![\"March](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2_JS364058231.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIrish households are being urged to stockpile at least 72 hours of essentials as the EU warns that rising global tensions could trigger crises.<\/p>\n
March 26, 2025 – European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib hold a press conference in Brussels, Belgium urging all EU citizens to start stockpiling essentials (Image: Dursun Aydemir\/Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Irish households are being reminded to stockpile at least 72 hours’ worth of essentials as concerns over global instability<\/a> continue to rise.<\/p>\n The European Union<\/a> first issued this call to action in March 2025 and the advice is just as relevant today, amid mounting tensions between Russia, the United States<\/a> and other global powers.<\/p>\n Citizens have been told to ensure they have basic supplies like food, water and medicine in case of any unforeseen crisis – from wars and cyberattacks <\/a>to energy disruptions or disease outbreaks.<\/p>\n Preparedness and Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib outlined the EU’s new strategy for dealing with future disasters, stating: “Today’s threats facing Europe are more complex than ever, and they are all interconnected.”<\/p>\n While not wanting to sound alarmist, Lahbib said it’s important “to make sure people have essential supplies for at least 72 hours in a crisis”.<\/p>\n Currently, there is ongoing geopolitical tensions, including renewed clashes in Ukraine<\/a>, escalating rhetoric between Russian President Vladimir Putin<\/a> and NATO<\/a> and the continued influence of US President Donald Trump <\/a>on global politics.<\/p>\n NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned last year that Russia <\/a>could be capable of launching another attack in Europe by 2030.<\/p>\n Lahbib advised households to stockpile six essential items: Food<\/a>, water, flashlights, ID papers, medicine and shortwave radios.<\/p>\n Lahbib advised households to stockpile six essential items: Food, water, flashlights, ID papers, medicine and shortwave radios.(Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n She also stressed the importance of EU-level planning, calling for a “strategic reserve” of critical resources such as firefighting planes; medical<\/a>, energy and transport equipment; and specialized assets against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.<\/p>\n The EU’s approach mirrors systems already in place in countries like France<\/a>, Finland and Sweden. In 2024, Sweden updated its Cold War-era civil emergency advice “to better reflect today’s security policy reality”, including preparations for a potential nuclear attack.<\/p>\n However, the level of crisis preparedness varies across EU countries, and the commission is urging better coordination to ensure a rapid, effective response to any crisis. Lahbib added: “We can no longer rely on ad hoc reactions.”<\/p>\n![\"Households](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1_Emergency-preparedness-natural-disaster-supplies-Water-flashlight-lantern-batteries.jpg\")
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