Short answer. The Finnish government's preparedness guide on Suomi.fi, published by the Ministry of the Interior, asks every household to "reserve enough supplies to last you and other members of your household for at least 3 days", and for longer if possible 1. The 72 hours campaign (72tuntia.fi, run by SPEK, the Finnish National Rescue Association) sets bottled water at a minimum of 5 litres per person 2.
How long should supplies last in Finland?
The baseline is at least 3 days, or 72 hours, for everyone in the household 1. Suomi.fi adds that supplies for a longer period are a good idea if you can manage it 1. The 72-hour figure is also the name of the national home-preparedness campaign, 72tuntia.fi, which publishes a practical kit list 2.
How much water does a person need?
Two figures appear in the Finnish guidance, and they measure different things:
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bottled water to keep in the home kit | minimum 5 litres per person | 2 |
| Clean drinking water an average person needs | about 2 litres a day | 3 |
| Water in clean containers with lids | not specified; one or two buckets of water per person per day is usually enough | 3 |
The 5-litre figure is the stored drinking-water minimum in the 72 hours kit 2. The water page of the same campaign explains that an average person needs about 2 litres of clean drinking water a day, and that one or two buckets of water per person per day is usually enough 3. For how this compares with other countries, see our guide How much water to store per person per day?.
What food should you keep?
The 72 hours campaign recommends ready-to-eat and easy-to-cook food that you already use, enough for the whole household for at least 72 hours 2. Suomi.fi also asks you to keep food and water for pets for the same period 1. Our guides on food shelf life and pets go further.
What else belongs in a Finnish home supply?
The official lists cover light, information, power, cooking, money, health, hygiene and fire safety. The radio, torch, power bank, cash, medicines, iodine tablets, hygiene supplies without water and duct tape come from Suomi.fi 1; batteries, a portable stove with fuel and matches, plastic bags and toilet paper, first aid supplies, firewood (if you have a fireplace), a smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher or fire blanket come from the 72 hours list 2. The complete list, line by line with its quantities, is on our page Finland's official emergency kit list.
Two items are specific to Finnish guidance and worth noting:
- Iodine tablets, if someone in the household is in the target group: aged 40 or less, pregnant or breastfeeding 1. See Iodine tablets in Finland.
- Duct tape for sealing windows and vents 1. When the general warning signal sounds, the advice is to go indoors and close doors, windows and ventilation; see Emergency alerts in Finland.
For essential medicines, Suomi.fi asks you to keep enough to last a little longer than usual; it does not give a number of days 1.
Where does the official guidance come from?
Two sources carry the national advice. Suomi.fi hosts the government guide "Preparing for Incidents and Crises", maintained by the Ministry of the Interior 1. The 72 hours campaign, run by SPEK, translates that advice into practical household lists 23. They agree on the 72-hour baseline; the 72 hours lists add more detail on specific items.
Frequently asked questions
Is 72 hours the official minimum in Finland?
Yes. Suomi.fi asks households to hold supplies for at least 3 days and suggests a longer period if possible 1.
How much bottled water per person?
The 72 hours kit list sets a minimum of 5 litres of bottled water per person 2. Its water page adds that an average person needs about 2 litres of clean drinking water a day 3.
Do I need special emergency food?
No. The 72 hours campaign recommends ready-to-eat and easy-to-cook food you already use, enough for the whole household for at least 72 hours 2.
Should iodine tablets be part of the supply?
Only if someone in the household is aged 40 or less, pregnant or breastfeeding 1. Take them only when the authorities instruct you to; see Iodine tablets in Finland.
Sources
- Ministry of the Interior / Suomi.fi — General instructions on preparedness, home emergency supplies and on what to do in different situations - Preparing for Incidents and Crises — https://www.suomi.fi/guides/preparedness/how-to-prepare-for-incidents-and-crises/general-instructions-on-preparedness-home-emergency-supplies-and-on-what-to-do-in-different-situations (accessed 2026-10-20)
- 72 hours (72tuntia.fi, SPEK - Finnish National Rescue Association) — Home emergency food supply — https://72tuntia.fi/en/home-emergency-food-supply/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- 72 hours (72tuntia.fi, SPEK) — Water — https://72tuntia.fi/en/water/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
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Sources
- Ministry of the Interior / Suomi.fi · General instructions on preparedness, home emergency supplies and on what to do in different situations - Preparing for Incidents and Crises checked 2026-10-20
- 72 hours (72tuntia.fi, SPEK - Finnish National Rescue Association) · Home emergency food supply checked 2026-10-20
- 72 hours (72tuntia.fi, SPEK) · Water checked 2026-10-20