How Prepared Are Norwegian Households for a Crisis? Findings From the 2025 DSB Report
In recent years, the conversation about safety and household preparedness has gone from a niche topic to a real social need. Norway, often described internationally as a stable country with a high standard of living and strong institutions, is still not shielded from modern threats that can affect the everyday lives of ordinary families. In many cases, the difference between a manageable crisis and a more serious situation is not only about the authorities' capacity, but also about how well each household is prepared in advance.
The report "Population survey on Norwegian households' awareness and behaviour regarding self-preparedness", produced for the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) in January 2025, gives a clear picture of how people perceive risk and how well Norwegian households are actually equipped to cope with the loss of basic services. The survey was carried out by Ipsos through a web panel with a representative sample of the population over 18, based on 1,000 interviews conducted at the end of 2024.
One of the report's central findings is that Norwegians' biggest concerns are increasingly about modern vulnerabilities, not just traditional disasters. The event that causes most worry is the risk of cyberattacks on control systems and critical infrastructure. This points to a growing understanding of how dependent society is on digital solutions, and how quickly a technological breakdown can have practical consequences for both public services and individuals. Terrorist attacks are the second biggest concern, followed by events that have received more attention over time, including flooding and growing concern about acts of war on Norwegian soil. This shows that the risk picture feels closer and more likely than before.
At the same time, the most significant point in the report is not only what people fear, but the gap between concern and actual preparedness at home. Although many say they have thought about what they would do during a long power cut or loss of communications, the results show that more than half of households do not feel well prepared to manage for one week without electricity, water, internet or mobile networks. This is especially important because in 2024 the question was changed to cover one week, while earlier surveys measured households' ability to cope for three days. The change matches the authorities' recommendation that residents should be able to handle a crisis without immediate help from society for a limited period.
As for what people actually have at home, the report shows that most households have basic equipment such as alternative light sources, candles and matches or a lighter. Many also have dry or canned food for a few days, as well as first aid supplies and a power bank for their phone. Even so, there are clear weaknesses in areas that could become critical during a longer event. Storage of drinking water is still limited and has not increased compared with the previous year, and the share of people with additional solutions such as a battery DAB radio, iodine tablets or alternative energy sources remains relatively low.
The report also stresses that preparedness is not only about what you own, but about what you can do and what you know. Although more than half say they know basic first aid, there is still a significant lack of concrete plans for how to get information or seek help if mobile networks and the internet go down. The share who have thought this through has increased, but is still low. This means that in a real crisis, many households could be left without information or any way to coordinate with family or neighbours.
Another important finding is how limited many people's knowledge of municipal emergency arrangements is. A relatively small share of the population knows whether their municipality has a fixed meeting place for residents during major accidents and crises. Although more people say they know where to find information from the municipality if a crisis occurs, uncertainty remains high. This shows that effective preparedness also has a local dimension, and that information about municipal plans should be visible and easy to find before an event actually happens.
At the same time, the report shows signs of a gradual change in attitudes. A clear majority support the statement that households must be prepared to manage without help from society for one week, and there has been an increase in the share who say they have strengthened their preparedness in the past year. The results also suggest that DSB's information campaigns have had an effect, as many who have read the preparedness brochure have either taken action or plan to do so soon.
The conclusion is clear: even in a country with strong institutions and high trust, a crisis can quickly affect everyday life if basic services fail. Self-preparedness should therefore not be seen as an extreme measure or a reaction driven by fear, but as a rational and responsible choice to strengthen your family's safety and resilience. The challenge ahead is not only to raise awareness of risk, but to turn that awareness into simple plans, practical steps and lasting habits that reduce vulnerability when the unexpected happens.
Source: DSB, "Befolkningsundersøkelse om norske husholdningers bevissthet og atferd knyttet til egenberedskap" (Population survey on Norwegian households' awareness and behaviour regarding self-preparedness), January 2025.