Short answer. Slovakia's Interior Ministry asks households to prepare around five areas: water, food, heat, medicines and communication, with 3-5 litres of drinking water per person per day 1. For a long power outage it recommends food and drink for every household member for at least 14 days, and at least 4 litres of water per person per day: 2 litres for drinking and 2 for cooking and hygiene 1.
What does the Slovak guide ask households to prepare?
The ministry's 2025 crisis brochure organises home supplies around five areas 1:
- Water: drinking water and containers with lids or taps.
- Food: long-life foods.
- Heat: warm clothing, blankets and a heat source that does not need electricity.
- Medicines: a first-aid kit and the medicines you need.
- Communication: a battery or solar radio, a charged phone and power banks.
The full line-by-line list is on the kit checklist.
How much water per person?
| Scenario | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| General guidance | 3-5 litres per person per day | 1 |
| Long power outage (blackout) | At least 4 litres per person per day: 2 L drinking, 2 L cooking and hygiene | 1 |
The ministry does not specify an amount of water for pets, but lists it 1. Our guide how much water per person compares these figures with other agencies, and water purification covers what to do when stored water runs low.
How many days of supplies?
The guide sets no single general duration. For a blackout, it says every household should have drinks and food for all members for at least 14 days 1. In the ministry's words: "každý by mal mať zásobu nápojov (minerálna voda, ovocné šťavy), ako aj zásobu jedla pre všetkých členov domácnosti a to minimálne na 14 dní" 1.
What food does the ministry suggest?
The list is built on foods that keep 1:
- grains, cereals, pasta, rice, couscous, instant mashed potato, powdered milk, tortillas, rusks, biscuits, salt and spices;
- potatoes, carrots and cabbage;
- tinned tomatoes, vegetables, fruit and ready meals;
- protein: dried or tinned meat and fish, chickpeas, beans, lentils, cheese in a tube;
- fats: cooking oil, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes in oil, peanut butter, nuts and seeds;
- energy: fruit pudding, jam, chocolate, honey, protein bars, dried fruit;
- coffee, tea, hot chocolate mix, juice, long-life or soy milk;
- food for children (porridge, infant formula, oat flakes, baby food) and pet food.
See emergency food shelf life for rotation, and cooking without power.
What else does a blackout require?
The blackout guidance adds heat, light, cash and communication 1:
- an alternative heat source that does not need electricity (for example a gas or paraffin heater), a spirit stove and fuel, fuel in the vehicle tank, and a fire extinguisher;
- candles, tea lights, matches or a lighter, a torch and a head torch;
- cash in small denominations, about twice the household's usual weekly shopping;
- a battery or solar radio with spare batteries, a mobile phone, charged power banks and a charger.
Heaters and stoves used indoors carry a carbon monoxide risk: read generators and carbon monoxide and power outage.
What about medicines?
Keep a first-aid kit and the prescription and over-the-counter medicines you need regularly. The ministry advises against stockpiling unnecessarily large amounts 1. See first-aid kit.
Frequently asked questions
Does Slovakia recommend 72 hours or 14 days?
The brochure sets no single general duration. The 14-day figure applies to a long blackout 1. The shelter bag holds food and water for at least 3 days, and the evacuation bag for 2-3 days 21.
How much cash should I keep?
For a blackout, about twice your household's usual weekly shopping, in small denominations 1.
Should I write phone numbers on paper?
Yes. The list includes documents and important phone numbers written on paper 1.
Where can I read the guide?
On the Interior Ministry's website, with PDFs in Slovak, English, Hungarian and Rusyn and an audio version 1.
Sources
- Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky, Sekcia krízového riadenia — Čo robiť v prípade krízy alebo ozbrojeného konfliktu — https://www.minv.sk/?co-robit-v-pripade-krizy-alebo-ozbrojeneho-konfliktu (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky, Sekcia krízového riadenia — Civilná ochrana — https://www.minv.sk/?Civilna_ochrana (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
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Sources
- Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky, Sekcia krízového riadenia · Čo robiť v prípade krízy alebo ozbrojeného konfliktu checked 2026-10-20
- Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky, Sekcia krízového riadenia · Civilná ochrana checked 2026-10-20