kit urgence gouvernement en cas de crise
EMERGENCY

Emergency kit distributed in summer 2025 by the French government

This summer, every French household will receive an emergency kit in their letterbox, distributed by the government as a survival guide. Its aim is to help everyone prepare to cope with a crisis situation — flooding, heatwave, cyberattack, power or water outage — independently for at least 72 hours.

The message is clear: it is better to be prepared than to suffer.

But what exactly does this emergency kit contain?

Is it really comprehensive when it comes to drinking water?

In this article, we detail the complete list of items recommended by the government for the emergency kit, analyse the vital needs that should not be underestimated, and propose concrete solutions to ensure sustainable self-sufficiency in drinking water, even in the event of a crisis.

Why an emergency survival kit?

A policy of emergency response and resilience

The government's initiative is part of a strategy to build territorial resilience in the face of growing risks:

  • Extreme weather events (floods, heatwaves, storms)
  • Systemic crises (water shortages, power cuts, pandemics)
  • Cyberattacks that could affect public services

The goal is to enable everyone to survive for at least three days without outside help, until emergency services or other services resume normal operations.

This is neither alarmist nor survivalist: it is common sense. And it starts with an inventory of vital needs.

What does the emergency kit recommended by the French government contain?

  • icone électricité éclair

    Lighting & electricity

    • Flashlight or headlamp (with spare batteries)
    • Charged external battery or generator
  • icone téléphone communication

    Communication

    • Battery-powered or dynamo radio (to follow the news)
    • Pre-charged phone

  • Water & food

    • 6 litres of drinking water per person (2 litres per day for drinking)
    • Tinned food, compotes, energy bars, dried fruit, freeze-dried food
    • Manual can opener

  • Health & hygiene

    • First aid kit
    • Common and personal medicines
    • Toilet paper, soap, biodegradable wipes
  • Icone document administratif

    Documents & information

    • Photocopies of identity documents, health record book
    • List of essential contacts
    • Cash
  • icone divers

    Other useful accessories

    • Adhesive tape, multi-purpose knife
    • Change of clothes, survival blanket
    • Whistle, notebook, pencil
    • Paper map of the area
verre d'eau symbolisant l'eau en situation de survie

Water: a vital priority and logistical challenge

The guide recommends 6 litres of water per person for 3 days. This volume is the minimum amount needed for drinking. It does not cover:

  • cooking (cooking, rehydration),
  • washing (hands, face, personal hygiene)
  • basic cleaning (dishes, wounds, objects).

In a crisis situation, it is better to plan for 10 to 15 litres per person per day, or 120 to 180 litres for a family of four over three days. This is impossible to store in standard bottles.

The real question is therefore: how can we make water available, drinkable and safe, completely independently?

Why is water storage a bad idea?

  • Icone mauvaise idée

    Clutter and reduced mobility

  • Icone mauvaise idée

    Degradation over time (plastic bottles + heat)

  • Icone mauvaise idée

    Difficult to transport in the event of evacuation

  • Icone mauvaise idée

    Dependence on continuous supply

What solutions are available for producing drinking water independently?

Here is a comparison of the main methods that can be used in an emergency situation:

Discover ORISA®
Photo du purificateur sur un établi de bricolage en mode prévoyance, stock, éco anxiété

The ORISA® water filter: the choice for sustainable water autonomy

ORISA® is a water purifier manufactured in France that works by manual pumping and removes microbiological contaminants from water using a durable ultrafiltration membrane. Each membrane can filter up to 20,000 litres of water, equivalent to more than 13,000 1.5-litre plastic water bottles.

Its strengths: filtration and reliability

  • Instant water on demand
  • Effective against viruses, bacteria and protozoa
  • No connection required
  • Simple pump operation
  • Suitable for households or small groups of people
  • Easily transportable (2kg and less than 50cm)
  • Designed and manufactured in France
  • Zero disposable plastic
  • Can be stored and reused for several years

It is a reliable and sustainable alternative to bottled water and the public water supply. It is ideal for inclusion in a survival kit — or better still, as part of a long-term self-sufficiency strategy.

I'm getting equipped

When to use it and why store it?

  • In the event of a water outage, bacteriological pollution alert or biological warfare

    A technical incident, sabotage or targeted attack on water networks can render tap water unfit for consumption. In the extreme case of a biological attack, authorities recommend isolating yourself and securing your resources.

    ✅ The ORISA® water purifier allows you to make questionable or raw water drinkable.

    💡 It eliminates bacteria, viruses, pathogens and microbiological contaminants without relying on the mains supply.

  • On the move for protection or in isolated camps

    In the event of a preventive evacuation or temporary accommodation (shelter, forest, safe place), you must be able to find, transport and purify your own water.

    ✅ The ORISA® water filter can be taken anywhere and even works with river, rain or well water.

    💡 It requires no electricity or gravity, just elbow grease.

  • During extreme weather events (drought, flooding, earthquakes, etc.)

    These events are becoming increasingly frequent. Access to water can be compromised for several days or even weeks.

    ✅ With an autonomous system, you can filter locally available water, even if it is highly turbid.

    💡 The ORISA® water filter ensures your autonomy continues, where plastic water bottles are not enough.

  • As a replacement for everyday plastic bottles, particularly in the event of a shortage

    In times of supply shortages, shelves are emptying. And single-use plastic poses a real environmental problem.

    ✅ The purifier is an economical, eco-friendly solution that is always ready to use.

    💡 The ORISA® water filter helps you break free from logistical dependence and single-use products.

  • In the event of water shortages or restrictions

    Whether it's rationing, temporary network shutdowns or prefectural decrees, access to water becomes uncertain.

    ✅ You no longer have to put up with interruptions. You remain independent and calm.

    💡 The ORISA® water purifier allows a family to filter hundreds of litres of water without infrastructure.

  • To protect his family

    Planning ahead for your loved ones is also a form of kindness. When water becomes an issue, you can't improvise.

    ✅ A reliable purifier is one of the essentials to keep at home or take with you.

    💡 The ORISA® water purifier is designed to last and protect what is most precious to you.

How to create an emergency kit tailored to your situation?

Being prepared means taking back control. A well-thought-out emergency kit should not be a fixed list, but a coherent set of items tailored to your lifestyle, environment and personal constraints.

Anticipating today means avoiding critical situations tomorrow. By choosing reliable equipment, such as an ORISA® water purifier you can transform a simple emergency bag into a real tool for self-sufficiency.

Every household has specific needs. Here are some practical tips for adapting the official emergency kit:

  • Icone famille

    Family with children

    • More water (milk, bottles)
    • Calm activities (books, simple games)
    • Thermal cover and suitable nappy
  • icone logement urbain appartements

    Urban housing

    • Limited space: priority given to compactness and multifunctionality
    • Disposal possible: ready-to-take-away bag
    • Purifier = sustainable alternative to bulky storage
  • Icone zone rurale

    Rural area

    • Rainwater collection tank or well
    • Local mutual aid
    • Protection and communication system
  • Icone personne nomade

    Nomad

    • Map of water sources
    • Stove or wood fire
    • Network map or offline map

Conclusion: plan for the essentials, calmly

The survival kit recommended by the government is an excellent initiative to encourage collective reflection on our individual preparedness.

However, it must be adapted to each situation. And when it comes to something as vital as water, it is clear that one-off storage is not enough. Investing in a reliable, reusable, autonomous and sustainable purification system is a sensible choice.

With ORISA®, you are choosing sustainable autonomy without compromising on health or environmental impact.

Find out more