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Emergency preparedness in Bulgaria: official guidance in English

Bulgaria's official preparedness rules in English: a 72-hour disaster backpack, 247 listed shelters, four siren signals, BG-ALERT, iodine and 112.

Updated 2026-10-20· 15 official sources· Четете на български

Bulgaria at a glance

updated 2026-10-20
SuppliesThe fire and civil protection service (GDPBZN, Ministry of Interior) asks every household to prepare a 'disaster backpack' with food and water for 72 hours, a first-aid kit, a torch, a phone charger and a radio.sourcedPublic sheltersBulgaria's public shelters are 'collective protection means' (колективни средства за защита): blast shelters (скривалища) and fallout shelters (противорадиационни укрития), owned by the state, municipalities or private owners.sourcedAlertsBulgaria uses sirens of the National Early Warning and Notification System (NSRPO) plus BG-ALERT, a Cell Broadcast system run by GDPBZN that sends free messages in Bulgarian and English to phones in the affected area.sourcedIodineIodine prophylaxis is part of the external emergency plans for nuclear and radiation accidents, which must organise the distribution of iodine preparations to the population.sourcedPrivate shelterThe Disaster Protection Act recognises privately owned collective protection means: their owners maintain and manage them, may use or rent them only for purposes that do not prevent sheltering, and must give officials access for inspection and repair.sourcedShelter standardsThe Disaster Protection Act (art.sourcedEmergency numbers112 is the single emergency number in Bulgaria, run by the National System for Emergency Calls 112.sourced
Crisis bookletBulgaria has no national household crisis booklet.sourced
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Short answer. Bulgaria's fire and civil protection service (GDPBZN, Ministry of Interior) asks every household to prepare a "disaster backpack" with food and water for 72 hours, a first-aid kit, a torch, a phone charger and a radio 12. The official shelter list counts 247 facilities as of 6 October 2025 3, sirens use four signals 4, BG-ALERT sends warnings to phones 5, and 112 is the single emergency number 6.

Information verified against official Bulgarian sources on 20 October 2026. Civil protection, firefighting, early warning and BG-ALERT are the responsibility of the General Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection (Главна дирекция „Пожарна безопасност и защита на населението“, GDPBZN) of the Ministry of Interior 47. The Ministry of Health orders iodine prophylaxis 8.

Does Bulgaria have an official crisis booklet?

No. Bulgaria has no national household crisis booklet. Instead, GDPBZN publishes several shorter documents 29810:

  • a one-page "Disaster backpack" checklist (Раница за бедствия, January 2025) 2;
  • an earthquake brochure, Safety before, during and after an earthquake (March 2025) 9;
  • rules of conduct for each hazard on its website, such as floods and radiation accidents 1112;
  • an emergency-readiness leaflet for radiation accidents 8.

In 2026 GDPBZN runs the EU-funded BG-IDRU-1 project, "Raising disaster risk understanding", with 170 public events, brochures and videos on earthquakes, storms and nuclear accidents 10.

What does each Bulgaria page cover?

Page In short
Emergency supplies Food and water for 72 hours; no litre-per-person figure in the official checklist 12
Kit checklist The GDPBZN disaster backpack list, line by line 2
Public shelters 247 blast and fallout shelters on the official list (6 October 2025), graded category I or II 3
Alerts Four siren signals, BG-ALERT Cell Broadcast in Bulgarian and English 45
Iodine Distributed through points set up under the emergency plans, only on Ministry of Health orders; sale status not confirmed 813
Build a shelter Private collective protection means are allowed; permit and acceptance under the Spatial Development Act 614
Shelter standards The 2009 ordinance on collective protection means: inspections, filter checks, airtightness tests 14
Emergency contacts 112 for all emergencies; GDPBZN and BG-ALERT 67

Where should I start?

  1. Supplies. Pack the disaster backpack with food and water for 72 hours 2. Start with the kit checklist.
  2. Know the signals. Learn the four siren signals and check that your phone can receive BG-ALERT 45. See alerts.
  3. Know your shelter. Look up the nearest facilities in the GDPBZN list, sorted by province 315. See public shelters.
  4. Make a plan. The official backpack includes a family disaster plan with contacts and an evacuation meeting point 2. Our family emergency plan guide helps you write one.

Bulgaria's own guidance gives weight to earthquakes, floods and radiation accidents 11112; see also our guides on earthquake preparedness and flood preparedness.

What is still being confirmed?

One point is not yet confirmed and is not presented as fact on these pages: whether potassium iodide tablets are pre-distributed to households, and whether they can be bought in pharmacies with or without a prescription. The iodine page is marked accordingly.

Frequently asked questions

Who is in charge of civil protection in Bulgaria?

The General Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection (GDPBZN) of the Ministry of Interior: firefighting, rescue, civil protection, the shelters register, early warning sirens and BG-ALERT 4157.

How many days of supplies does Bulgaria recommend?

72 hours, or three days, of food and water for the whole family 12.

What is the emergency number in Bulgaria?

112, the single emergency number, run by the National System for Emergency Calls 112 6.

Where can I read the official guidance?

On the GDPBZN pages of the Ministry of Interior website (mvr.bg/gdpbzn) and on pojarna.com, its information site, which hosts the backpack checklist and the earthquake brochure 29.

Sources

  1. МВР – ГД „Пожарна безопасност и защита на населението“ (GDPBZN) — При земетресение — https://www.mvr.bg/gdpbzn/info-center/pravila-povedenie/pri-zemetresenie (accessed 2026-10-20)
  2. GDPBZN (pojarna.com, information site of GDPBZN) — Основни материали и средства необходими за окомплектоване на „Раница за бедствия“ — https://pojarna.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%8F.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
  3. MVR – GDPBZN — Списък на колективните средства за защита към 06.10.2025 г. — https://www.mvr.bg/upload/289359/%D0%A1%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%8A%D0%BA%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8%20%D1%81%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%20%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
  4. MVR – GDPBZN — Сигнали за ранно предупреждение и оповестяване на населението на територията на Република България — https://www.mvr.bg/gdpbzn/footer/info-center/pravila-signali/signali (accessed 2026-10-20)
  5. MVR – GDPBZN — Наредба № 8121з-413 от 29 март 2024 г. за реда за изграждане, поддържане, развитие и използване на системата BG-ALERT за разпространение на съобщения за предупреждение на населението — https://www.mvr.bg/upload/15726/naredba-bg-alert.doc (accessed 2026-10-20)
  6. MVR – GDPBZN — Закон за защита при бедствия (consolidated text, last amended DV No. 60 of 7 July 2020) — https://www.mvr.bg/upload/287282/ZZB_GDPBZN.doc (accessed 2026-10-20)
  7. GDPBZN (pojarna.com) — Тестване на НСРПО и системата BG-ALERT (30 September 2026) — https://pojarna.com/?p=11264 (accessed 2026-10-20)
  8. MVR – GDPBZN — Инструкция за аварийна готовност (при радиационна опасност) — https://www.mvr.bg/upload/15984/avariinagotovnost.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
  9. GDPBZN (pojarna.com) — Безопасност преди, по време и след земетресение (brochure, March 2025) — https://pojarna.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/%D0%91%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%88%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B0_%D0%97%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D1%84%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
  10. GDPBZN (pojarna.com) — Проект BG-IDRU-1 „Повишаване на разбирането за риска от бедствия“ (13 October 2026) — https://pojarna.com/?p=11296 (accessed 2026-10-20)
  11. MVR – GDPBZN — При наводнения — https://www.mvr.bg/gdpbzn/info-center/pravila-povedenie/pri-navodnenia (accessed 2026-10-20)
  12. MVR – GDPBZN — При радиационни аварии — https://www.mvr.bg/gdpbzn/info-center/pravila-povedenie/pri-radiac-avarii (accessed 2026-10-20)
  13. MVR – GDPBZN — Наредба за аварийно планиране и аварийна готовност при ядрена и радиационна авария (ПМС № 313/2011, last amended DV No. 55 of 2017) — https://www.mvr.bg/upload/15724/%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B1%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%B8-%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8-%D1%8F%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B8-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F.doc (accessed 2026-10-20)
  14. MVR – GDPBZN — Наредба за реда за изграждане, поддържане и използване на колективните средства за защита (ПМС № 60 от 17.03.2009, ДВ бр. 23/2009, изм. и доп. ДВ бр. 16/2013) — https://mvr.bg/upload/15670/%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B1%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B4%D1%8A%D1%80%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%B8-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D1%81%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
  15. MVR – GDPBZN — Регистри, водени в ГДПБЗН — https://www.mvr.bg/gdpbzn/info-center/%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F/%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8 (accessed 2026-10-20)

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Sources

  1. МВР – ГД „Пожарна безопасност и защита на населението“ (GDPBZN) · При земетресение checked 2026-10-20
  2. GDPBZN (pojarna.com, information site of GDPBZN) · Основни материали и средства необходими за окомплектоване на „Раница за бедствия“ checked 2026-10-20
  3. MVR – GDPBZN · Списък на колективните средства за защита към 06.10.2025 г. checked 2026-10-20
  4. MVR – GDPBZN · Сигнали за ранно предупреждение и оповестяване на населението на територията на Република България checked 2026-10-20
  5. MVR – GDPBZN · Наредба № 8121з-413 от 29 март 2024 г. за реда за изграждане, поддържане, развитие и използване на системата BG-ALERT за разпространение на съобщения за предупреждение на населението checked 2026-10-20
  6. MVR – GDPBZN · Закон за защита при бедствия (consolidated text, last amended DV No. 60 of 7 July 2020) checked 2026-10-20
  7. GDPBZN (pojarna.com) · Тестване на НСРПО и системата BG-ALERT (30 September 2026) checked 2026-10-20
  8. MVR – GDPBZN · Инструкция за аварийна готовност (при радиационна опасност) checked 2026-10-20
  9. GDPBZN (pojarna.com) · Безопасност преди, по време и след земетресение (brochure, March 2025) checked 2026-10-20
  10. GDPBZN (pojarna.com) · Проект BG-IDRU-1 „Повишаване на разбирането за риска от бедствия“ (13 October 2026) checked 2026-10-20
  11. MVR – GDPBZN · При наводнения checked 2026-10-20
  12. MVR – GDPBZN · При радиационни аварии checked 2026-10-20
  13. MVR – GDPBZN · Наредба за аварийно планиране и аварийна готовност при ядрена и радиационна авария (ПМС № 313/2011, last amended DV No. 55 of 2017) checked 2026-10-20
  14. MVR – GDPBZN · Наредба за реда за изграждане, поддържане и използване на колективните средства за защита (ПМС № 60 от 17.03.2009, ДВ бр. 23/2009, изм. и доп. ДВ бр. 16/2013) checked 2026-10-20
  15. MVR – GDPBZN · Регистри, водени в ГДПБЗН checked 2026-10-20

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