Short answer. Denmark's official checklist lets a household manage on its own for three days 1. It starts with 3 litres of drinking water per person per day (9 litres per person for three days), three days of food, at least three days of medicines and a first aid kit, then adds an FM radio, torch, batteries, power bank, cash and iodine tablets for some groups 12.
What is on the official Danish list?
Each line below comes from the Agency for Societal Security's checklist or its English brochure. A quantity is given only where the authorities give one.
| Item | Quantity | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking water (drinking and food preparation) | 3 litres per person per day = 9 litres per person for three days | 1 |
| Water for pets | if needed | 2 |
| Food with a long shelf life outside fridge and freezer, ideally needing no oven or hob (e.g. tinned food, crispbread) | 3 days for the household | 1 |
| Means of boiling water without electricity or mains gas (e.g. barbecue or camping stove, used outdoors only) | if stored food needs cooking | 1 |
| Necessary medicines | at least 3 days | 1 |
| First aid kit (plasters, dressings such as compresses, elastic bandages and gauze, wound cleaning and disinfection products) | 1 | 1 |
| Iodine tablets for people under 40 and pregnant and breastfeeding women | not specified | 2 |
| Toilet paper | not specified | 2 |
| Hand sanitiser, wet wipes | not specified | 1 |
| Nappies, sanitary pads/tampons or other items relevant to the household | not specified | 2 |
| Strong rubbish bags (to use in a bucket or toilet bowl if the toilet cannot be flushed) | not specified | 1 |
| Blankets, duvets, warm clothes | not specified | 2 |
| Power bank or battery pack (e.g. for a mobile phone) | not specified | 2 |
| Torch | not specified | 2 |
| Batteries | not specified | 2 |
| Physical payment cards (remember PIN codes) | one or more | 2 |
| Cash in coins and small notes | a small amount, if relevant | 2 |
| Candles and matches | if needed | 2 |
| FM radio powered by batteries, hand crank or solar cells (a car radio may do) | 1 | 2 |
| Special needs: baby formula, nappies, care items, pet food | extra supplies as needed | 1 |
| Written list of important phone numbers (e.g. on the fridge) | 1 | 1 |
The authorities call this list "inspiration" covering the most basic needs 1. The reasons behind the three-day target are on the emergency supplies page.
How do I adapt the list to my household?
Multiply the water by the number of people and add water for pets 12. Use the Agency's online calculator, the beredskabsberegneren, for household quantities 1. Plan extra for babies, care needs and long-term medicines 1. The guides on /guides/water-per-person, /guides/food-shelf-life, /guides/first-aid-kit, /guides/emergency-sanitation and /guides/emergency-radio go further on individual lines.
Which items need extra care?
- Iodine tablets are listed for people under 40 and for pregnant and breastfeeding women 2. Take them only when the Danish Health Authority says so; details are on the iodine page.
- The stove is for outdoor use only 1. See /guides/generator-carbon-monoxide.
- The radio should run without mains power: batteries, hand crank or solar cells, and a car radio may do 2. During an alert, the authorities direct you to DR or TV 2 (see the alerts page).
- The phone list belongs somewhere visible, such as the fridge 1. The numbers to write down are on the emergency contacts page.
Turn this list into your plan
The official list above is the reference, and you can assemble everything on it yourself. The Phaenyx plan counts each line for your household, adds the risks around your home and comes with the Phaenyx Safe app. Build your Phaenyx plan.
Frequently asked questions
How much water should a Danish emergency kit hold?
9 litres per person for three days, based on 3 litres per person per day for drinking and food preparation 1.
Does the Danish list include cash?
Yes: a small amount of cash in coins and small notes, if relevant, alongside one or more physical payment cards with their PIN codes remembered 2.
What should I do if the toilet cannot be flushed?
The list includes strong rubbish bags to use in a bucket or in the toilet bowl 1. See /guides/emergency-sanitation.
Do I need iodine tablets in my kit?
The list includes them for people under 40 and for pregnant and breastfeeding women 2. They are sold over the counter at pharmacies; see the iodine page.
Sources
- Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed — Forberedt på kriser – sådan klarer du dig selv i tre døgn under en krise — https://samsik.dk/forberedt/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Danish Emergency Management Agency (hosted by Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed) — Be prepared for a crisis — https://samsik.dk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/EN-prepared-for-crises.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Denmark, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed · Forberedt på kriser – sådan klarer du dig selv i tre døgn under en krise checked 2026-10-20
- Danish Emergency Management Agency (hosted by Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed) · Be prepared for a crisis checked 2026-10-20