Every household in Ireland is receiving a booklet urging them to prepare for an emergency, with advice to stockpile water, food and other essential supplies. The 'Be Emergency Ready' booklet, issued by the Department of Defence, is being delivered to all 2.2 million homes across the country by the end of September.
What the booklet advises
The booklet tells households to keep bottled water in a cool, dry place, recommending two to three litres of drinking water per person per day. It also advises storing non-perishable foods, baby formula, food for small children and pets, essential medicine, sanitary and hygiene products, and important documents such as passports and birth certificates in a waterproof bag.
Further recommendations include battery packs, a battery, wind-up or solar radio, a road map in case GPS is unavailable, a torch with spare batteries, matches or a lighter, a first-aid kit, and alternative light and heat sources such as blankets and sleeping bags.
Emergency risks identified
The booklet covers emergencies most relevant to Ireland, including extreme weather, power loss, cyber attacks, flooding, water supply loss and supply chain disruption. It outlines 22 risks based on the latest National Risk Assessment, including disruption to critical supply chains, nuclear accidents abroad, disruptive use of drones, food-chain contamination, large crowd events, mass inward population displacement, pandemics, terrorist attacks and water-supply disruption or contamination.
"During an emergency, essential services such as power, water, communications or transport may be disrupted," the booklet says. "Where possible, everyone should try to be prepared to support their needs in an emergency." It adds: "We have strength in our communities. During an emergency, it is important to look out for one another."
Official encouragement
Ireland's Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee, said: "Across Ireland, we have experienced storms, flooding, power outages and other emergencies that remind us of the importance of being prepared." She added: "I encourage everyone to take the time to read the booklet when it arrives, work through the checklist, complete the important information section and keep it somewhere easy to find. A small amount of preparation today can make a significant difference tomorrow."
The booklet is being delivered by An Post, Ireland's state-owned postal service, which began distributing the booklets last week. The advice comes as other European countries issue guidance on preparing for emergencies such as cyber attacks, storms, civil unrest or war.
