๐จ Emergency supplies are not panic mongering โ they are common sense.
The Federal Office for Civil Protection recommends: being able to survive 10 days autonomously.
This guide shows step by step how to systematically build up a 14-day supply.
1. Why Emergency Supplies?
Germany is highly networked and dependent: power grid, water supply, logistics, Internet. A single point of failure can trigger chain reactions:
- Power outage โ No pumps โ No water โ No supermarkets โ No gasoline
- Flood โ Roads blocked โ Supply chains interrupted โ Empty shelves
- Pandemic/War โ Panic buying โ Supply shortages โ Panic
The state cannot help immediately. The first 72 hours are crucial. A supply gives time, calm, and room for action.
2. The 14-Day Plan โ Step by Step
Week 1: Water & Basic Food
- Water: 10 liters of purchased water (1.5L bottles, stackable). Most important category!
- Rice: 2kg (long-lasting, filling, easy to prepare)
- Pasta: 2kg (shelf life 2+ years)
- Oatmeal: 1kg (breakfast, muesli, energy)
- Cans: 5x vegetables, 3x fruit, 3x beans/lentils, 2x fish
- Oil: 1 liter rapeseed oil (cooking, fats, energy)
- Salt: 500g (unlimited shelf life, vital)
- Cost: approx. 30-50โฌ
Week 2: Supplements & Proteins
- UHT Milk: 5L (durable, coffee, muesli, cooking)
- Canned Meat: 5x (sausage, chicken, beef โ proteins!)
- Nuts: 500g almonds/walnuts (energy, fats, durable)
- Chocolate: 3 bars (morale, quick energy)
- Onions/Potatoes/Apples: 2kg each (cool, dark storage)
- Spices: Pepper, herbs, broth (flavor = morale!)
- Cost: approx. 30-50โฌ
Week 3: Hygiene & Medicine
- Toilet Paper: 8 rolls (per person for 2 weeks)
- Soap: 2 bars of solid soap (lasts forever, no water needed)
- Wet Wipes: 3 packs (biodegradable)
- Disinfection: Octenisept, hand sanitizer (500ml)
- Medications: Painkillers (ibuprofen, paracetamol), diarrhea medicine, antihistamine, personal medications
- First Aid Kit: Extended (see First Aid Kit article)
- Cost: approx. 30-50โฌ
Week 4: Energy & Light
- Candles: 20 storm candles (8-10h burn time)
- Matches/Lighter: 3 packs + gas lighter (weatherproof)
- Flashlight: LED + spare batteries (AAA/AA, 2 sets)
- Crank Radio: With flashlight + USB charger (approx. 30โฌ)
- Power Bank: 20,000mAh (2 pieces, charge every 3 months)
- Cost: approx. 40-80โฌ
3. Storage & Rotation
- FIFO: First In, First Out. New supplies in the back, old in the front.
- Cool, dry, dark: Basement, pantry, cupboard. 10-15ยฐC ideal.
- Check shelf life: Every 6 months. Keep a list with quantity + expiration date.
- Documentation: Excel/paper list: What, where, how much, until when.
- Canned goods: Durable 2-5 years, often longer (safe).
- Grain: In airtight buckets with Oxy-Sorb = 10+ years durable.
4. Checklist: 14-Day Emergency Supply
- โ Water: 42 liters per person (3L/day)
- โ Grain: 4 kg (rice, pasta, oatmeal)
- โ Canned goods: 15-20 cans (vegetables, fruit, meat, beans)
- โ Fats: 1 liter oil + 500g nuts/chocolate
- โ Milk: 5L UHT milk
- โ Perishables: 2kg potatoes, onions, apples (cool, dark)
- โ Salt/Spices: 500g + herbs/broth
- โ Toilet Paper: 8 rolls/person
- โ Soap + Wet Wipes + Disinfection
- โ Medications (4 weeks) + First Aid Kit
- โ Candles + Matches + Flashlight + Batteries
- โ Crank Radio + Power Bank (20,000mAh)
- โ Cooking option (camping stove + 10 cartridges)
- โ Documents waterproof packaged
- โ Emergency suitcase / Go-Bag (see Bug-Out-Bag article)
5. Cost Overview
| Category | Cost (1 person, 14 days) | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Water & Food | 60-100โฌ | ๐ด Critical |
| Hygiene & Medicine | 30-50โฌ | ๐ด Critical |
| Energy & Light | 40-80โฌ | ๐ก Important |
| Communication | 20-50โฌ | ๐ก Important |
| Tools & Protection | 30-60โฌ | ๐ข Useful |
| Total | 180-340โฌ |
Tip: Build up the supply step by step. Invest 20-30โฌ every week = complete 14-day supply in 2 months.