48 guides · 7 topics
The science behind the lists.
Each guide cites the agency that publishes the figure, with the date we checked it.
Attack and alerts · 5
Sirens, blasts, chemical releases: the first minutes.
What should you do when an air-raid or missile alert sounds?Move at once to the nearest shelter or sturdy building; if you can't, use a central room away from windows and wait for the official all-clear.What to do if a nuclear explosion happensGet inside, stay inside, stay tuned: find a basement or the middle of a brick or concrete building within minutes and stay at least 24 hours.What is a dirty bomb and how do you protect yourself?A dirty bomb is explosives mixed with radioactive material, not a nuclear weapon. The blast is the main danger. Get inside, stay inside, stay tuned.Shelter in place or evacuate after a nuclear emergency?Shelter first: get inside, stay inside at least 24 hours and stay tuned. Evacuate only when authorities order it and give you a route.How do you shelter in place during a chemical release?Go inside, close doors and windows, shut off ventilation and seal an above-ground interior room until officials give the all clear.
Which countries have a shelter place for every resident? · Emergency alerts on mobile phones: country by country · All countries: Alerts · All countries: Shelters
Radiation and iodine · 7
Fallout, doses, and what protects you.
How fast does nuclear fallout decay? The 7-10 ruleFallout radiation drops about tenfold for every sevenfold increase in time: 10% at 7 hours, 1% at about 2 days. Why the first 24 hours matter most.Potassium iodide (KI): when to take it and who needs itKI protects only the thyroid from radioactive iodine. Take it only when officials say so; the dose depends on age, from 16 mg to 130 mg.How far do emergency zones around nuclear plants extend?US plans cover about 10 miles for evacuation and 50 miles for food. The IAEA suggests 3-5 km and 15-30 km. France and Belgium plan to 20 km.What is a shelter's protection factor?Protection factor = outdoor dose ÷ indoor dose. A house basement typically gives about PF 10; a heavy brick or concrete building's basement, about 600.How do you decontaminate yourself after radioactive fallout?Get inside, take off your outer clothing (up to 90% of the material), bag it, then shower with soap and shampoo, no conditioner. What agencies advise.Sieverts, grays and millisieverts: what the numbers meanGray measures absorbed energy, sievert measures health risk. Natural background is about 2.4 mSv a year; acute sickness starts near 1,000 mSv.Is radon a risk in an underground shelter or basement?Yes: radon is usually highest in basements and cellars. Test for at least 3 months; act above 100-300 Bq/m³ depending on the country.
Where potassium iodide is distributed for free · Is potassium iodide sold over the counter? Country by country · All countries: Iodine
Building and equipping a shelter · 6
Containers, ventilation, filtration and standards.
What standards apply to tornado and storm safe rooms?In the U.S., storm shelters follow ICC 500; FEMA safe rooms also meet FEMA P-361 criteria, with residential designs set at 250 mph in every location.Can you bury a shipping container as a shelter?Not as-is. A standard container is built to carry loads on its corner frame, not soil and water pressure on its walls and roof. It needs an engineer.What does it take to make a shipping container safe underground?A site assessment, a design for soil and water loads, waterproofing, corrosion protection, ventilation and permits, signed by a licensed engineer.How much fresh air does a shelter need?Survival minimums run about 3 m³/h per person (Swiss) to 3 cfm (FEMA); hot weather can demand 40 cfm or more per person to keep heat bearable.How do you prevent condensation and mold in an underground shelter?Keep relative humidity below 60%, ideally 30-50% (EPA), dry anything wet within 24-48 hours, and watch cold walls where condensation forms.How does NBC air filtration work in a shelter?A pre-filter, a particle (HEPA-class) stage and an activated-carbon gas filter, plus overpressure of at least 50 Pa and a hand crank for power cuts.
Do you need a permit for a private shelter? Country by country · Which countries require shelters in new buildings? · What a private shelter costs: official figures by country · All countries: Shelters
Water and food · 6
How much to store, and how long it keeps.
How much water to store per person per day?US agencies say 1 gallon (3.8 L) per person per day; Canada 4 L; Germany 2 L; Sweden 3-5 L. Plan for at least 3 days, ideally 2 weeks.How do you make water safe to drink in an emergency?Boil clear water for 1 minute, or add 2 drops of unscented household bleach per litre and wait 30 minutes. Neither removes chemicals or radioactivity.How should you store emergency water, and for how long?Use sealed bottled water or food-grade containers, keep them cool and dark, and replace home-filled water every 6 months (CDC, Ready.gov).How long does emergency food last, and how do you rotate it?Low-acid cans keep 2 to 5 years, high-acid cans up to 18 months, crackers and dried fruit about 6 months. Store cool and dry, eat oldest first.How do you stock two weeks of supplies at home?The CDC suggests a 2-week water supply if possible; Germany asks for 10 days, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland about one week. Quantities per person inside.How do you cook and heat food safely without electricity?Eat no-cook food first, keep fridge food under 40°F, and cook on grills or camp stoves outdoors only: carbon monoxide kills 400+ Americans a year.
How many days of supplies each country recommends · All countries: Supplies · All countries: Kits
Kits and gear · 6
What goes in the bag, and the gear that keeps it useful.
What goes in a 72-hour emergency kit?Water, food, light, radio, first aid, medicine, cash and documents. Canada and the EU set 72 hours; Sweden says a week, Germany ten days.What should be in a home first-aid kit?The Red Cross list for a family of four: 25 bandages, gauze, gloves, tape, a cold pack, a blanket. Check expiry dates at least once a year.Which radio and alerts do you need when networks are down?Keep a radio that runs without mains power, plus phone alerts. Agencies in the US, Sweden, Finland and Norway all name radio as the backup channel.What is the safest emergency lighting when the power is out?Fire agencies agree: use flashlights or other battery-powered lights, not candles. U.S. candle fires average 5,894 a year (NFPA, 2020-2024).How do you manage toilets and waste when the water is off?Use two lidded buckets: one for urine, one for faeces and paper covered with dry material. Wash hands, store bags safely, follow local disposal rules.What should be in a winter car emergency kit?Keep warmth, light, a shovel, traction aid, booster cables, water and snacks in the car, and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow if you are stuck.
How many days of supplies each country recommends · All countries: Kits · All countries: Supplies
Plan and people · 7
Family plan, documents, and those who need more help.
How do I make a family emergency plan?Agree on meeting places, contacts near and far, how you get alerts, where documents are, and practise it. Ready.gov and Canada offer free forms.Which documents and how much cash to keep for an emergency?Keep copies of ID, insurance, bank and medical records in a waterproof container, plus cash in small bills: official guides say 72 hours to a few weeks.What do babies and toddlers need in an emergency kit?Official lists name formula (ready-to-feed is safest), safe water, diapers, wipes, rash cream, infant pain reliever and feeding items for several days.How do I prepare my pet for an emergency?A pet kit with food, water, medicine, ID and a carrier. Canada says 72 hours and 4 L of water a day per dog; the CDC says two weeks.Emergency preparedness for children, seniors and people on medicationPlan a medicine reserve with your doctor, backup power for medical devices, ready-to-feed formula for babies and spare batteries for aids.How do you cope with stress and fear during a crisis?Distress after a disaster is normal and usually eases. Use WHO's Look, Listen, Link steps, keep routines, limit news, and call a crisis line if needed.How do you prepare your household for a pandemic?Supplies for days to weeks at home, a month of long-term prescriptions, a room set aside for a sick person, masks, and the warning signs to watch.
Emergency numbers and civil-protection agencies by country · Which countries send a crisis booklet to every household? · All countries: Emergency numbers · All countries: Supplies
Power cuts and natural hazards · 11
Blackouts, weather and disasters at home.
How do you prepare for a long power outage?Fridge food stays safe about 4 hours, a full freezer about 48. Plan for medical devices, safe heat and generators 20 ft (6 m) from the house.How do you use a generator or heater safely in an emergency?Run generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet (about 6 m) from doors, windows and vents, and fit battery CO alarms on every level of the home.How do you stay safe in extreme cold without heating?Gather in one closed-off room, dress in three layers, eat and drink warm, and never heat with a gas oven, grill or generator indoors.How do you stay safe in a heatwave?Avoid the midday heat, block the sun by day and air the home at night, drink regularly, wet your skin, check on at-risk people, know heatstroke signs.How do you prepare for a flood?Know your warning levels, never walk or drive into floodwater (15 cm can knock you over, 30 cm can float a car) and treat floodwater as contaminated.How do you prepare for a hurricane or major storm?Know your evacuation zone, act on a watch (48 h) before the warning (36 h), store water and supplies, and run generators 20 ft outside.How do you prepare your home for an earthquake?Secure heavy furniture to wall studs, learn Drop, Cover, Hold On, and plan for aftershocks and gas leaks. What Ready.gov, USGS, Japan and CENAPRED advise.What should you do when a tsunami warning is issued?Leave the coast on foot for high ground or inland, without waiting for an order if the ground shakes hard, and stay away until officials say it's safe.How do you protect yourself from volcanic ash?Stay indoors, wear a well-fitting N95/P2 mask and sealed goggles outside, skip contact lenses, disconnect rainwater tanks and follow official roof advice.How do you protect your lungs from wildfire smoke?Stay indoors in a closed room with a non-ozone air cleaner, and if you must go out, wear a well-fitted N95 or P100 respirator.How do you make a home fire escape plan?Two ways out of every room, one outside meeting place, smoke alarms on every level tested monthly, and a drill: you may have under 2 minutes.
Emergency numbers and civil-protection agencies by country · Emergency alerts on mobile phones: country by country · All countries: Alerts · All countries: Emergency numbers
Turn this into action
A plan 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