best emergency torch and headlampLumens, batteries, runtime and how many lights a household needs. 7 min read
• Emergency kit for apartments and small flatsFit a 72-hour kit in a cupboard, plus water, toilets and lifts in tall buildings. 8 min read
• How much cash to keep at home, and which documents to copyCash amounts, document copies and how to store them safely. 7 min read
• Emergency kit for kids: checklist by ageWhat children need for 72 hours, and how to talk to them about it. 8 min read
• Water purification tablets vs filters vs boilingWhat each method removes, how long it takes and which to keep. 8 min read
• How to keep warm without heating in a power cutOne-room strategy, layers, sleeping bags and what never to do indoors. 8 min read
• Home first aid kit checklistWhat a family first aid kit should contain, plus medicines and skills. 7 min read
• Best power bank for emergenciesHow many mAh you need, Wh explained, solar banks and flight rules. 7 min read
• The EU 72-hour recommendation explainedWhat the Preparedness Union Strategy says, what it doesn’t, and what to do. 7 min read
• Germany: what the BBK recommendsThe BBK’s 10-day advice, water and food quantities, NINA and Warntag. 7 min read
• Sweden: “In case of crisis or war” in briefWhat Sweden’s brochure asks households to prepare, in plain English. 7 min read
• UK: the Be Ready emergency kit checklistThe UK government’s 3-day advice and checklist, explained. 7 min read
• Netherlands: the Denk vooruit noodpakketThe Dutch 72-hour emergency kit list, water, cash amounts and NL-Alert. 6 min read
• Spain: the 72-hour emergency kit after the blackoutOfficial advice in Spain, ES-Alert, 112 and what the 2025 blackout taught. 7 min read
• How to store and rotate emergency foodWhere to keep it, how long it lasts, and the simple rotation system that stops waste. 7 min read
• How to cook without power in an emergencyCamping stoves, fuel, carbon monoxide safety and no-cook options. 7 min read
• Emergency toilet and hygiene without running waterHow to make an emergency toilet, keep clean with little water and avoid illness. 7 min read
• Bug-out bag vs home emergency kitStaying put or leaving fast: what each kit is for and what goes in both. 6 min read
• How often to check your emergency kitA simple six-monthly routine, with what to replace and when. 5 min read
• How to prepare for a flood: before, during, afterWarnings, protecting your home, getting out safely and returning home. 8 min read
• How to prepare for a heatwave (and a blackout in the heat)Keeping your home cool, drinking enough, spotting heatstroke and coping without power. 7 min read
• Emergency preparedness with medication and medical needsMedicines, insulin, prescriptions and powered medical devices for 72 hours and beyond. 7 min read
• France: the “Tous responsables” emergency kitFrance’s 2025 government guide: the 72-hour kit list, FR-Alert, sirens and numbers. 6 min read
• Mexico: the emergency backpack for earthquakes and hurricanesWhat Mexico’s civil protection recommends, the seismic alert on phones, and 911. 6 min read

Looking for a shopping list? See all kits by scenario.