Looking at the eastern Europe nów and Taiwan years ago. I do not plan to get involved in direct confrontation and illegal actions, but i live in one of biggest citiest of my country and my daily comute is from other big city. I need to go through centres of both.

How to go total gray man and avoid being marked by brute forces?

I Carry decontamination spray, but do i need to and goggles to my backpack ?

How to secure windows in my flat, i live on ground floor ?

Hey guys, going on a work 4 day trip to Bucharest from Poland, so it will be by plane. I imagine I cannot take my edc go home bag, but what I can take with me? It will be carry on backpack only, no luggage. Can I take things like powerbank, medicines, pepper spray, chemilights and paracord or will they grant me night in airport security office ?

Hola EuroPrepper!

Me estaba preguntando qué tipo de costumbre tenéis en vuestro día a día que “os delatan” como prepper.

Yo por ejemplo siempre llevo en el bolso lo necesario para pasar una noche fuera de casa: un neceser de aseo básico y ropa interior de recambio. También suelo aparcar a dos calles del trabajo aunque tenga parking y las llaves de casa /coche siempre están en mi bolsillo y nunca en el bolso.

¿Qué costumbres tenéis vosotros?

Having a solid plan is essential, but when the time comes, knowing how to act is just as important. It’s easy to assume you’ll rise to the occasion in an emergency, but without practice and skills, stress can make even simple tasks overwhelming.

If you haven’t already, consider taking a first aid or CPR course—those skills could save a life in an emergency. And don’t stop at just taking the course; revisit and practice what you’ve learned regularly to keep it fresh. The same goes for other hands-on skills like using a fire extinguisher, tying knots, or filtering water.

It’s also a good idea to practice your plans. Have you tried an evacuation drill at home or tested your bug-out bag to see if it’s manageable under real conditions? Does everyone in your household know the plan? Running through these scenarios can reveal weaknesses you didn’t expect and make you more confident if the time comes to act.

Planning is great, but practicing and learning is what will truly make a difference. What skills are you working on, and how often do you test your plans?

Hey all, I’m a Northern European who, like some of you, has received an official recommendation and guide from the government to “prep” in case of a crisis. I’m not planning to go full bushcraft, but I do think having a large plastic box with basic necessities is a smart idea.

The situation I’m preparing for is less zombie apocalypse and more about surviving for at least three days locked in my apartment without water, heating, or electricity. It’s freezing cold outside, and my priority is keeping my wife and kids safe at home.

Here’s what I’m considering stocking up on: water, food, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, a flashlight, a solar battery pack, and an FM crank radio.

I’ve been reading advice on various subreddits and have a few questions I’m hoping you can help with: 1. Batteries: I often see batteries mentioned, but what would I specifically need them for? Apart from the flashlight, I don’t have many devices in my house that use AA or other types of batteries. Should I get some anyway, and for what purpose? 2. Food: I’m struggling to figure out what type of food to stock. It needs to last a long time, but if there’s no gas/electricity and water is scarce, what should I realistically buy? Could you share examples of what you’ve stocked and how you’d use it in an emergency? 3. Aluminum foil: I’ve read mentions of aluminum foil in other forums, but I’m not sure what it’s used for in prepping. Any ideas? 4. Portable toilet: I’m still unsure about this. If there’s no water in an apartment, how do you handle waste? Should I just use the toilet and flush with a bucket of water, or invest in a portable toilet? If so, what’s the plan—store waste in the apartment for three days? throw it out of the window? 5. Medicines and first aid: Which basic medicines would you recommend stocking up on? And what essentials would you include in a basic first aid kit? 6. Other recommendations: Is there anything else you’d suggest adding to my prep kit?

Hello community,
As I was thinking about my list of items, I suddenly thought about the nuclear plant not that far from me and the fact I would be in the second radius probably. And how to know when I can get out of my bubble in the basement and then came the idea: Geiger Counter.
Checked on [largest online retailer, named after a river] and they seem to have a very wide range of stuff, so I wanted to check with you guys and girls on whether you own one (which one), how it works, if it works, and the like.
Thank you

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https://preview.redd.it/8p1pikvfd83e1.jpg?width=1498&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6eb1e1092bbdff6b0201c665f8dd1ad2cbc5b2e7

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Freeze-dried food is such a great option for long-term storage since it lasts so long and doesn’t need much maintenance. I like having it as an extra safety net—something I can store and forget about—but the cost can add up quickly.

Does anyone have tips or favorite places to find freeze-dried food that isn’t too expensive? Do you focus on buying in bulk, waiting for sales, or maybe even making your own? Are there specific brands or retailers you’d recommend?

Would love to hear how others approach building a freeze-dried stockpile without overspending!

.. and that leaves me wondering what kind of person would build a bunker and then accept any random person in it...

Who came up with that plan?

Long story short, I have my own seed bank and try to practise growing what I have in case of SHTF.

Most of my survival seed bank is full of tubers and nytrogen-fixing crops, but I wanted to see if there's any commercial packs out there that have interesting crops with other uses in them.

(Mainly for Europe/southern europe, thus the post in this sub).

Plus, I wanted to make other kind of posts apart from the "X or Y country is doing this, WWIII is around the corner" kind of post. WWIII may be coming, but I want to be able to eat, thank you.

Long time Uk prepper here with plans and knows what he is doing in a good few senses of the word looking to collaborate and find other UK preppers with the end aim of building a team. with SHTF looking more and more likely the time is now to take good action in my mind to get a team together and though I have some people around me I know very few preppers which heavily complicated the situation so if there's anyone looking to collaborate or build a team give me a shout some tips on build a team would also be beneficial

Hello EuroPreppers!

I'm new to Reddit (but not to the prepper world) and it caught my attention that I can't find a proper group for Spaniards. It's not that I mind exchanging ideas and knowledge with preppers from other places, but the truth is that we don't share the same concerns or the same way of approaching possible scenarios. So there is no Spanish group or am I very clumsy on Reddit?

Europe doesn't really have the vast wilderness of the US, there isn't really the opportunity to grab your tarp and clipper lighter and go live in the woods.

I also think that's a fantasy in the main, but that's a topic for another day.

In the SHTF scenario, (which at the moment could be thought of as russian tanks on your neighbours lawn), is your plan to stay or move?

Do you have opportunities/ friends/property in different countries?

Do you currently feel, (as I do tbh) that the best bet is to be as ready as far as possible (with the limited resources you have,) trusting in neighbours and only leave if it looks like staying will result in Bad Things Happening.

I'm pretty rural, (as far as it's possible to be) in NL to give a little context.

Prepping expenses can vary a lot depending on approach, and it’s interesting to see how others manage it. For some, it’s a steady monthly budget dedicated to adding supplies or gear, while for others, it’s more about occasional big purchases or simply adjusting regular shopping habits.

One common method is buying a little extra during regular grocery trips—grabbing a few extra cans or some rice when it’s on sale—and rotating it into daily use to avoid waste. This can keep costs manageable, especially with rising prices. On the other hand, investing in larger items like water filters, power banks, or tools might be more of a one-time expense that’s spread out over months or years.

What’s your approach? Do you stick to a specific budget, buy in bursts, or just incorporate prepping into regular shopping? And if you track it, how much do you think you spend on prepping each month?

A little highlight from my research for the "official guidelines post" I'm working on: (EN) Disaster risk awareness and preparedness of the EU population

Posted this, just so you know, what the average joe's information, mindset and preparedness-level is all about.

Just wondering, a lot of Europe news outlets are not reporting on this. Fake news or just another hollow threat from Russia that we think will not happen?

https://nypost.com/2024/11/21/world-news/russia-threatens-to-attack-new-us-base-in-poland-with-advanced-weapons/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14105027/nuclear-bunker-race-Britons-Cold-War-fallout-shelters-eBay-WWIII.html

One topic I don’t see mentioned enough in the prepping world is financial preparedness. While we often focus on food, water, and gear, building a solid financial safety net feels just as critical—especially in today’s uncertain economy. Balancing long-term prepping with Europe’s rising cost of living is definitely a challenge, but I’ve been making it a bigger priority lately.

For me, cutting unnecessary expenses has been the first step. Even small changes, like cooking at home more or cutting subscription services, have freed up some money for savings. I’m also looking at ways to store value outside traditional banking systems, like investing in precious metals or bartering goods, in case of economic instability.

Another area I’m exploring is diversifying income. Having a side project could make a big difference if my main source of income ever disappeared. It’s slow progress, but I feel like it’s a smart move for long-term security.

What do you think about financial prepping? Are you focusing on saving, alternative investments, or reducing expenses? And do you feel like financial preparedness gets enough attention in the prepping world? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Hi folks,

I've finally been clearing out my mother's garage and with the space I want to get some essentials in there. New to 'actively' prepping (outside of recreational camping and an EDC) and this is very much a baby steps post in regards to being prepared for '72 hour disruption' rather than SHTF BUT I was talking to my partner about getting some stuff for the garage and they said canned goods wouldn't be good for a cold garage in the winter months so I'm asking for links or recommendations on what would be good to have and in what quantities.
I've got a camping stove atm.

Thanks in advance.

Hi, this might sound rudimentary and like a low-key effort but could we have a sticky post (or a wiki page?) that points to the national and official guidelines for emergency preparedness and maybe official information sources for alerting (a.k.a. Apps and websites)?

I think of a plain alphabetical list like shown below and If you like the idea, just add your sources in the comments: I'll update this post.

Austria

• (DE-AT/EN) Zivilschutz Österreich / Civil Protection Austria
• (DE-AT/EN) oesterreich.gv.at zu Katastrophenfälle / General information towards disasters
• (DE-AT/EN) Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI) about Civil Protection in Austria
  • Civil Protection in Austria Guidebooks and Download
    • (DE-AT) Risikoeinschätzung
    • (EN) Risiken verstehen - Bericht der "Understanding Risk Austria" Konferenz
• Hazard Overview and Risk Assessment Austria (HORA)
• AT Alert via cell broadcast

Belgium

• (NL/FR/DE/EN) National Crisis Center
  • An emergency kit
  • Risks in Belgium
  • [(EN) Belgian National

Risk Assessment (BNRA)](https://crisiscenter.be/sites/default/files/documents/files/Belgian%20National%20Risk%20Assessment_EN.pdf)

• (NL) Emergency plan creation via crisiscenter.be
• (NL/FR/EN/DE) BE-Alert

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

• (EN/GR) Republic of Cyprus - Civil Defence Force/Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία - Δύναμη Πολιτικής Άμυνας
  • (Publications
    • National Risk Assessment
• (EN/GR) Fire Service
  • (EN) Publications empty for now
  • (GR) Publications

Czechia

• ZÁCHRANKA The mobile app for emergency call
  • iOS
  • Android
• Weather Service
• (CZ) Map with Weather Warnings
• (EN/CZ) Fire Rescue Service as part of the civil protection

Denmark (TODO: revisit do add more information)

• (EN/DK) Prepared for crises

Estonia

Finland

• (EN/FI/SV) Preparing for incidents and crises
  • (multilingual)Checklist for preparing for incidents and crises
• 112 Suomi App
  • Android
  • iOS
• The Finnish Meteorological Institute's smartphone weather application
  • Android
  • iOS

France

• (FR) Protection Civile
• FR-Alert via cell broadcast

Germany

• (EN) Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) / Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance
  • [(EN) Guide for Emergency

Preparedness and Correct Action in Emergency Situations](https://www.bbk.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/EN/Mediathek/Publikationen/ratgeber-englisch-disasters-alarm.pdf)

• [(DE) Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und

Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen](https://www.bbk.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Mediathek/Publikationen/Buergerinformationen/Ratgeber/ratgeber-notfallvorsorge.pdf)

• (DE) BBK Warning App NINA
• (EN) German Weather Services
• (EN) DWD Weather Warning App
• (DE)Hochwassergefahren- und Hochwasserrisikokarten in Deutschland
• (DE)Länderübergreifendes Hochwasser Portal (LHP)

Greece

• (GR/EN) Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection
  • (multilingual) Protection guidelines
  • Daily Fire Hazard Forecast Maps

Hungary

• [(HU) Ministry of interior - National directorate for disasaster protection - Disaster types, rules of conduct])https://www.katasztrofavedelem.hu/47/katasztrofatipusok-magatartasi-szabalyok)

Ireland

Italy

• (EN/IT) Dipartimento della Protezione Civile

  • Publications
  • Risks
  • Maps (Riskmaps, Weather, ...)
  • (EN) The Civil Protection Handbook For Families via Bologna
  • (EN) The Civil Protection Handbook For Families via Rimini

• IT-Alert

Latvia

Lithuania

• (EN/LT/RU) A website intended to prepare Lithuanian residents for emergencies

Luxembourg

• (EN/DE/FR) Info Crise
  • (multilingual) What to do in the Event of a Nuclear Alert?
• (EN/DE/FR) LU-Alert

Malta

Netherlands

• (EN) What to do in the event of a disaster
• (EN/NL) Think ahead (denkvooruit) preparedness
  • Emergency Kit
  • Regional radio frequencies
• NL-Alert cell broadcast

Poland

• (PL) Be prepared – a guide for times of crisis and war

Portugal (TODO: revisit do add more information)

• (PT/EN) Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Cívil

Romania

Slovakia

• (SK) List of goverment institutions

• (SK) Emergency state reports

• (SK) Recommendations for catastrophic events

• (SK) Siren alert pattern

• (SK) Flood activity map

• (SK) Weather warnings

• (SK) Air quality

• (SK) Amateur emergency radio A.R.E.S

• (SK) Emergency phone numbers

Slovenia

Spain

• Due to recent affairs some pages are under hevay load and are not responsive.
• (ES) Dirección General de Protección Civil y Emergencias
  • Publications to risk topics like flooding, fire, tusnamis, .... Page navigation does not work currently.
  • Recommendations on meterological and natural risks
• (ES) Publications of the Ministry of the Interior including the infos above

Sweden

• (SWE) krisinformation.se
  • [(SWE) Om krisen eller

kriget kommer](https://rib.msb.se/filer/pdf/30828.pdf)

• (ENG) krisinformation.se
  • [(SWE) Guidebook In case of

crisis or war](https://rib.msb.se/filer/pdf/30874.pdf Leaflet when crises or war comes)

• [(multilingual) Guidebook in case of

crisis or war](https://www.msb.se/sv/rad-till-privatpersoner/broschyren-om-krisen-eller-kriget-kommer/pa-andra-sprak/)

• (ENG) Weather Warnings

Honorable Mentions

United Kingdom

• (EN) gov.uk on Terrorism and national emergencies
  • (EN) National Risk Register 2023
• (EN) gov.uk's Prepared Campaign
  • (EN) Household emergency plan

Swiss

• (CH) Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz BABS
  • Downloads
    • Unterlagen Gefährdungen und Risiken
• (EN/CH) Alert Swiss Warning, Alerts
  • (CH) Alert Swiss Notfallplan
  • Alert Swiss App
• (CH) Bundesamt für wirtschaftliche Landesversorgung (BWL) - Kluger Rat - Notvorrat
• Pflichtlager

EU

• European Drought Observatory
• European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS)
• European Flood Awareness System
• [(EN) Regional Guidelines

document on Civil Protection Planning](https://south.euneighbours.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/PPRD_pianificazione_gdl_EN-1.pdf)

• [

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control](https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en)

• meteoalarm
• EU-Alert system implemennts alerting via cell broadcast on national levels. Some national alert chose to also support additional ways of distribution (e-Mail, SMS, ...). See implementation by member states.
• (EN) Disaster risk awareness and preparedness of the EU population

Afterthoughts

(I obviously started with the list of countries in the European Union+Swiss+UK). The list could be extended for all countries on the European continent.

• ℹ️ To keep the list manageable, I'll link to english resources first, whilst indicating the other native languages. This is based on the idea, that anybody reading this should be capable of understanding English, and be able to to navigate the page to its native version.

Urban prepping in Europe comes with its own unique challenges. Densely populated areas, limited living space, and strict laws can make it difficult to follow the same strategies we often see from rural or suburban preppers. That said, there are still plenty of ways to prepare effectively if you live in a city. Let’s talk about some of the biggest hurdles and how to overcome them.

One major issue is space—most of us don’t have big basements or garages to store supplies. What are your best tips for building a stockpile in a small flat? Have you found creative ways to maximize space without making it obvious you’re a prepper?

Another challenge is escape routes. If things go south, cities can quickly become chaotic, and evacuation routes might be clogged. Do you have a solid plan for getting out of the city if needed? Or do you focus more on sheltering in place and fortifying your home?

Security is another concern. With so many people living in close quarters, keeping your supplies safe and avoiding attention can be tricky. How do you handle this? Do you rely on subtle prepping, or do you prioritize building community ties to avoid conflict?

Finally, European cities often have stricter regulations on what you can do in terms of home defense, energy solutions, or even gardening. Have you managed to work within these rules to stay prepared, or do you look for loopholes?

Let’s share ideas and experiences. What strategies have worked for you as an urban prepper in Europe? And what challenges are you still trying to figure out?

Is there any EU equivalent of "Jase Medical" that Canadian Prepper keeps talking about where you can order prescription medicine in larger quantities?

I personally don't need anything but as I'm worried about my parents, it's difficult for them to stock up on necessary meds since everything here is stringent.

I’m on the hunt for a new pair of durable for life winter boots. I need something versatile—suitable for winter hikes with my dog, handling emergencies in rugged terrain, and fitting in with an urban environment while maintaining a low-profile “gray man” aesthetic. Ideally, they should also be practical enough for driving if the situation calls for it.

My previous boots (Demar and Wellington) were reliable for work in construction but not quite subtle enough. I’m looking for something equally functional but more in line with the gray man philosophy.

I’ll need to order online from a store in Poland with a good return policy. Any recommendations?

I’ve been thinking about how prepping here in Europe feels pretty different from what we often see in the U.S., and I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

For one, we don’t always have the same access to bulk supplies as American preppers, so stocking up on essentials can be trickier—and more expensive. I’m curious how others handle this. Have you found affordable ways to build up supplies gradually?

Defense is another area where we differ. With Europe’s strict gun laws, a lot of us don’t have firearms in our plans, so we’re left focusing on non-lethal options and physical security. What strategies do you use for home or personal defense given these limitations?

There’s also the issue of modifying property or vehicles. Between strict building codes and vehicle regulations, things like custom “bug-out” cabins or fully outfitted prepper vehicles are harder to set up here. How have you tackled these barriers if you’re aiming for off-grid or mobile setups?

Finally, European prepping often seems to take a more community-focused approach, with an emphasis on local support networks. Do you find community prepping is important for your plans? And do you think our threat perception is different—like focusing on power cuts or supply chain issues over large-scale social collapse?

Would love to hear what you all think! How have you adapted your prepping to fit these European realities, and are there strategies you think work particularly well here?