Most days, running water, electricity, transport and digital payment services work quietly in the background. Norway’s Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) advises households to be prepared to manage for one week if essential services are interrupted. Preparedness is not about panic buying expensive survival equipment. It is about understanding who depends on you, what you already have and which practical gaps would make an outage difficult. Start with a plan that fits your household, storage space, health needs and finances.
Understand the one-week recommendation
DSB updated Norway’s general self-preparedness advice in 2024 from at least three days to one week. The aim is to give households some ability to cope while public services prioritize people who cannot manage without immediate help. Think through a temporary disruption to water, electricity, internet, mobile networks and ordinary payment systems. The advice is not a prediction that a crisis will occur or that every household will face the same risks. People needing daily care, medicines or accessibility support should discuss practical contingency arrangements with relevant providers and trusted supporters. Preparedness needs cooperation, not unrealistic expectations of total independence.
Start with drinking water and safe storage
DSB recommends storing around 20 litres of drinking water per person to cover minimum needs for one week. Water is necessary for drinking, preparing food and some hygiene needs. Use suitable clean containers, follow the authority’s filling and storage advice, and check that everybody in the household can access and lift what is stored. For a four-person household, the general 20-litre recommendation would total about 80 litres, but specific needs may differ with medical conditions, infants, pets or circumstances. If storage space is limited, build toward the goal using smaller containers and sensible priorities instead of abandoning the plan.
Plan food that works without your usual kitchen
Look at the shelf-stable foods you already eat and consider options that do not require long cooking or refrigeration during an outage. Think about allergies, dietary preferences, infants, pets, ability to open packages and available safe preparation methods. An emergency food shelf need not contain unfamiliar expensive meals. Rotate items through regular shopping to avoid waste and keep a simple note of expiry dates. Never use outdoor grills, generators or camping stoves indoors because of fire and carbon monoxide risks. Follow DSB’s advice on safe alternatives for heat and cooking rather than improvising with unsafe fuels.
Think about warmth, communication and power
In a colder climate, keeping warm can become important if central heating or electricity is unavailable. Prepare suitable clothing and blankets and identify a safe alternative place to stay if your home cannot remain adequately warm. Keep an appropriate light source, batteries and a charged power bank where useful. Consider how you would receive official information if your mobile data and home internet stopped working; an emergency radio may be practical. Household preparedness also means writing important phone numbers somewhere available without a working phone and discussing how to contact each other after a disruption.
Include health, medicines, hygiene and neighbours
Review regular prescription medicine supplies with your pharmacist or healthcare provider rather than changing dosing or stockpiling improperly. Consider a sensible first-aid kit, needed hygiene products and any equipment dependent on electricity. Families caring for older relatives, people with disabilities or small children may require individual contingency planning. Ask a neighbour or trusted friend whether you can help each other with safe, specific tasks. Do not reveal sensitive medical details in public group chats or create an informal arrangement that replaces professional emergency assistance. Contact emergency services when there is immediate danger.
Build gradually and review the plan together
Start with one shelf and one written list, then identify gaps over several ordinary shopping trips. Test whether you can find torches and supplies in the dark without creating a hazard. Review arrangements when someone moves, medications change or a household gains a pet. Keep information relevant and avoid purchasing unnecessary gear because of alarming marketing. Preparedness should leave you more able to act, not constantly worried. Refer to DSB’s official guidance for the full list, storage rules and the latest changes rather than treating a blog checklist as complete.
A realistic example
Two roommates in Oslo begin by reading the DSB recommendations. They already have shelf-stable food and warm clothes but almost no stored drinking water. They plan several purchases of suitable containers, note emergency contacts on paper and agree where the supplies will stay. One uses medicine needing particular storage, so they seek relevant professional guidance for a power outage. They do not buy a generator for their apartment or use a camping stove indoors. The example shows a manageable start, not a guarantee of safety in every emergency.
Seven-step checklist
- Read DSB’s current one-week recommendation
- Calculate an appropriate water reserve
- List food needs and safe preparation methods
- Prepare warmth, light and power alternatives
- Review medicines, hygiene and accessibility needs
- Agree on contacts and mutual support
- Test and revise the plan periodically
Frequently asked questions
How much water does DSB recommend?
Around 20 litres per person for one week as a general minimum; individual needs can vary.
Do I need expensive emergency products?
No. Start with needs, existing supplies and official safety guidance.
Can I use a camping stove inside my apartment during an outage?
Do not improvise with outdoor combustion equipment indoors because of serious poisoning and fire risks.
Explore related guides
Read Household emergency documents or Weekly reset plan, or explore the Practical Guides Library.
Sources and context
This educational article provides a practical checklist, not legal, financial or medical advice. Examples are illustrative and do not measure outcomes. Safety rules and legal requirements can vary; check the latest official information for your situation. Updated October 2026. Our editorial standards.
