Latvia Emergency Guide: 72 Hours and Alerts

Emergency Preparedness in Latvia

Latvia asks every resident to be ready to manage for the first 72 hours of a crisis. Its official brochure, "What to do in case of crisis", is available in English and is one of the most practical in Europe. This page summarises it, together with how you will be warned and who to call.

Emergency numbers

112 All emergencies. There is also a 112 Latvia app.

How you will be warned

Cell broadcast notifications on mobile phones in the affected area. They arrive within seconds, whatever the load on the mobile network.
Emergency sirens.
Radio and television, and the public media portal LSM.
Loudspeakers on emergency vehicles and door-to-door visits when needed.

When you get a warning

Read or listen to the whole message and follow the instructions.
If you hear sirens or loudspeakers, turn on the television or radio and wait for instructions.
Tell your relatives and neighbours.
Do not act on rumours or unverified information.

If there is an attack warning

Go to the nearest shelter at once.
Indoors, use a basement. If there is none, go to an inner room away from windows, with at least two walls between you and the outside.
Outdoors, lie down and cover your head, behind a building or vehicle if you can.

What the authorities ask you to have at home

The Ministry of Defence brochure asks households to prepare for at least 72 hours, preferably a week:

Water: about 3 litres of drinking water per adult per day, 4 in hot weather, plus water for hygiene. Know where wells and springs are, and keep purification tablets.
Food: calorie-rich food that keeps at room temperature for at least 6 months and needs little cooking or water: canned food, pasta, cereals, dried bread, instant soups, nuts, hard cheese. Include baby food, special diets and pet food.
Medicines: pain and fever medicine, stomach and allergy medicine, disinfectant, bandages, your daily medicines, a foil blanket and a thermometer.
Documents: copies of passport, ID and other key documents in waterproof wrapping, and a list of important phone numbers.
Cash: a reserve for one week in 5, 10 and 20 euro notes.
Information, light and power: a portable radio, flashlight, spare batteries, power bank and charger, matches, lighter and candles.
Warmth: warm clothing, sleeping bag, blanket and sleeping mat.

Evacuation bag

Keep it light enough to carry yourself: document copies, water, food, first aid kit and medicines, radio, flashlight, batteries, power bank, warm clothing, cash and a multitool.
Carry your ID or passport at all times in a crisis.
Follow only the routes that the authorities recommend. Your municipality's civil protection plan lists the assembly points.

Work out the amounts with our kit calculator and see the 72-hour kit on a budget.