The Wisdom of Keeping An Emergency Bag
June 2025 FEATURE
IN THE EVENT of an emergency evacuation—whether due to an explosion, earthquake or a tsunami—do you have an emergency bag ready to grab and go? Perhaps you might be someone who only grabs your mobile phone before taking off; though that might be sufficient for a time, escaping with just the clothes on your back may prove inconvenient when you find yourself with much registering and confirming of identity to do, and no change of clothes or supplies.
Several countries have taken the initiative to encourage or advise their citizens to prepare 72-hour emergency kits for potential disasters. These typically contain essentials like food, water, medication and personal supplies. The European Union itself is also urging households to stockpile supplies for emergencies.[1]
How Are Countries Preparing?
FRANCE
The French government has started distributing a 20-page “survival manual” to reach all households by summer 2025. This guide includes recommendations for a 72-hour emergency kit containing at least six litres of bottled water, 10 canned food items, a flashlight, batteries and basic medical supplies. The idea is to make it as simple as possible for families, so they don’t get lost in the details when a crisis strikes.[2]
GERMANY
Germany’s approach to emergency preparedness has been significantly influenced by past events, notably the 2021 floods and the Covid-19 pandemic. The German federal government published a comprehensive survival kit list that includes essentials such as non-perishable food, drinking water, first-aid supplies and important documents. The government also emphasises the importance of having a battery-powered radio to stay informed during power outages.[3]
BELGIUM
Belgium’s National Crisis Centre advises residents to have survival kits and to register for alert messages. This is to ensure that citizens are not only physically prepared with necessary supplies but also informed through timely alerts. The recommended kits are equipped with items like canned food, bottled water, flashlights and personal hygiene products. They also encourage each vehicle to have an emergency kit equipped for winter and summer.[4]
NETHERLANDS
The Dutch government proposes 72-hour emergency kits that focus on being self-sufficient. The kits should include food, water, medications, flashlights and even simple tools like can openers.[5] The goal is to manage the first few critical days after a disaster before help comes.
TAIWAN
Due to its vulnerability to earthquakes, typhoons and even geopolitical tensions, the Taiwanese government encourages its citizens to have a well-stocked emergency kit. The Ministry of National Defense (MND) provides a detailed manual that suggests packing things like non-perishable food, water, personal medications, flashlights and hygiene items. Tools like knives and can openers, powerbanks and backup keys are also recommended. Owners of the kit are encouraged to check its contents every six months to ensure all items are in good condition.
JAPAN
Those living in Japan must always be prepared for earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons. The Japanese have a strong culture of preparedness, and it shows in their government’s advice on creating a Bosai Bag (disaster prevention bag). This kit should include at least three days’ worth of drinking water and non-perishable food, a hand crank or battery-operated radio, flashlights and first-aid supplies. Warm clothing, emergency blankets and rain gear are also highly recommended, along with copies of identification documents, cash and small personal items like dust masks and gloves.[6]
Packing An Emergency Bag
In Malaysia, natural disasters are not very common, and we often think, “It won’t happen to me.” But that is not the case for residents of Kelantan who face annual floods, or the folks in Selangor who can still recall the 2022 Batang Kali landslide that claimed 31 lives.[7] And just recently, on 1 April 2025, a gas pipeline in Putra Heights exploded, sending flames 30m into the sky, and with a heat so intense that cars melted, roads buckled and residents had to flee barefoot as their slippers melted on the asphalt. Some even jumped into the Klang River to escape the inferno.
In Penang, we’ve seen our fair share of flash floods, especially during the monsoon season. Between 2013 and mid-October 2017, the state recorded 119 flash floods.[8] Residents have observed a shift in weather patterns, with more powerful storms and heavy rainfall leading to significant flooding events. Penang’s combination of hilly terrains and overdevelopment has also made parts of the island more susceptible to landslides. We must also not forget the devastating tsunami that hit our shores in 2004.
A practical Malaysian emergency kit should include bottled water, non-perishable food, essential medications, a flashlight with extra batteries, copies of important documents and basic first-aid supplies. Considering the local climate and potential hazards, items like raincoats, waterproof bags and portable chargers (solar powerbanks are on sale now) are also advisable. Remember to personalise your kit based on your family’s needs. Got a baby? Pack diapers and formula milk. Elderly parents? Include their medications and any mobility aid.
With climate change messing up our weather more and more, it’s not about if something happens—it’s when.
No matter where you live, the principle is the same: the better prepared you are, the more resilient you’ll be in the face of a crisis. When seconds matter, you won’t have time to grab the essentials for survival.
FOOTNOTES
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-commission-urges-stockpiling-emergency-supplies-2025-03-26/
[4] https://www.eunews.it/en/2024/12/16/belgium-prepares-for-emergencies-rescue-kits-be-alert-and-first-aid-numbers/#:~:text=The%20Belgian%20National%20Crisis%20Center%20will%20launch,citizens%20in%20case%20of%20danger%20and%20conflict.&text=The%20NCCN%20made%20several%20recommendations%2C%20including%20having,or%20worse%2C%20in%20cases%20of%20armed%20conflict
[7] https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/649445
[8] https://news.mongabay.com/2018/07/in-malaysia-an-island-drowns-in-its-own-development/
