Poland emergency preparedness: 72-hour survival guidelines

Polish authorities and local governments are emphasizing emergency preparedness following guidelines from the Governmental Centre for Security (RCB) and the Ministry of the Interior and Administration. Officials recommend that every household maintain a minimum 72-hour supply of essential items to ensure self-sufficiency during infrastructure failures, such as power outages, water disruptions, or telecommunication breakdowns.

Key recommendations include:

• Water and Food: A minimum of 3 liters of water per person per day. Food supplies should consist of non-perishable items that do not require cooking, such as canned goods, grains, and dried fruits.

• Medical Supplies: Maintaining a three-day supply of regular medications, particularly for chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension. The Ministry of Health warns that power outages can compromise the temperature-sensitive stability of certain medicines like insulin.

• Equipment and Documentation: Households are advised to keep emergency kits (including flashlights, power banks, and radios), physical copies of important documents, and a small reserve of cash to account for potential electronic payment failures.

In Suwałki, the city is investing nearly 9.8 million PLN into civil defense, including the construction of new warehouses, the purchase of power generators, and the modernization of protective facilities to enhance resident safety.