In 2018, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) published a brochure titled “If a Crisis or War Breaks Out.” The brochure outlined the responsibilities each individual has in the event of a crisis. Now that several years have passed, you surely still remember all the tips for preparing your own home, don’t you?
When the Swedish Language Council presented its “New Words of the Year” in 2016, we learned, among other things, the meanings of “influerare,” “Pokenad,” and “ghosta.” At the same time, the word “preppare” was introduced—a term describing a person who is prepared for, or is preparing for, a crisis situation. The word is still in use today and is perhaps more prevalent than ever, not least because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When some store shelves were left empty at the start of the pandemic, it was an eye-opener for many, revealing just how vulnerable our society is. It also resulted in a somewhat peculiar phenomenon: toilet paper ran out as people stocked up on very large quantities, fearing a future shortage of this indispensable product.
"At the start of the pandemic, some of the stores' shelves were were empty"
Personal Responsibility
The fact that we ran out of toilet paper may seem somewhat amusing in hindsight, but it highlights a vulnerability. If, instead, there had been a shortage of food, water, or some other essential supply, we would suddenly have found ourselves in a very unpleasant situation. That is why municipalities and government agencies have previously issued guidelines stating that every citizen should be able to fend for themselves for 72 hours in the event of a crisis. This figure is sometimes considered far too low, and there is no legal requirement specifying how long one must be able to fend for oneself. However, it has proven to be both a sign of solidarity and a responsible approach to take preventive measures to ensure that one can take care of oneself during a crisis. Anyone who can take care of themselves can be overlooked by emergency services and other agencies for the time being. Instead, they can focus on people who have not been able to prepare.
Your municipality is responsible for elder care, water supply, emergency services, and schools even during a societal crisis, but as a citizen, you have a different responsibility. Those who need the most help during a crisis are also the ones who should receive help first. Therefore, preparation is essential to increase your ability to take care of yourself for a certain period of time.
Preparing for what?
To prepare, you obviously need to understand what can cause a crisis and what a crisis actually is. A crisis can be a personal tragedy, such as a divorce or the death of a loved one. It can also be caused by floods, pollution, or war. The level of preparation required is therefore difficult to determine. A good rule of thumb is that the person or people responsible for ensuring there is food and water on the table should also be the ones to do so during a crisis. No one else is expected to come to the rescue during the first 72 hours.
Imagine, for example, that Skövde no longer has access to electricity. This could mean that the heat goes out, that you have trouble cooking and storing food, that there’s no water coming out of the faucet or flushing the toilet, that you can’t fill up your car, and that the cell phone network and the internet aren’t working. You wouldn’t be able to reach friends and family, and you wouldn’t be able to shop without cash. How would this affect you, and how could you change the situation?
What needs to be prepared?
Everyone has different circumstances when it comes to preparedness. Families with young children, for example, need to consider things that retirees don’t, and vice versa. But no matter who you are, home preparedness can be divided into the following categories:
Food
Much of home preparedness involves shopping, but most of these purchases are the kinds that households make in their daily lives. The difference is buying larger quantities at one time and shopping less frequently. Canned goods are a popular option. Crushed tomatoes, beans, ready-to-eat meals like pea soup, and other canned products can be stored for several years before they become inedible. In addition, the food you choose to store should not require a large amount of water to prepare, should be quick to prepare, or should be edible without cooking.
In the event of a crisis, eat the food in the refrigerator first. The freezer will stay cold for a few days without electricity; just make sure to open it as little as possible. Store food on the balcony if it’s cold outside.
Water
In the event of a power outage, for example, the drinking water supply will not work. Therefore, it is recommended that you store water in containers or PET bottles in a cool, dark place. It’s a good idea to replace the water every six months—for example, every Midsummer and every Christmas. You’ll need at least three liters of water per person per day for drinking and hygiene. This compares to the approximately 160 liters that each person in Sweden uses on average every day.
Heat
If something happens in the middle of winter, staying warm becomes a major challenge. Most people already have winter clothes, and by dressing in multiple layers, you can quickly build a good barrier against the cold. Building a shelter out of bedding, sofa mattresses, and other items creates a small, insulated space that can be warmed by your body heat. Tealights are a good alternative source of heat. One tealight provides about 100 W of heat, which is equivalent to the heat generated by a human body. However, be careful when using open flames.
Communication
The risk that the internet, mobile networks, and other forms of communication will become unavailable during a crisis makes it necessary to have an alternative source of communication. Without information about the situation, there is a risk of missing out on where and when food rations are being distributed, where water tanks are being set up, and other important details. A radio, preferably one powered by a dynamo, allows you to listen to Sveriges Radio P4, which is Sweden’s emergency broadcast channel. In addition, always be critical of your sources and vigilant against false information that may spread in the event of a crisis.
Miscellaneous
Access to electricity is invaluable in many ways. That’s why it’s a good idea to have batteries, power banks, and flashlights at home. Keeping small bills at home increases your ability to make purchases if point-of-sale systems and ATM cards stop working.
Social Cooperation
One of the most important aspects is working together with friends, family, and neighbors to share and help one another. One advantage of living in a rental building is that you have many neighbors in the building who can all contribute in some way. This applies to resources such as food and water, but also to knowledge. One neighbor might work as a nurse, another as a preschool teacher, and a third as a building superintendent. We all have different skills and experiences that can come in handy during a crisis.
