The Directorate for Community Security and Preparedness (DSB) offers a sobering assessment of the current security landscape: while Norway faces no immediate threat of war, the unpredictability that surrounds us is palpable.
– We find ourselves in the most serious security policy situation since World War II, with a neighboring country now engaged in armed conflict, remarks Morten Harangen, a special adviser and press officer at DSB.
– If self-preparedness isn’t on your radar yet, now is the time to start considering it.
In a proactive step, the DSB has partnered with the Norwegian Defense Forces to strategize for the Total Defense Year 2026. Their website encapsulates the initiative’s essence:
“Total defense encompasses every sector of society—businesses, volunteer organizations, municipalities, the state, and individuals—each taking responsibility through knowledge, resources, local engagement, vigilance, and a collective spirit.”
A 2025 survey conducted by the DSB revealed that 54 percent of Norwegians feel unprepared to survive a week without essential services like electricity, the internet, or water. Alarmingly, 41 percent were unaware of where to access vital crisis information.
However, Harangen believes that self-preparedness awareness has markedly improved since the DSB launched its campaigns in 2018.
– We’re seeing a notable shift; residents seem to be taking self-preparedness more seriously, as evidenced by clear improvements since 2018.
He elaborates that self-preparedness serves a dual purpose: it alleviates pressure on authorities and emergency responders, allowing them to focus on those who require more extensive assistance. Remarkably, over 90 percent of respondents reported familiarity with the authorities’ recommendations on self-preparedness, and more than half indicated that they store water.
– That’s encouraging. We advise everyone to have 20 liters of water per person in their household to ensure they can manage for a week.
Why one week?
- Critical infrastructure seldom remains offline for longer than a week.
- This timeframe allows for planning in case of prolonged crises.
- It’s a realistic goal for most households to achieve.
Source: dsb.no
Today’s practical checklist from DSB includes non-perishable food items, clean drinking water, warm clothing, flashlights, DAB radios, first aid kits, batteries, cash, and provisions for pets. Additionally, they recommend gas or paraffin stoves, sleeping bags, blankets, and, for children and pregnant women, possibly iodine tablets.
However, assembling this preparedness kit can cost upwards of a thousand kroner per person, not to mention the space required for storage—an especially challenging prospect for many students.
– A year ago, my finances didn’t allow for such priorities. I was focused on essentials like food and therapy rather than creating an emergency stockpile, shares Marthe Falkenhaug Lea, a 25-year-old student from Kristiania.
In response, the DSB stresses that self-preparedness doesn’t have to break the bank. The key is ensuring access to drinking water, food, and a solid plan for staying warm. Harangen also introduces the idea of a “preparedness friend”—collaborating with fellow students, family, or neighbors to share storage space and costs.
– Plus, it’s reassuring to discuss these potentially frightening scenarios with someone else, he adds.
For students far from home who may feel isolated, Harangen suggests reaching out to student organizations or consulting their educational institutions to explore available resources.
– We’ve fostered valuable relationships with various associations and universities, encouraging them to utilize our self-preparedness materials and adapt them as needed.
He notes that the DSB has also engaged with student welfare councils to inspire young adults to consider their own preparedness.
– Serious, prolonged crises rarely strike out of the blue. Generally, there’s time to build a stockpile and devise a plan, even if you haven’t started yet, he explains.
He continues to advocate for a gradual approach to stockpiling: purchase extra food items during grocery runs, fill water bottles and store them in a cool, dark place.
– Just take the first step and tackle it bit by bit. It’s entirely feasible, even for those working with limited budgets, he concludes.
