Nordic Nations Issue Updated Crisis Preparedness Guidance

On Monday, millions of Swedes are set to begin receiving a pamphlet offering guidance to the populace on preparation and resilience during war or other unforeseen crises. The publication, titled “In case of crisis or war,” has been revised since its last edition six years prior. This update is attributed by the Stockholm government to a “worsening security situation,” specifically referencing Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, the booklet’s physical size has doubled. Finland, a neighboring nation, has simultaneously released its updated guidance online, focusing on “preparing for incidents and crises.” Similarly, residents of Norway have recently obtained a pamphlet encouraging self-sufficiency for a week in scenarios involving extreme weather, conflict, and other potential dangers. Denmark’s emergency management agency announced during the summer that it was distributing information via email to Danish adults, outlining essential water, food, and medicine supplies required to endure a three-day crisis. A comprehensive section within the Finnish digital brochure addresses military conflict, detailing the government’s and president’s anticipated response to an armed assault. It emphasizes that Finland’s authorities are “well prepared for self defence.” Sweden became a member of Nato this year, having chosen to apply, similar to Finland, following Moscow’s escalation of its conflict in 2022. Norway, in contrast, was among the founding members of this Western defensive alliance. The Helsinki government, diverging from Sweden and Norway’s approach, opted against printing a physical copy for each household, citing that it “would cost millions” and that a digital format allows for simpler updates. Tore Kamfjord, who oversees the self-preparedness initiative at the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB), stated, “We have sent out 2.2 million paper copies, one for each household in Norway.” Among the recommended items for home storage are non-perishable foods like tinned beans, energy bars, and pasta, alongside medications such as iodine tablets, intended for use in the event of a nuclear incident. Oslo distributed a prior iteration in 2018; however, Kamfjord noted that climate change and a rise in extreme weather phenomena, including floods and landslides, have introduced heightened risks. The concept of a civil emergency booklet is not novel for Swedes. The initial version of “If War Comes” was created during World War Two and subsequently revised throughout the Cold War. Nevertheless, a specific message has been repositioned from the booklet’s interior to a more prominent spot: “If Sweden is attacked by another country, we will never give up. All information to the effect that resistance is to cease is false.” Not long ago, Finland and Sweden maintained neutral status, despite their infrastructure and “total defence system” having origins in the Cold War era. Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Sweden’s Civil Defence Minister, stated last month that with the transformation of the global context, information provided to Swedish households must also mirror these changes. Earlier this year, he issued a caution that “there could be war in Sweden,” a statement perceived as a call to action due to his concern that efforts to reconstruct the “total defence” system were advancing too slowly. Finland has consistently upheld a robust defense posture, owing to its extensive border with Russia and its historical conflict with the Soviet Union during World War Two. Sweden, conversely, reduced its defense infrastructure and has only recently begun to re-escalate its preparedness. Ilmari Kaihko, an associate professor of war studies at the Swedish Defence University and a native of Finland, remarked, “From the Finnish perspective, this is a bit strange.” He added, “[Finland] never forgot that war is a possibility, whereas in Sweden, people had to be shaken up a bit to understand that this can actually happen.” Melissa Eve Ajosmaki, 24, a Finnish national studying in Gothenburg, expressed heightened concern when the conflict in Ukraine commenced. She commented, “Now I feel less worried but I still have the thought at the back of my head on what I should do if there was a war. Especially as I have my family back in Finland.” The provided guides offer instructions for various scenarios and urge citizens to ensure their capacity for self-reliance, particularly during the initial stages of a crisis. Finnish citizens are prompted to consider how they would manage without electricity for extended periods during winter, with temperatures potentially dropping to -20C. Their recommended checklist also features iodine tablets, in addition to simple-to-prepare food, pet provisions, and an auxiliary power source. The Swedish checklist suggests items such as potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and eggs, alongside tinned bolognese sauce and pre-made blueberry and rosehip soup. Ingemar Gustafsson, a 67-year-old Swedish Economist, recounted receiving earlier editions of the pamphlet, stating, “I’m not that worried about the whole thing so I take it pretty calmly. It’s good that we get information about how we should act and how we should prepare, but it’s not like I have all those preparations at home.” A key recommendation emphasizes maintaining sufficient food and potable water supplies for a 72-hour duration. However, Ilmari Kaihko questions the practicality of this for all individuals. He posed the question, “Where do you stash it if you have a big family living in a small apartment?”