Belgians have been told by their government to “be prepared.”
The Federal Government is telling its citizens to prepare for emergencies via a campaign.
Households must be ready to cope for at least 72 hours.
The campaign was launched by the National Crisis Centre as part of a four-year plan.
It aims to improve public resilience amid growing geopolitical tensions and natural disasters.
Problems on the horizon could include a large-scale power outage or the internet going down.
These emergencies could occur “anywhere and at any time” said officials.
They want the Belgian public to play a more active role in preparing for emergency situations. Awareness has to be taught and people need to respond quickly and effectively.
The government is also telling the public to sign up to the government’s BE-Alert system and follow official communication channels in times of crisis.
It worries that rumours and misinformation spread like wildfire during emergencies.
The Federal Interior Minister Bernard Quintin says that the risks of war and natural disasters have increased in recent years.
As part of the campaign, the public are encouraged to keep an emergency kit at home.
There should be enough supplies to last for three days, including water, non-perishable foods, basic medical items, torches, batteries, cash and hygiene products.
Another recommended item is a small “grab bag” in case people need to leave quickly, which should contain essential items such as food, water, important documents, a phone charger and first aid supplies.
