Sweden's brochure Om krisen eller kriget kommer, "In case of crisis or war", goes to every household in the country on behalf of the government. It sets a longer horizon than most of Europe: you should be able to manage on your own for at least one week. Here is its home-preparedness list, the amounts it states, and how it compares with the other 23 national guides we compiled.
The official guide
| Title | Om krisen eller kriget kommer (In case of crisis or war) |
| Publisher | Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF), formerly MSB |
| Edition | English reprint, June 2026 (first sent to households by MSB in November 2024) |
| Horizon | At least one week |
| Link | English PDF |
We read the June 2026 English edition. We have not compared it line by line with the Swedish print.
The amounts it gives
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Water | At least 3 litres a day, mainly for drinking and cooking |
| Cash | Around 1,000 SEK per adult (≈ €90), in different denominations |
| Prescription medicines | A month's supply, if you rely on them |
| Pet supplies | At least a week |
At 3 litres a day for a week, a household of two needs 42 litres of water. Our guide to how much water to store covers bottles and containers.
What the list contains
Water
Containers or buckets with lids to collect water, and bottled water. Store it cool and dark, and check it once or twice a year. The brochure also suggests freezing some bottles, not quite full: they work as ice packs in a power cut, then as drinking water.
Heat
Warm outdoor clothes, wool, thick socks, hats, gloves and scarves. Blankets, sleeping mats and sleeping bags. A heat source that needs no electricity, such as a gas or paraffin heater. Candles, tea lights, fuel, matches, fire-starters and a fire extinguisher. If you use an alternative heater, open a window for fresh air and switch it off before you sleep.
Communication
A battery, solar or wind-up radio, extra batteries, a mobile phone with a charged power bank, a car phone charger, and important numbers written on paper. Sveriges Radio P4 is the official emergency channel.
Food
Filling, energy-rich food that keeps at room temperature and needs little water: pasta, rice, couscous, instant mash, milk powder, crispbread; potatoes, roots, beans and lentils; tinned tomatoes, vegetables, fruit and ready meals; tinned meat and fish; oil, peanut butter, nuts; jam, chocolate, honey, protein bars, dried fruit; coffee and tea; infant formula and baby food.
Toilet
If there is no water, you cannot flush. The brochure suggests lining the toilet with a plastic bag, or using a bucket with a lid or a portable toilet, and covering waste with compost litter or sawdust. Keep toilet paper, bin bags, wet wipes, hand sanitiser, nappies and pads.
Other
A camping stove or gas burner with fuel, a torch and head torch, a home pharmacy and first-aid kit, a tin opener, games and books, and fuel in your car or a charged car battery.
How it compares with the other guides
Sweden's list covers 30 of the 51 items we track across 24 guides, and includes all six that every guide agrees on.
- Unusual: only three guides, Sweden, Germany and Poland, list a bucket with a lid or a camping toilet. Sweden is also one of five to list a heater that runs without power.
- Horizon: one week, with Estonia. Only Germany and Austria plan longer, and most guides plan 72 hours.
- Omits: the home list doesn't ask for copies of your documents in a waterproof pouch, which 19 guides do. Its evacuation list does include photo ID, cards, cash, and important numbers and insurance details on paper.
If you have to leave
For evacuation, the brochure suggests food and water for a few days, ID, cards and cash, medicines and aids, a radio, warm and waterproof clothes, toiletries, a phone and charger, a map and compass, and key information on paper. Our grab bag checklist covers the same ground.
Building your kit
To follow Sweden's advice, set our checklist to 7 days. It combines the Swedish list with the 23 other guides and works out the amounts for your household.