Germany updates its preparedness guide: ten days of supplies and new chapters on misinformation
Germany's Federal Office of Civil Protection (BBK) published a new edition of its household guide in October 2025. It recommends about ten days of supplies and adds chapters on spotting misinformation, supporting children and relatives, storing documents and, for the first time, what to do in case of explosions.
What happened
BBK released the new edition of its guide “Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen” on 13 October 2025, the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. It recommends that every household be able to manage on its own for about ten days. New chapters cover recognizing misinformation, supporting children and relatives in stressful situations and storing important documents safely. For the first time it also includes advice on explosions and on finding shelter in cities. The guide is free in print and as a PDF, and its core content is built into the NINA warning app.
Why it matters
Germany goes further than the European 72-hour benchmark. The difference makes sense: three days gets you through the first phase of a crisis, while ten days also covers a long power cut or a break in supply chains. The misinformation chapter reflects a lesson of recent years: in a crisis, rumors can do as much harm as the event itself.
What you can do
Start with three days and build up gradually. Our emergency pantry rotation guide shows how to reach two weeks of supplies without waste, from your normal shopping, and the non-perishable food list helps you choose what to buy.
Helpful guides
- Food Checklist Non-perishable food list Over 40 foods that keep for months or years without a fridge, grouped by category, with shelf life and storage tips. What to buy first and what to avoid.
- Food The rotating emergency pantry How to build two weeks of food from your normal shopping, store it properly and eat it before it expires.
- Emergency kit Start here: preparedness in 7 steps You don't need a bunker or a big budget. The seven steps that get any family ready for a few days without power, water or shops.