Short answer. Bulgaria's fire and civil protection service (GDPBZN) asks every household to prepare an emergency kit, a "disaster backpack", containing a first-aid kit, a torch, a phone charger, a radio, and food and water for 72 hours 1. The official checklist gives no litre-per-person figure: water should be "enough for the whole family for three days" 2.
What does the official guidance say?
GDPBZN's earthquake rules put it in one sentence: "Prepare an emergency kit (disaster backpack) containing a first-aid kit, a torch, a mobile phone charger, a radio, food and water for 72 hours" 1.
The detailed list is a one-page GDPBZN checklist published in January 2025, Основни материали и средства необходими за окомплектоване на „Раница за бедствия“ (basic materials and items for a disaster backpack) 2. Every line is reproduced on our kit checklist page.
How much water and food per person?
| Item | Official quantity |
|---|---|
| Bottled drinking water | Enough for the whole family for three days; no litre figure given 2 |
| Tinned and dry long-life food | For the whole family for 72 hours 2 |
| Essentials for your child (optional) | At least 72 hours 2 |
Bulgaria does not publish a daily water quantity per person. To size your reserve, our guide on how much water per person compares the figures published by other agencies, and water storage containers covers how to store it.
What else goes in the backpack?
Besides food and water, the checklist asks for 2:
- your own medicines and those of family members with chronic conditions;
- cash, documents and valuables;
- a battery torch, a battery radio and spare batteries for both;
- a whistle, candles, matches and a lighter;
- a pocket knife, can opener or multi-tool;
- a first-aid kit and a map of the area;
- a compact blanket or rescue foil and clothes for the season;
- sanitary and dust masks for the whole family, antibacterial wipes or disinfectant;
- a family disaster plan with contact details, an evacuation meeting point and key rules for each type of disaster.
Optional items include supplies for children and pets, a phone with a charger or power bank, hygiene items, disposable tableware, and books or games 2.
What if I have to evacuate after a nuclear accident?
For evacuation in a nuclear emergency, GDPBZN asks people to take food for 2-3 days, documents, money, medicines, seasonal clothing, hygiene items, baby items and a portable radio 3. See also the iodine and alerts pages.
Is there a national crisis booklet?
No. Bulgaria has no national household crisis booklet 24. GDPBZN publishes the backpack checklist (January 2025) 2, an earthquake brochure (March 2025) 5, rules of conduct for each hazard on its website 6, and a radiation emergency-readiness leaflet 3. In 2026 its EU-funded BG-IDRU-1 project runs 170 public events, with brochures and videos on earthquakes, storms and nuclear accidents 4.
For a broader view, see what goes in a 72-hour kit, two weeks of supplies and emergency food shelf life.
Frequently asked questions
How long should my supplies last in Bulgaria?
72 hours, or three days, for the whole family 12.
How many litres of water per person does Bulgaria recommend?
None. The official checklist says only "enough for the whole family for three days" 2.
Do I need masks in the kit?
Yes. The checklist lists sanitary and dust masks for the whole family, with antibacterial wipes or disinfectant 2.
Who publishes the checklist?
GDPBZN, the General Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection of the Ministry of Interior, through its information site pojarna.com 2.
Sources
- 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)
- 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)
- MVR – GDPBZN — Инструкция за аварийна готовност (при радиационна опасност) — https://www.mvr.bg/upload/15984/avariinagotovnost.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- 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)
- 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)
- MVR – GDPBZN — При радиационни аварии — https://www.mvr.bg/gdpbzn/info-center/pravila-povedenie/pri-radiac-avarii (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Bulgaria, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- МВР – ГД „Пожарна безопасност и защита на населението“ (GDPBZN) · При земетресение checked 2026-10-20
- GDPBZN (pojarna.com, information site of GDPBZN) · Основни материали и средства необходими за окомплектоване на „Раница за бедствия“ checked 2026-10-20
- MVR – GDPBZN · Инструкция за аварийна готовност (при радиационна опасност) checked 2026-10-20
- GDPBZN (pojarna.com) · Проект BG-IDRU-1 „Повишаване на разбирането за риска от бедствия“ (13 October 2026) checked 2026-10-20
- GDPBZN (pojarna.com) · Безопасност преди, по време и след земетресение (brochure, March 2025) checked 2026-10-20
- MVR – GDPBZN · При радиационни аварии checked 2026-10-20