Canadian officials are reiterating longstanding emergency preparedness guidance urging residents to keep enough essential supplies on hand to survive at least 72 hours without basic services.

Public Safety Canada recently repeated the recommendation as several countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Japan, have renewed public messaging about preparing for potential emergencies. Canadian officials emphasized that the guidance is not a response to a specific anticipated event and has been in place for years.

Ministry spokesperson Zarah Malik said the 72-hour recommendation represents a minimum preparedness period because restoring essential services or reaching residents with emergency assistance could take longer in some communities. Potential disruptions include electricity and water outages caused by severe weather, natural disasters or cyberattacks.

The federal government's emergency preparedness guidance recommends that households assemble portable kits containing drinking water, nonperishable food, flashlights, battery-powered or wind-up radios, extra batteries, first-aid supplies and mobile phone chargers.

Canada recommends storing at least two liters of water per person per day for drinking, cooking and hygiene. Residents are also encouraged to keep cash, important identification documents, emergency contact information and necessary medications available. Households with children, pets or individuals with special medical needs should account for those requirements when assembling supplies.

The renewed messaging comes amid broader international efforts to strengthen household and community preparedness. The European Union recently introduced additional recommendations encouraging residents to prepare for the first 72 hours of an emergency, while British and Japanese officials have also emphasized maintaining emergency supplies.

Emergency preparedness specialists say households should consider maintaining supplies beyond the minimum three-day recommendation. Canadian disaster recovery expert Suzanne Bernier has encouraged residents to prepare for as many as seven days without essential services, noting that widespread emergencies can delay restoration efforts and assistance.