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Emergency preparedness in Germany: the official guidance

Germany's BBK asks households to cover 10 days, warns via NINA, Cell Broadcast and sirens, and has no functional public shelters. Verified 2026-10-20.

Updated 2026-10-20· 7 official sources

Germany at a glance

updated 2026-10-20
SuppliesThe BBK asks every household to be self-sufficient for 10 days if possible (water, food, medicine, hygiene), and says even a 3-day supply already helps a lot.sourcedPublic sheltersGermany still has 579 designated public shelters with 477,593 places, but the federal government states that none of them is currently functional or ready for use.sourcedAlertsAuthorities warn through apps (NINA), radio, TV, Cell Broadcast text alerts sent to every phone in the area (since 23 February 2023), sirens, loudspeaker vans and digital signs.sourcedIodineHigh-dose potassium iodide tablets (65 mg) are stockpiled in the Länder, which store and distribute them: 189.5 million tablets.sourcedPrivate shelterGermany has no shelter-specific permit and no duty for households to build a shelter.sourced
Shelter standardsNo current national technical standard or certification for shelters is published.not published
Emergency numbers112 for fire brigade and ambulance, 110 for police.sourced
Crisis bookletThe BBK publishes 'Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen', a 40-page household preparedness guide with checklists; current edition is the 2nd edition dated November 2025.sourced
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Short answer. In Germany, the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) asks every household to be self-sufficient for 10 days if possible, with 2 litres of water per person per day; even 3 days helps a lot 1. Warnings come through the NINA app, Cell Broadcast, radio, TV and sirens 15. The 579 remaining public shelters are not functional 3. Information verified on 2026-10-20.

Who is responsible for civil protection in Germany?

The Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) is the federal civil-protection agency; disaster management is run by the Länder and local authorities 1. Its household guide, "Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen", is a 40-page booklet with checklists, now in its 2nd edition dated November 2025, and also available in English 12. Radiation protection is covered by the Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS) 6.

What does each Germany page cover?

Page What it answers
Emergency supplies 10-day target, 3-day minimum, 2 l of water per person per day, food per person per day 1
Emergency kit checklist The BBK checklist line by line, home pharmacy and grab bag 2
Alerts Siren signals, Cell Broadcast, NINA, the September test day 15
Public shelters 579 shelters, 477,593 places, none functional; where to shelter today 34
Iodine tablets 189.5 million 65 mg tablets in the Länder, who is covered, dose by age 67
Building a private shelter Federal answers report no obligation or register; still being verified 34
Emergency numbers 112, 110, 115, 116117 and crisis lines 1

What are the key facts to remember?

  • Supplies: aim for 10 days, start with 3; 20 litres of water per person for 10 days 1.
  • Sirens: a 1-minute rising and falling tone means danger, seek information; a 1-minute continuous tone means all clear 1.
  • Phones: Cell Broadcast has reached phones in the area since 23 February 2023, with no app needed 5.
  • Shelters: the federal government states the 579 designated public shelters are neither functional nor ready for use; a decentralised refuge concept was still being coordinated in July 2026 34.
  • Iodine: take tablets only on explicit instruction from the authorities; not recommended over 45 67.
  • Emergency numbers: 112 for fire brigade and ambulance, 110 for police 1.

Where to go next

Germany-specific pages above rely only on official German sources. For general background, see the Phaenyx guides: What goes in a 72-hour emergency kit?, How do I make a family emergency plan?, Shelter in place or evacuate after a nuclear emergency? and Potassium iodide (KI): when to take it and who needs it.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a German household be able to manage on its own?

10 days if possible, according to the BBK; a 3-day supply already helps a lot 1.

Does Germany have working public bunkers?

No. The 579 designated public shelters are neither functional nor ready for use, according to the federal government 3.

How will I be warned?

Through the NINA app, Cell Broadcast texts, radio, TV, sirens, loudspeaker vans and digital signs 15.

When was this information checked?

All Germany pages were checked against their official sources on 2026-10-20.

Sources

  1. Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) — Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen (2. Auflage, Stand 11/2025) — https://www.bbk.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Mediathek/Publikationen/Buergerinformationen/Ratgeber/BBK-Vorsorgen-fuer-Krisen-und-Katastrophen.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=44 (accessed 2026-10-20)
  2. Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) — Checklisten zur Vorsorge – Krisen und Katastrophen — https://www.bbk.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Mediathek/Publikationen/Buergerinformationen/Ratgeber/Checklisten-zur-Vorsorge-Krisen-und-Katastrophen.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=19 (accessed 2026-10-20)
  3. Deutscher Bundestag / Bundesregierung — Antwort der Bundesregierung: Öffentliche Schutzräume (Drucksache 20/14631, 20.01.2025) — https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/20/146/2014631.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
  4. Deutscher Bundestag – heute im bundestag — Zielperspektive für öffentliche Schutzräume (hib 591/2026, 17.07.2026, Antwort Drucksache 21/7120) — https://www.bundestag.de/presse/hib/kurzmeldungen-1195170 (accessed 2026-10-20)
  5. Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) — Cell Broadcast — https://www.bbk.bund.de/DE/Warnung-Vorsorge/Warnung-in-Deutschland/So-werden-Sie-gewarnt/Cell-Broadcast/cell-broadcast_node.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
  6. Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS) — Einnahme und Wirkung von Jodtabletten — https://www.bfs.de/DE/themen/ion/notfallschutz/verhalten/jodblockade/jodblockade_node.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
  7. Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Klimaschutz, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit (BMUKN) — Die richtige Dosierung — https://www.jodblockade.de/jodtabletten/dosierung/ (accessed 2026-10-20)

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Sources

  1. Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) · Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen (2. Auflage, Stand 11/2025) checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  2. Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) · Checklisten zur Vorsorge – Krisen und Katastrophen checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  3. Deutscher Bundestag / Bundesregierung · Antwort der Bundesregierung: Öffentliche Schutzräume (Drucksache 20/14631, 20.01.2025) checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  4. Deutscher Bundestag – heute im bundestag · Zielperspektive für öffentliche Schutzräume (hib 591/2026, 17.07.2026, Antwort Drucksache 21/7120) checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  5. Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) · Cell Broadcast checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  6. Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS) · Einnahme und Wirkung von Jodtabletten checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)
  7. Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Klimaschutz, Naturschutz und nukleare Sicherheit (BMUKN) · Die richtige Dosierung checked Mon Oct 19 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (heure avancée de l’Est)

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