Short answer. France asks every household to prepare an emergency kit to get through the first 72 hours of a major crisis on its own, with 6 litres of bottled water per person. The kit should be checked twice a year for medicine and food expiry dates, and its batteries replaced. This is the official advice of the SGDSN guide "Tous responsables", published in November 2025 12.
Information verified on 20 October 2026.
Where does France's supplies advice come from?
The reference is "Tous responsables. Face aux risques, agissons : bien préparés, bien protégés, tous engagés", a national guide published on 20 November 2025 by the Secrétariat général de la défense et de la sécurité nationale (SGDSN) 12. It covers major crises of any origin: natural disasters, accidents, cyber attacks, disinformation and armed conflict 2. Its first part, "be prepared", contains the 72-hour kit 2.
An easy-to-read (FALC) version also exists 2. The Ministry of Ecological Transition says the guide was relayed by ministries, local authorities and associations; it does not state that it was mailed to every household 2.
Why 72 hours?
The guide explains the figure in one sentence: "Lorsqu'une crise survient, les premières 72h sont souvent les plus éprouvantes. En vous préparant en amont, vous permettez aux secours de se concentrer sur les personnes en grande difficulté" 1. In English: when a crisis strikes, the first 72 hours are often the hardest, and by preparing ahead you let the emergency services focus on people in serious difficulty.
How much water and food does France recommend?
| Supply | Official French figure |
|---|---|
| Bottled drinking water | 6 litres per person (the checklist says 6 × the number of people in the household) 1 |
| Water purification tablets | as a last resort 1 |
| Non-perishable food that needs no cooking | enough for 72 hours; no quantity given 1 |
Water is the only item the guide quantifies 1. For food, the guide names canned food and baby food jars but sets no amount 1.
For how these figures compare with other agencies, see How much water to store per person per day? and How long does emergency food last, and how do you rotate it?.
What else goes into the French kit?
Beyond water and food, the official list includes daily medicines, a first-aid kit, a battery-powered radio with spare batteries, a torch, a camping stove, a power bank, warm clothes and a survival blanket, spare keys, photocopies of identity papers and prescriptions in a waterproof pouch, and cash, because cash machines may not work 1. The full list, line by line, is on the France kit checklist.
How often should the kit be checked?
Twice a year: check the expiry dates of medicines and food, and replace the batteries 1. The guide does not name dates. One natural reminder is the Journée nationale de la résilience, held on 13 October each year 2.
What does the guide ask beyond the kit?
It asks households to plan how to stay in touch with relatives during a crisis, preferring text messages, and to take first-aid training 1. Its second part covers alert signals and emergency numbers (alerts, emergency contacts); its third part covers getting involved through reserves and volunteering 2. See also How do I make a family emergency plan?.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of supplies does France recommend?
72 hours. The SGDSN guide "Tous responsables" asks households to prepare a kit to get through the first 72 hours of a major crisis on their own 1.
How much water per person does France recommend?
6 litres of bottled water per person for the 72-hour kit. Water purification tablets are listed as a last resort 1.
Does France say how much food to store?
No. The guide asks for non-perishable food that needs no cooking for 72 hours, such as canned food and baby food jars, but gives no quantity 1.
Was the guide sent to every household?
The ministry does not say so. It says the guide was relayed by ministries, local authorities and associations 2.
Sources
- Secrétariat général de la défense et de la sécurité nationale (SGDSN) — Tous responsables. Face aux risques, agissons : bien préparés, bien protégés, tous engagés — https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/documents/SGDSN_Guide_Tous%20responsables.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Ministère de la Transition écologique — Guide « Tous responsables » : comment se préparer aux risques majeurs ? — https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/actualites/guide-tous-responsables-comment-se-preparer-aux-risques-majeurs (accessed 2026-10-20)
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Sources
- Secrétariat général de la défense et de la sécurité nationale (SGDSN) · Tous responsables. Face aux risques, agissons : bien préparés, bien protégés, tous engagés checked 2026-10-20
- Ministère de la Transition écologique · Guide « Tous responsables » : comment se préparer aux risques majeurs ? checked 2026-10-20