Short answer. The Czech Interior Ministry's 72 hodin (72 hours) campaign asks every household to be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours of a crisis 1. It sets 2 litres of drinking water per adult per day as the emergency minimum, food for the whole household for 72 hours and a one-week supply of medicines 1. A separate evacuation bag should hold food and water for 2-3 days per person 23.
How long should a Czech household be able to cope alone?
72 hours. The Interior Ministry's preparedness portal, 72h.gov.cz, is built around that period: the first three days of a crisis, before help or normal services may reach you 1. On 27 October 2025 the Ministry announced the distribution of 5.2 million printed copies of its Příručka 72 hodin (72 Hours handbook) to household mailboxes by Česká pošta, in waves throughout November 2025 4.
How much water should I store?
The emergency minimum is 2 litres of drinking water per adult per day 1. The portal puts it plainly: "Nouzově si dospělý člověk vystačí se dvěma litry vody denně" (in an emergency an adult can manage on two litres of water a day) 1.
That figure covers drinking only. Total daily use, including hygiene and cooking, is 10-15 litres per person 1. The portal also lists canisters or other sealable containers, so you can collect and store extra water 1.
| Need | Per adult per day | For 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking water (emergency minimum) | 2 litres 1 | 6 litres |
| Total use with hygiene and cooking | 10-15 litres 1 | 30-45 litres |
The 72-hour column simply multiplies the official daily figures by three. For storage and treatment, see how much water per person and water purification.
What food and medicines should I keep?
- Long-life food for the whole household for 72 hours 1.
- A first-aid kit and medicines, with a one-week supply of what you take regularly 1.
- A gas stove and matches, so you can heat food without mains power 1.
- Pet food, if you have animals 1.
The portal gives no calorie target or menu. Choose food your household already eats and rotate it. Our guide on emergency food shelf life explains how.
What else does the official list include?
Beyond water, food and medicines, the 72 hodin list covers power and light, information, money and safety: a battery-powered radio and flashlight, a charged power bank and spare batteries, cash in coins and banknotes, copies of important documents, hygiene supplies, tools and detectors 1. It also asks you to keep the fuel tank full, or an electric car charged 1. The full list, line by line, is on our Czech kit checklist.
What goes in the evacuation bag?
If you have to leave home, the fire and rescue service (HZS ČR) and the Dukovany nuclear-zone handbook describe an evacuation bag (evakuační zavazadlo) 23. It holds:
- long-life food and drinking water for 2-3 days per household member 23;
- a mug or bowl, cutlery and a can opener 23;
- ID card, passport, birth certificate, health insurance card, insurance contracts, cash and payment cards 23;
- regularly taken medicines, glasses and hygiene items 23;
- seasonal clothing, spare underwear and shoes, a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, and a raincoat or umbrella 23;
- a mobile phone and charger, flashlight, folding knife, sewing kit, writing materials, and books and small toys for children 23;
- a portable radio with spare batteries, and matches 23.
Tag the bag with the owner's name and address; the Dukovany handbook adds a mobile phone number 23.
How does this compare with other countries?
The Czech 72-hour period matches the common three-day approach. Our guide what goes in a 72-hour emergency kit compares several agencies. For people with specific needs, see children, seniors and people on medication and pets.
Frequently asked questions
How much water per person does the Czech Republic recommend?
At least 2 litres of drinking water per adult per day as an emergency minimum, out of total daily use of 10-15 litres including hygiene and cooking 1.
How many days of supplies should I keep?
Enough to be self-sufficient for 72 hours, with medicines for one week 1.
Is there an official printed guide?
Yes. The Interior Ministry announced the distribution of its Příručka 72 hodin to households in waves throughout November 2025 4. The content is also on 72h.gov.cz 1.
What should I put in an evacuation bag?
Food and water for 2-3 days per person, documents, cash, medicines, a radio, a torch, clothing and a sleeping bag, with a name tag on the bag 23.
Sources
- Ministerstvo vnitra ČR — 72 hodin — Nouzové zásoby / Voda / Ukrytí — https://www.72h.gov.cz/cs/nouzove-zasoby (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Hasičský záchranný sbor Kraje Vysočina — Evakuace (Ochrana obyvatelstva — rady a doporučení) — https://hzscr.gov.cz/soubor/ochrana-obyvatelstva-rady-a-doporuceni--evakuace-pdf.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20)
- ČEZ, a. s., approved by SÚJB, regional governors and HZS of South Moravia and Vysočina — Základní informace pro případ radiační havárie — JE Dukovany 2026/2027 — https://sujb.gov.cz/fileadmin/sujb/docs/kkc/Prirucky_JE/Prirucka_EDU_2026_2027_na_web.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Ministerstvo vnitra ČR — Ministerstvo vnitra zahájilo distribuci 5,2 milionu příruček 72 hodin do domácností v České republice — https://archiv.mv.gov.cz/clanek/ministerstvo-vnitra-zahajilo-distribuci-5-2-milionu-prirucek-72-hodin-do-domacnosti-v-ceske-republice.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Czech Republic, worked out for your household.
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Sources
- Ministerstvo vnitra ČR · 72 hodin — Nouzové zásoby / Voda / Ukrytí checked 2026-10-20
- Hasičský záchranný sbor Kraje Vysočina · Evakuace (Ochrana obyvatelstva — rady a doporučení) checked 2026-10-20
- ČEZ, a. s., approved by SÚJB, regional governors and HZS of South Moravia and Vysočina · Základní informace pro případ radiační havárie — JE Dukovany 2026/2027 checked 2026-10-20
- Ministerstvo vnitra ČR · Ministerstvo vnitra zahájilo distribuci 5,2 milionu příruček 72 hodin do domácností v České republice checked 2026-10-20