Short answer. Norway's Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) recommends that as many people as possible be prepared to be self-sustained for one week 1. That means about 20 litres of drinking water per person for the week, food for one week for the whole household and at least seven days' extra supply of regular medicines 1. DSB raised the recommendation from at least three days in May 2024 2.
How long should a household in Norway be self-sufficient?
One week. DSB's English brochure states: "The Norwegian authorities recommend that as many people as possible be prepared to be self-sustained for one week" 1. The earlier recommendation was at least three days; it was raised to one week in May 2024 2. DSB presents its list as examples, not a legal requirement 13.
How much water and food?
| Supply | DSB recommendation |
|---|---|
| Drinking water | Around 20 litres per person, stored in containers or bottles (minimum for one week) 1 |
| Food | Enough for one week for everyone in the household 1 |
| Regular medicines | At least seven days' extra supply 1 |
| Pets | Food and water for pets 1 |
For food, DSB suggests items that keep at room temperature, such as crispbreads, oatmeal, canned pulses and beans, canned sandwich spreads, energy bars, dried fruit, chocolate, honey, biscuits and nuts, plus long-life foods that need heating, such as pasta, rice, instant soups, flour, canned meals and freeze-dried foods 1. To heat them, DSB lists a grill, solid fuel stove or camping stove, with extra gas bottles or fuel 1.
For storage and rotation, see /guides/water-per-person and /guides/food-shelf-life.
What else does DSB ask households to have?
- Heat: warm clothes, blankets, duvets or sleeping bags; firewood if you have a wood-burning stove or fireplace; a gas or paraffin heater designed for indoor use; and an agreement with family or friends for overnight accommodation 1.
- Light and information: battery-powered, solar or wind-up torches or head lamps, a DAB radio of the same type, batteries and charged power banks 1.
- Money: some cash, preferably in smaller denominations and relative to household size, and several bank cards 1.
- Health and hygiene: first-aid equipment (also in the car), wet wipes, hand sanitiser, disposable gloves, nappies, toilet paper, waste bags, sanitary towels and tampons 1.
- Iodine tablets for children, adults under 40 and pregnant or breastfeeding women, following DSA's advice 4.
The full list is on the kit page. For heaters and generators indoors, read /guides/generator-carbon-monoxide.
How do Norwegians know about the advice?
DSB mailed its brochure to all households in Norway in autumn 2024 5. A survey published in December 2024 found that 93% of respondents knew the authorities' advice and 64% had read all or part of the brochure 5. DSB also runs Egenberedskapsuka, a self-preparedness week, in week 44 each year (since 2019, except 2020) 2.
Frequently asked questions
Is the one-week supply mandatory in Norway?
No. DSB presents the checklist as examples, not a legal requirement 13.
How much water does a family of four need for a week?
DSB's figure is around 20 litres per person for one week, so four times that amount for four people, plus water for any pets 1.
Why does the list include cash?
DSB advises some cash relative to household size, preferably in smaller denominations, alongside several bank cards 1.
Is there a Norwegian-language checklist?
Yes. DSB's Sjekkliste for din egenberedskap lists the same items 3.
Sources
- Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap (DSB) — How you can play your part in Norway's emergency preparedness – Advice on emergency preparedness — https://www.dsb.no/siteassets/sikkerhverdag/egenberedskap/brosjyren/dsb-egenberedskap-engelsk-web.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap (DSB) — Self-preparedness (Egenberedskapsuka) — https://www.dsb.no/en/egenberedskapsuka/Self-preparedness/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap (DSB) — Sjekkliste for din egenberedskap — https://www.dsb.no/siteassets/sikkerhverdag/egenberedskap/sjekkliste-egenberedskap-a4-bokmal.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Direktoratet for strålevern og atomsikkerhet (DSA) — Jodtabletter ved atomulykker — https://www.dsa.no/atomberedskap/jodtabletter (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap (DSB) — Befolkningen har fått med seg beredskapsrådene — https://www.dsb.no/aktuelt/befolkningen-har-fatt-med-seg-beredskapsradene/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Norway, 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
- Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap (DSB) · How you can play your part in Norway's emergency preparedness – Advice on emergency preparedness checked 2026-10-20
- Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap (DSB) · Self-preparedness (Egenberedskapsuka) checked 2026-10-20
- Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap (DSB) · Sjekkliste for din egenberedskap checked 2026-10-20
- Direktoratet for strålevern og atomsikkerhet (DSA) · Jodtabletter ved atomulykker checked 2026-10-20
- Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap (DSB) · Befolkningen har fått med seg beredskapsrådene checked 2026-10-20