At the same time that NATO countries increase their defense spending due to fears of an invasion by Russia, the governments of the nations that make up the Western military alliance are also adopting protocols, manuals and guides to prepare for possible wars.
The most recent country to adopt a measure in this regard was the Netherlands. Starting next week, Dutch households will receive an official manual with instructions to face the first 72 hours of a serious crisis, from cyberattacks and blackouts to floods or a possible armed conflict, in an initiative that also seeks a deterrent effect against possible adversaries.
The manual, entitled “Prepare for an emergency situation”, has 33 pages and will be distributed between November 25th and January 10th, in a campaign that aims to increase the preparedness of the population in a country that, according to security experts, continues to be “very vulnerable” to extreme scenarios, the interim government announced this Tuesday (18th) on the public television channel NOS.
The document contains practical advice so that citizens can be self-sufficient during the first days after a disaster, in which the authorities will not be able to immediately assist the entire population.
The content includes scenarios such as a computer attack that leaves the country without electricity, the impossibility of communicating with family, supermarkets out of stock, gas stations closed and doubts about the availability of drinking water.
The document advises citizens to prepare an emergency kit with copies of identity documents, a map of the neighborhood, non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered radio and a whistle to alert rescue teams.
It also suggests that basic issues be planned, such as who will pick up children from school if digital communication fails, how to help neighbors with reduced mobility or what to do if public transport is interrupted.
Other NATO countries had recently adopted guides and protocols for war scenarios. Last year, Berlin drew up the “Germany Operations Plan”, which establishes a series of protocols to defend the country in the event of an invasion.
This year, Poland published a manual with guidance on how to proceed in the face of possible conflicts, public health crises and natural disasters, among other scenarios.
In addition to drafting a similar guide, the French government sent a letter in July to regional health agencies determining that hospitals be ready by March 2026 to treat thousands of wounded soldiers in the event of a large-scale armed conflict.
