"If the War Comes". So read a pamphlet that was distributed to all Danes in 1962.
Now, more than half a century later, the leaflet with preparedness advice from 1962 is getting a successor for the first time.
On Sunday 16 June, the Emergency Management Agency issued "Prepared for crises", which contains a number of new preparedness advice on how to best prepare yourself and your family in the event of a crisis situation.
All Danes must be prepared to be able to get by with supplies such as water, food and medicine for three days in the event of a crisis, according to the Danish authorities.
The purpose of the new strategy is to prepare as many Danes as possible to take care of themselves if a crisis strikes, so that emergency services can focus their efforts where the need is greatest.
"It is important to say that we will probably not need the advice in practice. But in the current situation it is important to be prepared", said Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen when he presented the new emergency advice from the main stage of the Folkemødet.
Denmark's threat level has been raised
The current situation is also one of the most serious that Denmark has faced since the pamphlet "If war comes" was published during the Cold War in 1962.
When the war in Ukraine broke out in February 2022, it triggered an energy crisis in Denmark and other parts of Europe.
IN PET's annual threat assessment from spring 2024, the assessment of the terrorist threat against Denmark was assessed as "severe" - the second highest step on the scale. And on June 4, the Center for Cyber Security raised the threat level for destructive cyber attacks against Denmark from LOW to MEDIUM.
With the new emergency plans, Denmark is following suit with its neighbors in Norway and Sweden, which came out with new emergency plans in 2018. In May 2024, Norway increased their advice from three to seven days, and in the autumn the Swedish authorities will come up with new recommendations.
"There is no prospect that there will be Russian soldiers in the streets, but Denmark and our allies are threatened by hybrid war - cyber and sabotage attacks. Therefore, we must be better prepared - both nationally and municipally", stated the Minister of Defense in relation to the publication of the new emergency advice.
The new home emergency advice from the National Emergency Management Agency will be sent to all citizens who have digital mail.
After the summer holidays, it must be assessed whether the new advice should also be distributed to all citizens in Denmark.
Emergency Council: This is how you must be prepared for three days without electricity and water
Here are the main points from the Emergency Management Agency's new guidance on how you prepare to take care of yourself, so that the emergency services can focus their efforts where the need is greatest.
3 liters per person per Day
Calculate 3 liters of water per person per 24 hours to drink and possibly preparation of food. If you want to have water for three days, you must have 9 liters of water per day. person. Make sure you have water for everyone in the household – possibly also livestock.
Your guide to storing water: How to store water in crisis situations
Food for three days
Make sure you have food for three days in the household. It must be food that can last for a long time outside the fridge and freezer. Feel free to choose foods that do not require preparation in the oven or on the stove (e.g. preserves, shortbread). Choose foods that you and your household use on a daily basis and like.
Prepping grocery list: How to shop for food for emergencies
How to get the right nutrition in an emergency
Medicine and first aid
Make sure you have the necessary medicine for at least three days and a first aid kit. A first aid kit can for example contain plasters, dressings (compresses, elastic bandages and gauze bandages etc.) and products for wound cleaning and disinfection. In the event of a nuclear accident, the most important advice is to stay indoors. It is recommended that iodine tablets are available to people under 40 and pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Hygiene
Make sure you have hygiene items such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, pads and tampons.
Heat
If the heat disappears and it is cold outside, you can use the household's blankets, duvets, warm clothes etc. If it is cold for a long period, you in the household can keep warm by primarily staying in one room. If you use candles or other heat sources, place them on a firm surface far from flammable material such as curtains and carpets.
What do I do if the power goes out? A step-by-step guide
Other necessities
In most crisis situations, a mobile phone is an important tool. You can get in touch with, for example, family members, and you can find information about the incident. With a power bank/battery pack you can keep power on e.g. the mobile phone in case of local power outages. In the event of major or prolonged power outages, telephone networks and the Internet may be affected or go down.
Other useful items to have on hand are a flashlight, candles, matches and batteries.
Also have one or more physical payment cards to use if the internet is down or you can't pay with your phone.
The in-store payment systems are designed to support offline payments with physical cards.
Even if the internet or payment systems are down, most people will therefore still be able to pay with their card.
Make sure you remember the PIN codes. In addition, consider having a small amount in coins and small bills.
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Source: The National Emergency Management Agency
