Defesa Civil Nacional (National Civil Defense) urges families to keep a 72-hour emergency kit; government says there is no threat
The guidance went viral and sparked rumors, but the Ministry of Integration says it is routine prevention. See what to keep at home and why a battery-powered radio is part of the kit
Automatically translated from Portuguese. Read the original in Portuguese
In a post on its official social media on Thursday (6), the Defesa Civil Nacional advised Brazilian families to keep at home an emergency kit with basic items for 72 hours, the equivalent of three days. The post went viral, and many people began to wonder whether something serious was about to happen in the country.
"In large-scale disasters, rescue may take a while to reach some areas because of access difficulties. Having an emergency kit for up to 72 hours (3 days) is a preparedness measure recommended by the Defesa Civil Nacional, in line with international practices, and it complements the work of response teams."Defesa Civil Nacional, official post of November 6
The guidance also reinforces: stay alert to warnings and recommendations from your municipal or state Civil Defense and, in an emergency, always follow local authorities.
It is not. The Ministério da Integração e do Desenvolvimento Regional (Ministry of Integration and Regional Development), to which the Defesa Civil Nacional is linked, clarified that the guidance is not related to any specific threat or to any national alert. It is an ongoing prevention action, and similar recommendations had already been released in March and April of this year.
In short: it is not a reason for panic, but it is a good reason to get organized. A strong storm, a flood or a blackout can leave a city without power, water and phone service for hours and, sometimes, days. In large-scale disasters, roads get blocked and rescue may take a while to reach some neighborhoods. The same 72-hour benchmark is adopted by the European Union.
What the kit should contain
Drinking water: at least two liters per person, per day, that is, six liters per person for the three days.
Non-perishable food: canned goods, crackers, cereal bars and dried fruit.
Continuous-use medication, copies of prescriptions and a first aid kit.
Flashlight, spare batteries and a portable phone charger.
Personal documents in a plastic bag, some cash, extra clothing and a list of emergency phone numbers.
Families with children, older adults, people with disabilities or pets should include whatever each of them needs.
Why a battery-powered radio is part of the kit
When power goes out and the internet stops, the radio keeps on air. A battery-powered radio is a free and trusted source of information for following official warnings during an emergency. Rádio Cultura de Lavras is on 96.5 FM and reaches 150 cities around Lavras.
In an emergency, call Civil Defense at 199 or the Fire Department at 193. To receive rain and risk alerts on your phone, send your CEP (Brazilian postal code) by SMS to 40199. The service is free.
This guidance is preventive and does not mean a disaster is forecast. Prepare your kit today.
