Prepare calmly for the first 72 hours of an emergency
Severe weather, floods, earthquakes, power cuts or disruption to water, phones, the internet and payments: here you'll find simple tools to get organised in advance, starting with what you already have at home.
Is there an emergency now? Follow instructions from the authorities: civil protection, your municipality and, in Italy, IT-alert messages. For help, call 112.
Three things to know
72 hours is a voluntary goal
The European Commission describes it as a minimum level of self-sufficiency to promote, not an obligation or a guaranteed time for help to arrive. Every step counts.
Start with what you have
Water, long-life food, a torch and your medicines are often already at home. You don't need to buy everything at once or stockpile.
In an emergency, the authorities come first
This site helps you prepare beforehand. During an event, follow the official instructions for your area.
What you'll find on Kit72Hour
72-hour kit
An interactive, printable checklist with adaptations for children, older adults, people with disabilities and pets.
Family plan
A printable template for contacts, meeting points and backup ways to communicate.
Digital preparedness
Offline contacts and documents, backups and how to spot scams during emergencies.
Why it matters
The European guidelines of 3 November 2026 and verified news, with dates and sources.
Sources & alerts
Official European and Italian channels and how to find your local plan.
Why people are talking about it now
On 3 November 2026 the European Commission presented non-binding guidelines asking Member States to promote at least 72 hours of household self-sufficiency. We have summarised what they say and some recent, verified events.
How we label content
- Practical guide
Evergreen advice based on official sources.
- Dated news
Facts with date, location, source and date last verified.
- Official notice
Communications from public bodies. For real-time alerts, use official channels.