Everyone in the EU has been told to pack a kit that will help them survive for three days in case of war or natural disaster. The advice, issued to nearly half a billion people across 27 countries, includes telling people to buy bottled water,

The European Union plans to take steps to prepare both civilians and militaries for potential war, climate disasters, cyberattacks, or health emergencies. As part of the EU's proposals, Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib aims to ensure that every household in the EU has a survival kit capable of sustaining them for at least 72 hours.

For Finns and Swedes, preparedness is natural as they live next to a neighbor that poses a real threat to their security: Russia under Vladimir Putin. If war truly breaks out, Europeans will need more than a kit that fits in a purse to survive.