Norway national self-preparedness week

In observance of national self-preparedness week running from October 26 to November 1, Norwegian authorities and municipalities are conducting initiatives to encourage citizen independence during crises.

Local activities in municipalities such as Rennebu and Hitra focus on practical demonstrations and information sharing at libraries and shopping centers. This year’s theme emphasizes maintaining communication and access to information if mobile networks or the internet fail, with authorities recommending tools like battery-operated or crank DAB radios. NRK P1 has been designated as the emergency broadcast channel.

The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) has issued specific guidance regarding water and power disruptions. Citizens are advised to store approximately 20 liters of drinking water to ensure a one-week supply. The DSB also emphasizes social preparedness, encouraging individuals to identify a ‘preparedness friend’ to provide practical and emotional support during emergencies.

Ahead of the official week, Justice and Emergency Preparedness Minister Astri Aas-Hansen has advised citizens to establish a ‘plan B,’ including designated meeting points and resource-sharing strategies. This follows a Norstat survey for the DSB indicating that 63 percent of the population feels poorly prepared for long-term outages of mobile networks or the internet, which could result from extreme weather, accidents, or sabotage.

In the Nord-Gudbrandsdalen region, municipalities are coordinating physical information hubs at libraries and town halls to serve as contact points for emergency services if digital networks fail. The Civil Defense (Sivilforsvaret) will also utilize information stands to promote community resilience.