ALERT: Irish citizens told to stock up on these six items and prepare for disaster

Citizens across the European Union, including Ireland, have been told to stock up on six essential items in case of a disaster in Europe. 

The European Commission and High Representative launched the Preparedness Union Strategy this week to support Member States and enhance Europe's capability to prevent and respond to emerging threats, including war and global emergencies like the Covid pandemic in 2020.

The EU says the advice, including to 450 individual citizens, come amid "growing geopolitical tensions and conflicts, hybrid and cybersecurity threats, foreign information manipulation and interference, climate change and increasing natural disasters."

In a statement, they said "the EU needs to be ready to protect its citizens and the key societal functions that are crucial for democracy and daily life."

As part of the plan, they will be telling EU citizens to have a 72-hour stockpile of emergency supplies, including water and food, in case of disaster.

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Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, Hadja Lahbib said citizens should have a stock of six things: Food, water, flashlights, ID papers, medicine and shortwave radios.

She said: "Preparedness must be woven into the fabric of our societies — everyone has a role to play. Today’s threats are fast, complex, and interconnected; our response must be more proactive, more integrated, and more coordinated at European level. By harnessing the energy of our institutions, businesses, and citizens, we can build resilience and ensure Europe emerges stronger from crises." 

Concretely, the Strategy includes 30 key actions and a detailed Action Plan to advance the Preparedness Union's objectives, as well as developing a ‘preparedness by design culture' across all EU policies.

President Ursula von der Leyen said: “New realities require a new level of preparedness in Europe. Our citizens, our Member States, and our businesses need the right tools to act both to prevent crises and to react swiftly when a disaster hits. Families living in flood zones should know what to do when the waters rise. Early warning systems can prevent regions hit by wildfires from losing precious time. Europe stands ready to support Member States and trusted partners in the neighbourhood to save lives and livelihoods.”

The strategy aims to "develop minimum preparedness criteria for essential services such as hospitals, schools, transport, and telecommunications."

The EU also says it will "work with strategic partners like NATO on military mobility, climate and security, emerging technologies, cyber, space, and the defence industry.

"Overall by taking a proactive approach to preparedness, the EU aims to build a more resilient and secure continent, better equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century," a statement concluded.