What emergency supplies do you need?

The stockpile plan outlined in the government’s "Concept for Civil Defense" paper obligates Germans to store 10 days' worth of food and five days' worth of drinking water. The idea is for people to have enough supplies - including cash and medicine - on hand to get them through an emergency situation before government assistance kicks in.

The level of preparedness proposed in the paper hasn't been seen since the end of the Cold War. The strategy was originally commissioned by a parliamentary committee in 2012, but its release now comes amid a raft of new security measures and heightened terror concerns. Still, its contents aren't new - German authorities have long urged households to store two weeks' worth of emergency supplies.

The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, for example, has published a checklist online with recommended supplies for a 14-day period. The most important thing on the list is water - 28 liters per person for a fortnight, or around two liters per day. People can survive a few weeks without food, but only four days without liquid.

The Ministry of Food even has an online "calculator" to help you work out what kind of food - and how much - to stock up on. It recommends 4.9 kilograms of cereal-based products like rice, bread and noodles per person per fortnight. It also suggests 5.6kg of veggies, 3.7kg each of milk products and fruit and nuts, and 2.1kg of fish and meat. All food should be able to last without refrigeration.

While food and water are key to survival, hygiene is also important for preventing disease. Washing hands, showering and brushing teeth aren't so easy if there's no running water or electricity. If water is scarce, collect what is available in big containers or basins. And be sure to have enough soap, detergent, toothpaste, wet wipes, rubbish bags, hand sanitizer and toilet paper on hand.

The government also advises keeping a medicine cabinet stocked with supplies in case it's not possible to get to a hospital. That means, among other things, a first aid kit, the necessary personal prescription drugs, cold medicine, painkillers, anti-diarrhea and nausea medicine, electrolytes, a thermometer and disinfectant.

Power outages usually only last a few hours, but in emergency situations they could last days. That can mean no lights, no cell phones and no heating. To prepare for that eventuality, it's a good idea to have a supply of flashlights and candles handy, along with matches and batteries. If you have a fireplace, make sure you also have plenty of briquettes and wood.

Battery-powered radios can be a useful way to get information if the power network is down, according to the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance. In some cases these devices might be the only way to receive life-saving warnings in an emergency. Again, keep a supply of batteries and replace them regularly.

A wad of cash is another important part of any household's emergency supplies. There may not be time to rush to a bank, and ATMs won't work if the power is out.

The idea of stocking up on supplies suggests being trapped at home, but sometimes emergencies force you to leave. That's why it's wise to have a bag already packed. According to government advice, it should contain: first aid materials, meals for two days, key personal documents, a water bottle, sleeping bag, protective clothing, plus many of the other items mentioned earlier in this checklist.