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Your phone is at 12%, the lights are out and you can’t remember where you put the flashlight. Now imagine you’ve just been told to leave because a wildfire is getting close. That’s a bad time to start looking for your medication, your ID and a charger. It’s a good reason to have a bag ready by the door.
On Nov. 3, the European Commission released guidance encouraging households to keep enough essentials for at least 72 hours. The idea is to help people get through the first three days of a serious disruption while emergency services mobilize. For households in Cyprus, that could mean having a bag ready if a wildfire forces an evacuation or keeping enough water and food at home if essential services are disrupted.
What to keep at home
- Drinking water. Well.cy suggests about three liters per person per day for drinking and basic needs. That’s nine liters per person over three days, or 36 liters for a family of four. You may need more in hot weather.
- Food that keeps. Set aside things you already eat that need no cooking or refrigeration, such as canned beans, rusks, nuts and dried fruit. Keep a manual can opener with the tins.
What to put in the bag
- Medication and first aid. Pack essential medicines and a basic kit with gauze, bandages and antiseptic.
- Light, power and information. Keep a flashlight with spare batteries, a charged power bank with the right cables and a battery-powered radio for updates if mobile networks or internet service go down.
- Cash and documents. Put aside some small notes in case card payments are unavailable. Keep copies of IDs, key medical information and important phone numbers in a waterproof pouch.
- Clothes and hygiene supplies. Add spare socks and underwear, a warm layer, rain protection and basic toiletries. A whistle and a small multitool can also come in handy.
The EU guidance is voluntary, and what goes in the bag depends on who lives in your home. A family with a baby will pack differently from someone who relies on daily medication or needs help evacuating. Make sure everyone knows where the bag is and where to meet if you have to leave separately and can’t reach each other by phone.
Source: www.well.cy
