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Emergency preparedness in Finland: what the official rules say

Finland at a glance: 72-hour home supply, about 50,500 shelters, sirens and the 112 Suomi app, iodine for under-40s, and binding shelter rules.

Updated 2026-10-20· 12 official sources

Finland at a glance

updated 2026-10-20
SuppliesThe government guide on Suomi.fi (Ministry of the Interior) asks every household to keep supplies for at least 3 days, and longer if possible.sourcedPublic sheltersFinland has about 50,500 civil defence shelters with room for about 4.8 million people (Ministry of the Interior, February 2023).sourcedAlertsOutdoor sirens sound the general warning signal (one minute, rising and falling) with an official emergency warning on radio, TV, teletext page 112 and the 112 Suomi app; a cell-broadcast system, FI-Alert, is planned for phones, with the legal amendment (HE 139/2026, still pending on 20 October 2026) intended to enter into force on 1 November 2026.sourcedIodineIodine tablets are recommended for people aged 40 or less (and pregnant women of any age).sourcedPrivate shelterUnder the Rescue Act (379/2011), owners of new buildings of at least 1,200 m2 floor area used as dwellings or workplaces (1,500 m2 for industrial, production, storage and assembly buildings) must build a civil defence shelter in or near the building as part of the building project; owners and occupants must keep it usable within 72 hours.sourcedShelter standardsBinding technical standards exist: Government Decree 408/2011 sets size, class and location; Ministry of the Interior Decree 506/2011 sets technical requirements and maintenance; Government Decree 409/2011 sets requirements and the 'VSS' marking for shelter equipment.sourcedEmergency numbers112 is the only emergency number in Finland.sourced
Crisis bookletThe Ministry of the Interior and the Digital and Population Data Services Agency published the online guide 'Preparing for Incidents and Crises' on Suomi.fi in November 2024 (Finnish, Swedish, English, with printable summaries in several languages and sign-language versions); a Ministry project launched in May 2026 to add self-preparedness guidance for emergency conditions runs until 30 April 2028.sourced
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Short answer. Finland asks every household to keep supplies for at least 3 days, with at least 5 litres of bottled water per person 12. The country has about 50,500 civil defence shelters for about 4.8 million people 3. A rising and falling one-minute siren means go indoors and shelter 1. Iodine tablets are recommended for people aged 40 or less and pregnant women, taken only on official instruction 56.

Facts on these pages were checked against official sources on 20 October 2026.

Who is responsible for preparedness in Finland?

The Ministry of the Interior coordinates civil preparedness. With the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, it publishes the national online guide "Preparing for Incidents and Crises" on Suomi.fi, launched in November 2024 in Finnish, Swedish and English, with printable summaries in several languages and sign-language versions 9. No paper copy is delivered to every home: the Ministry chose a website 9. The 72 hours campaign (72tuntia.fi, SPEK) publishes practical household lists and a Home Preparedness brochure dated January 2025 10. A Ministry project launched in May 2026 will add self-preparedness guidance for emergency conditions; it runs until 30 April 2028 11.

Emergency warnings come from the Emergency Response Centre Agency (112 Suomi app, 112.fi) and the regional rescue services (pelastustoimi.fi). Radiation matters fall to STUK. See Emergency numbers and official contacts.

What does each Finland page cover?

Page Key fact
Emergency supplies At least 3 days for the whole household, longer if possible; 5 L of bottled water per person 12
Official kit list 19 items from Suomi.fi and 72tuntia.fi, with the quantity each source gives 12
Public shelters About 50,500 shelters, about 4.8 million places (February 2023) 3; your building's emergency plan should say where yours is
Emergency alerts One-minute rising and falling siren = go indoors; FI-Alert phone alerts planned, launch not confirmed 14
Iodine tablets Aged 40 or less and pregnant women; pharmacy, no prescription; 130 mg adult dose 56
Building a shelter Required in new buildings from 1,200 m² (1,500 m² industrial and storage) 7
Shelter standards Classes S1, S2 and bedrock; at least 2% of floor area 8; within 500 m since 2019 12
Emergency contacts 112 is the only emergency number 1

What should a household in Finland do first?

  1. Build a 72-hour supply from the official kit list 12.
  2. Find your shelter in your building's emergency plan; see Public shelters.
  3. Learn the siren signals and install the 112 Suomi app; see Emergency alerts.
  4. Check whether anyone needs iodine tablets: people aged 40 or less, pregnant or breastfeeding 1; see Iodine tablets.

Our general guides go deeper: What goes in a 72-hour emergency kit?, How do I make a family emergency plan? and Shelter in place or evacuate after a nuclear emergency?.

What is changing in 2026?

Two changes are under way. FI-Alert, a cell-broadcast system that sends warnings to phones without an app, was planned for the end of October 2026 with a legal amendment intended for 1 November 2026; its launch was not confirmed on 20 October 2026 4. The second phase of the Rescue Act reform proposes clearer rules on shelter activation plans and condition inspections; see Shelter standards.

Frequently asked questions

Does Finland send a preparedness booklet to every home?

No. The national guide is online on Suomi.fi, with printable summaries; the Ministry of the Interior chose a website rather than a paper copy for every home 9.

How many days of supplies does Finland recommend?

At least 3 days (72 hours), and longer if possible 1.

Does Finland have enough shelters for everyone?

The Ministry of the Interior counts shelter places for about 4.8 million people in about 50,500 shelters (February 2023) 3.

Sources

  1. Ministry of the Interior / Suomi.fi — General instructions on preparedness, home emergency supplies and on what to do in different situations - Preparing for Incidents and Crises — https://www.suomi.fi/guides/preparedness/how-to-prepare-for-incidents-and-crises/general-instructions-on-preparedness-home-emergency-supplies-and-on-what-to-do-in-different-situations (accessed 2026-10-20)
  2. 72 hours (72tuntia.fi, SPEK - Finnish National Rescue Association) — Home emergency food supply — https://72tuntia.fi/en/home-emergency-food-supply/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
  3. Ministry of the Interior (valtioneuvosto.fi) — Finland has civil defence shelters for about 4.8 million people — https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/1410869/finland-has-civil-defence-shelters-for-about-4.8-million-people (accessed 2026-10-20)
  4. Ministry of the Interior (valtioneuvosto.fi) — Finland to introduce new emergency warning system this year — https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/1410869/finland-to-introduce-new-emergency-warning-system-this-year (accessed 2026-10-20)
  5. Ministry of the Interior / Suomi.fi — Radiation hazards - Preparing for Incidents and Crises — https://www.suomi.fi/guides/preparedness/how-to-prepare-for-incidents-and-crises/radiation-hazards (accessed 2026-10-20)
  6. Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health) — STM:n ohje jodista (11.10.2022) — https://stm.fi/documents/1271139/105036658/STM+Ohje+jodista+11102022.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
  7. Ministry of Justice - Finlex — Rescue Act (379/2011), unofficial English translation, sections 71-76 — https://www.finlex.fi/api/media/statute-foreign-language-translation/688086/mainPdf/main.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
  8. Finlex (Suomen säädöskokoelma) — Valtioneuvoston asetus väestönsuojista 408/2011 — https://www.finlex.fi/api/media/statute/97896/mainPdf/main.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
  9. Ministry of the Interior / Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Suomi.fi) — Preparing for Incidents and Crises: Guidance and instructions — https://www.suomi.fi/guides/preparedness (accessed 2026-10-20)
  10. 72 hours (72tuntia.fi, SPEK) — 72 hours - Home Preparedness (PDF, 2025) — https://72tuntia.fi/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/spek_72_hours_home_preparedness_2025_01_21_v01.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
  11. Ministry of the Interior (valtioneuvosto.fi) — Uudessa hankkeessa laaditaan ohjeet omatoimiseen varautumiseen poikkeusoloja varten — https://valtioneuvosto.fi/-/1410869/uudessa-hankkeessa-laaditaan-ohjeet-omatoimiseen-varautumiseen-poikkeusoloja-varten (accessed 2026-10-20)
  12. Finlex (Suomen säädöskokoelma) — Valtioneuvoston asetus väestönsuojista annetun valtioneuvoston asetuksen 1 ja 3 §:n muuttamisesta 1378/2018 — https://www.finlex.fi/api/media/statute/45574/mainPdf/main.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)

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Sources

  1. Ministry of the Interior / Suomi.fi · General instructions on preparedness, home emergency supplies and on what to do in different situations - Preparing for Incidents and Crises checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  2. 72 hours (72tuntia.fi, SPEK - Finnish National Rescue Association) · Home emergency food supply checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  3. Ministry of the Interior (valtioneuvosto.fi) · Finland has civil defence shelters for about 4.8 million people checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  4. Ministry of the Interior (valtioneuvosto.fi) · Finland to introduce new emergency warning system this year checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  5. Ministry of the Interior / Suomi.fi · Radiation hazards - Preparing for Incidents and Crises checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  6. Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriö (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health) · STM:n ohje jodista (11.10.2022) checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  7. Ministry of Justice - Finlex · Rescue Act (379/2011), unofficial English translation, sections 71-76 checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  8. Finlex (Suomen säädöskokoelma) · Valtioneuvoston asetus väestönsuojista 408/2011 checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  9. Ministry of the Interior / Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Suomi.fi) · Preparing for Incidents and Crises: Guidance and instructions checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  10. 72 hours (72tuntia.fi, SPEK) · 72 hours - Home Preparedness (PDF, 2025) checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  11. Ministry of the Interior (valtioneuvosto.fi) · Uudessa hankkeessa laaditaan ohjeet omatoimiseen varautumiseen poikkeusoloja varten checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  12. Finlex (Suomen säädöskokoelma) · Valtioneuvoston asetus väestönsuojista annetun valtioneuvoston asetuksen 1 ja 3 §:n muuttamisesta 1378/2018 checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)

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