Since the end of 2025, the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) has been advising citizens to prepare for crises due to the threat of war. A checklist outlines essential items for such scenarios, as well as those that every household should have on hand.

Since November, a significant change has occurred in one of the BBK’s key documents: it now explicitly mentions war.

„This no longer seems as unlikely as it did a few years ago,” states the current guideline, which addresses measures for the public to take in preparation for emergencies. The agency has published this guideline alongside an emergency checklist on its website.

According to a report by Welt, this is not the first crisis preparedness list from German civil protection, but the current document is far less restrained than its predecessors.

Previously, authorities spoke only vaguely of „crisis situations” or „emergency preparations.” However, the current version indicates that a „fundamental revision” was necessary to address „new living conditions.” Surveys have also shown that Germans want more information and recommendations on this topic.

Checklist: Money, Knife, Toilet Paper

Overall, Germany scores only „four to five” out of a possible ten in terms of crisis preparedness, said expert Ferdinand Gehringer in an interview with Welt a few weeks ago. In January, an attack on the electrical grid crippled much of Berlin’s infrastructure. The checklist demonstrates how citizens can better prepare for such unexpected situations.

The advisory publication from the German civil protection agency does not focus on uncertainty but rather on „individual capability,” which „relieves authorities in emergencies,” the agency responded to inquiries. Accordingly, the checklist is objective, as is the entire guideline. It precisely lists which items are important in emergencies, including money, a knife, and toilet paper. Less obvious items are also included: sunscreen, work gloves, and a hard hat.

According to the agency’s advice, supplies should last for ten days.

When it comes to water, experts suggest a simple rule: two liters per person per day in emergencies. The list also includes a cooking appliance, such as a camping stove, and the stocking of pet food. Additionally, equipment such as flashlights, pocket knives, lighters, batteries, and hygiene products are recommended. Often, even basic supplies can help: according to surveys conducted in October, 53% of Germans had made no preparations at all.

The federal agency has been continuously publishing and regularly reviewing disaster preparedness guidelines since 2004. A guide containing tips on procedures to follow in extreme cases has existed since 2013, and to remain up to date, a new edition is published annually, notes Welt.

The update of the agency’s recommendations provides insight into what the German civil protection currently considers a threat.The text of the guideline introduces recommendations not only for preparing for war but also for dealing with disinformation, shelters, and mental health.

In previous years, experts did not advise checking the sources of online news or suggested sports and relaxation techniques for managing fears. It is evident that these topics are now perceived as increasing threats to the public.

Was jeder deutsche Haushalt laut Bundesamt für Katastrophenschutz nun vorrätig haben sollte https://t.co/XsD0LGAVs4

— WELT (@welt) February 13, 2026

„A More Complex Emergency Situation Overall”

Welt asked the document’s authors how dangerous they perceive the current political situation to be and what actual threats exist. „Overall, we are observing a more complex emergency situation,” responded the agency, which categorized „natural hazards, such as floods or extreme weather” alongside emergencies, as well as prolonged power outages, technical disruptions, or cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. The latter can at least be interpreted as part of modern warfare, as has become customary in recent years.

Currently, there is no increased demand for „preventive products,” according to the German Food Retail Association, which also acknowledges that this could quickly rise again, as is „always observed when specific crisis situations arise or when they capture significant media attention.”

Preparation for such scenarios is ongoing. This is regulated by law, which considers supermarkets as part of critical infrastructure. Thus, they are fundamentally obliged to ensure supply. Those who do not prepare in advance may face „temporary supply shortages” in emergencies, similar to the situation during the coronavirus pandemic, even in 2026.