Emergency supply

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An emergency supply is a reserve that is kept ready for long-term emergencies . Emergencies of all kinds, from the failure of technical systems to accidents and natural disasters, can make the massive use of goods necessary that are otherwise only rarely required, or reduce or interrupt the supply of everyday items.

State supplies using Germany as an example

Rice grains

Countries like Germany build up extensive reserves as part of their national crisis stocks (as part of civil defense ). The civil emergency reserve consists of rice (long and round grains), legumes (peas and lentils) as well as condensed milk and whole milk powder . It serves to supply the population, especially in metropolitan areas.

The so-called federal reserve grain consists of bread grain ( wheat ) and oats . It serves to maintain the flour and bread supply. Due to the need for further processing, these are stored near mills .

The Food Security Act (ESG) serves to supply the civilian population and the armed forces with agricultural and food products in the event of tension and defense, as well as in the event of a NATO alliance . Due to the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, the Food Prevention Act (EVG) was enacted. It is applicable to other supply crises.

Private supplies

The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance issues a general recommendation on voluntary private stockpiling, which is intended for protection in a variety of scenarios and which should give every household a guideline for the scope of self-protection measures. These recommendations address several areas of inventory creation:

  • Food and drink : food and drink for ten days; Food should be stable without refrigeration and be edible cold; 20 liters of liquid per person for ten days, mineral water, fruit juices and other long-lasting drinks are suitable.
  • Hygiene : soap, detergent, toothpaste, wet wipes, toilet paper; for cleaning and waste disposal household gloves, hand disinfectant, household paper, garbage bags; In the event of (foreseeable) long-lasting failures in the water supply, water for washing, flushing and flushing the toilet is also collected in all available larger vessels.
  • Medicine cabinet : first aid kit, prescribed long-term medication, charcoal tablets, painkillers, laxatives, clinical thermometer, hot water bottle.
  • Power failure : camping stove and suitable fuel, warm clothing, kerosene lamps, flashlights, batteries, candles, matches, cash.
  • Document protection : family documents , pension, pension and income certificates, savings books, shares, vehicle documents, insurance policies, payment receipts for insurance premiums, in particular pension insurance, certificates, contracts, land register extracts, wills.
  • Emergency baggage : including first aid material, battery-operated radio and reserve batteries, document bag and valuables as well as ID cards, food for two days, flashlight, sleeping bag or blanket, weatherproof clothing , other utensils such as B. crockery and camera; for children neck pouch or an SOS capsule with name, date of birth and address.
  • Radio : battery operated or a crank radio .

So-called dehydrated foods are an alternative to storing fresh foods with a limited shelf life. Freeze-drying and vacuum evaporation cause the food to lose 90 percent of its weight and 30 to 90 percent of its volume. Oxygen is also replaced by nitrogen for a longer shelf life. The taste, color, structure and nutritional value are retained after short-term storage of two to four years at least at temperatures below 30 ° C. The food can be restored to its original state by simply adding hot or cold water.

A largely unsuccessful government initiative to build up a private emergency supply in the 1960s was Aktion Eichhörnchen .

Compulsory stock and private household supplies in Switzerland

Emergency supplies in the household

As a result of the social unrest after the First World War , supplies in Switzerland were not only required for the economy and the state, but also for private households as part of the national economic supply. From this experience, a system of rationing , stockpiling and self-generation ( plan elections ) was designed during the Second World War , which over time was always adapted to the strategic threats. For the last time, in the course of the Six Day War (1967), stocks were required down to the household level. In other strategic crises, the preparations or small measures remained. Even at the time of the Cold War, household supplies were widely advertised under the motto Smart Council - Emergency Supply .

Even today, the Federal Office for National Economic Supply recommends a minimum supply in every household.

For more information on the system of state-determined emergency stocks in Switzerland, see compulsory stocks .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Provision for emergencies
  2. ↑ a b Stock up on food and drink. In: bbk.bund.de. Retrieved February 25, 2020 .
  3. ↑ Guide to emergency preparedness and the right action in emergency situations. In: 6th edition. Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, 2018, accessed on February 1, 2020 . ISBN 978-3-939347-54-5 . Pp. 34-35.
  4. ↑ Cleanliness in times of need. In: bbk.bund.de. Retrieved February 25, 2020 .
  5. ↑ Emergency luggage. In: bbk.bund.de. Retrieved February 25, 2020 .
  6. ↑ Stay up to date in an emergency. In: bbk.bund.de. Retrieved February 25, 2020 .
  7. ↑ Info on dehydrated foods ( Memento from June 17, 2013 in the Internet Archive )