Emergency preparedness in Peru: what the official rules say

Short answer. In Peru, the national civil defence institute INDECI asks every family to prepare a "Survival Combo": an emergency backpack for the first 24 hours plus a reserve box for days 2 to 4, covering the first four days ¹. Phones receive SISMATE cell-broadcast alerts ⁴⁵, coastal sirens (SASPe) sound for earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or more ³, and Peru has no network of public protective shelters ².

Who is responsible for civil preparedness in Peru?

INDECI (Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil) leads household preparedness: it publishes the Survival Combo list ¹ and the Family Emergency Plan workbook ², and it operates the SISMATE phone alert system built by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) ⁴. Other bodies cover specific areas:

• the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP) runs, with INDECI, the SASPe earthquake siren system ³;
• the MTC runs the Línea 119 emergency voice mailbox ⁹;
• the Peruvian Nuclear Energy Institute (IPEN) holds the national radiological and nuclear emergency plan ⁷.

What does each Peru page cover?

Peru publishes no official technical standard for protective shelters, so there is no shelter-standards page for this country.

What are the key points to remember?

• Supplies. The emergency backpack covers the first 24 hours and is taken when you evacuate: one per two people, about 8 kg. The reserve box covers days 2 to 4 and stays in a dry, protected place ¹.
• Phone alerts. SISMATE was created by Law 30472 of 2016 ⁵. It needs no app and is sent only when INDECI determines that a disaster is probable or confirmed ⁴.
• Sirens. SASPe sirens sound for earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater in 114 coastal districts ³.
• Shelters. There are no public protective shelters. Each family identifies internal and external safe zones, evacuation routes and a meeting point ². After a disaster, the authorities may set up temporary albergues ⁸.
• Iodine (not fully confirmed). Peru has no nuclear power plant, and we found no pre-distribution of iodine tablets. The IPEN plan lists stable iodine prophylaxis among urgent protective actions ⁷. Whether tablets are sold over the counter was not confirmed.
• Numbers. Police 105, fire brigade 116, Civil Defence 115, SAMU medical emergencies 106 ⁶.

Where should I start?

Start with the emergency supplies page and the kit list, then read how SISMATE and the sirens work. INDECI's material is built around earthquakes and tsunamis, so our earthquake preparedness guide, tsunami guide and family emergency plan guide are useful next reads.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a Peruvian household be ready to cope alone?

Four days: the backpack covers the first 24 hours and the reserve box covers days 2 to 4 ¹.

Are there public bomb or fallout shelters in Peru?

No. Peru has no network of protective public shelters. The official model is safe zones, evacuation routes and meeting points, then temporary albergues after a disaster ²⁸. See public shelters.

Do I need an app to receive emergency alerts?

No. SISMATE alerts reach active mobile lines with Cell Broadcast enabled, within operator coverage ⁴. See alerts.

What number do I call in an emergency in Peru?

It depends on the service: police 105, fire brigade 116, Civil Defence 115, SAMU 106 ⁶. See emergency contacts.

Sources

1. Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil (INDECI) — Tríptico "El combo de la supervivencia" — https://cdn.www.gob.pe/uploads/document/file/1065226/TRIPTICO-COMBO-SUPERVIVENCIA-WEB-2019.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil (INDECI) — Cuaderno de Trabajo: Plan Familiar de Emergencia "La Seguridad Empieza en Casa" - Aprendiendo el IUEAO de una familia preparada — https://cdn.www.gob.pe/uploads/document/file/1424484/Plan%20Familiar%20de%20Emergencia%20(accesible).pdf.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil (INDECI) — Sistema de Alerta Sísmica Peruano - SASPe — https://www.gob.pe/institucion/indeci/campa%C3%B1as/4943-sistema-de-alerta-sismica-peruano-saspe (accessed 2026-10-20)
4. Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones (MTC) — Sismate: La alerta temprana de sismos y desastres naturales implementada por MTC será operada por el Indeci — https://www.gob.pe/institucion/mtc/noticias/574558-sismate-la-alerta-temprana-de-sismos-y-desastres-naturales-implementada-por-mtc-sera-operada-por-el-indeci (accessed 2026-10-20)
5. Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones (MTC) — Ley N.° 30472 - Ley que dispone la creación, implementación, operación y mantenimiento del Sistema de Mensajería de Alerta Temprana de Emergencias (SISMATE) — https://www.gob.pe/institucion/mtc/normas-legales/9854-30472 (accessed 2026-10-20)
6. Presidencia del Consejo de Ministros (PCM) — Teléfonos de emergencia — https://www.gob.pe/547-telefonos-de-emergencia (accessed 2026-10-20)
7. Instituto Peruano de Energía Nuclear (IPEN) — Plan de emergencia radiológica y nuclear nacional (PLN-IPEN-001) — https://www.gob.pe/institucion/ipen/informes-publicaciones/852299-plan-de-emergencia-radiologica-y-nuclear-nacional (accessed 2026-10-20)
8. Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil (INDECI), Dirección Nacional de Operaciones — Protocolo para instalación de albergues — https://portal.indeci.gob.pe/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Protocolo-de-Albergues.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
9. Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones (MTC) — MTC recuerda a la ciudadanía el uso de la Línea 119 ante sismos y otras emergencias — https://www.gob.pe/institucion/mtc/noticias/1427554-mtc-recuerda-a-la-ciudadania-el-uso-de-la-linea-119-ante-sismos-y-otras-emergencias (accessed 2026-10-20)