3 days - are you prepared?

The emergency kit is intended for the basic necessities you and your family will need to get by at home for at least 3 days in the event of, for example, a power and water outage. 

We don't need to put everything in the box.

Many of these things, like food and water, just need to be available in the home. But we can keep certain items in the emergency box, such as: 

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Water

It is important to have enough water. 3 litres per person per day is recommended. Water can be stored for 1 year in airtight containers. It is important to monitor water supplies and replenish them if necessary. You also need to consider water for flushing the toilet and watering flowers, for example. 

Light

A torch and batteries. Do not keep the batteries in the torch. Store them separately and replace them regularly. It is also good to have candles and matches/a lighter. 

Cash

A situation may arise where credit cards and cash machines do not work in an emergency. It is therefore a good idea to keep cash in a safe place. Have enough cash for the family to last for at least 3 days. 

Food

We need to think about food for everyone in the household, young and old, and pets. Tinned food and dry goods with a long shelf life, such as pasta, noodles, etc., are useful during a power cut. Have a tin opener available. 

Gas cooking equipment

A primus stove, gas hob or barbecue will be very useful during a power cut. Let's make sure we have such equipment and plenty of gas. 

Radio

It is essential to have a battery-operated or wind-up radio. It could become our best friend during a power cut as a source of information and entertainment. Remember batteries for the radio. 

Medicine

Both those taken daily and painkillers. 

Toiletries

Toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, nappies, sanitary products, wet wipes, bags for personal hygiene, soaps and shampoo. 

Charger

Few things are more annoying than a phone with a dead battery, and in an emergency, it is essential to be able to charge your phone. Therefore, we need to have a charger available, and a power bank is also useful if the power is out. 

First-aid kit

We all need a first-aid kit. 

Multi-tool/repair tape

It is good to have tools and good tape on hand to carry out minor repairs, e.g. during a storm. 

Pets

We also need to think about our dear pets. They also need food and water, and remember a carrier if you need to evacuate your home and go to a mass care centre. 

Papers and documents

We need to take good care of passports, driving licences and other ID's, and also if there are any important documents in the home that need to be protected. Let's give that a good thought. Most of this is electronic, but not all of it. 

Important valuables

In our homes, there is usually something that is valuable or has great sentimental value. We are not suggesting putting these items in a box, but it is a good idea to make a list of what we would want to save in case of an evacuation. These could be photographs, heirlooms or other irreplaceable valuables. 

Children

Let's involve the children in these preparations. They have their own needs. Ask them what they would take with them in case of an evacuation. 

If you need to evacuate your home: 

In the event of an evacuation, it is important that everyone in the household has decided on a meeting point where you can gather if you get separated. 

1. A place outside the house (car park, by the postbox or somewhere else) 
2. A place outside the neighbourhood 
3. A place where you can stay overnight 

One of the biggest causes of stress in an emergency is being separated from our loved ones. It is therefore important to have pre-arranged places where you can meet. For example, family members might be in different places, at work or school, when an emergency occurs. 

Please note that it is best to get advice from an insurance agent regarding damage from natural disasters. 

• Life and critical illness insurance 
• Car insurance 
• Home insurance 
• Income protection insurance 

It is important to have all your insurance in order and to ask yourself these 3 important questions: 

• Passport 
• Driving licence 
• Birth certificate 
• Marriage certificate 
• Prescriptions 

It is important to make sure that important documents are kept in a safe place. Fortunately, many of these documents are in electronic form, but it is good to keep this in mind, for example, if the power goes out for an extended period. 

If there are small children or infants in the household, it is essential to consider their needs. Keep this in mind when you pack your emergency kit. 

If you need to evacuate your home: 

If you need to evacuate your home: 

• Think about what factors would cause you significant stress or fear, such as separation from family, severe weather, earthquakes, or other events. 
• Be aware of how you might react under such pressure. How do you handle unexpected events, pressure, stress, and fear? 
• Think about how you generally cope with increased pressure, stress, and fear. Do you know ways and methods to deal with stress and fear and achieve balance? 

An emergency can be very stressful. To minimise stress, it is important to be mentally prepared, know your own reactions, and be aware of the tools we have to cope with the stress. This way, we make better and more composed decisions when danger is imminent. This method is well-known among athletes for achieving better results.  

• Fire 
• Flood 
• Avalanche 
• Mudslide 
• Storm 
• Earthquakes 
• Volcanic eruptions 
• Power outage 
• Impassable roads 
• Something else? 

• Monitor the media / radio 
• Red Cross Helpline - 1717 
• The Icelandic Road Administration - 1777 
• NOTE: The emergency number - 112 is only for emergencies, NOT FOR INFORMATION 

Also, have the phone numbers of people you can call if you need assistance. These could be friends, relatives or neighbours. 

People's mental and physical reactions to trauma can vary and may be determined by the type of trauma and how we cope with it. 

In the aftermath of a disaster or emergency, all sorts of uncomfortable thoughts and feelings can arise, and our behavior can change. 

Trauma has both physical and mental consequences that are normal reactions to abnormal circumstances. 

• Insomnia 
• Headache 
• Muscle tension and pain 
• Rapid heartbeat 
• Nausea 
• Anxiety 
• Poor concentration 
• Guilt 
• Sadness 
• Anger 
• Uncomfortable memories 
• Avoidance (We avoid discussing the event) 

Some people experience numbness or feel nothing, have difficulty making daily decisions, and may even isolate themselves. Sometimes, alcohol and drug use increases in the aftermath of trauma. 

• Maintain a daily routine and do things that bring you pleasure 
• Eat healthy food, get regular sleep, and exercise 
• Accept help 
• Allow yourself to feel bad sometimes and to grieve 
• Take one step at a time 
• Not turn to alcohol and drugs 

Children react differently to trauma and loss than adults. Their mood can fluctuate and suddenly change from being sad to playing and having fun. 

• They can become aggressive towards caregivers and other children 
• They often become very clingy with their caregivers 
• Separation anxiety 
• Reverting to infantile behaviour such as thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, or being unable to sleep alone 

HS Veitur - Natural disasters

Instructions- water outage

Prevent water damage

HS Veitur - Náttúruhamfarir

If there is no internet connection, you can't use credit cards. In that case, it's good to have cash on hand. 

On Island.is, you can find various materials and instructions about air pollution from volcanic eruptions in Icelandic, English, and Polish. This includes gas pollution charts in these languages, which can be used to interpret recommendations based on measurements on the Environment Agency of Iceland website.