Quiz

How crisis-ready are you?

Being crisis-ready means getting through the first days of an emergency on your own: with water and emergency supplies for about a week, a grid-independent link to official information and a plan everyone in the household knows. In 14 questions this test shows you where you stand – and what your next sensible step is.

Switzerland is a safe country, but a power cut, severe weather, a chemical incident with the instruction to "stay indoors", or a pandemic can restrict everyday life from one moment to the next. In the first hours and days you often have to fend for yourself until help is organised. That is exactly what preparedness is for – and what this test measures.

It is based on the Confederation's official recommendations: with "Clever tip – emergency supplies", the Federal Office for National Economic Supply (FONES) advises keeping supplies for about a week and at least 9 litres of drinking water per person. The Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) provides information via Alertswiss on alerting, the emergency kit and correct behaviour. This test turns those recommendations into concrete questions.

The quiz covers four areas: water and food, communication and information, safety and emergency kit, plus your general preparedness behaviour. Each answer earns points; at the end you get one of five levels, your partial results per topic and, for every question, the ideal answer.

This is not about fear but about composure: those who are prepared stay calm in an emergency and at the same time ease the burden on the emergency services. Each result level links you to the matching guides so you can carry on right away.

1. How much drinking water do you have at home, per person?

No fixed supply A few bottles for 1–2 days Around 9 litres per person (FONES guideline) 9 litres plus an extra supply or a treatment option for about a week

2. How long could you manage on your food supplies without shopping?

At most 1–2 days About 3 days About a week of non-perishable food About a week, matched to what we actually eat

3. How would you make contaminated water drinkable if the supply fails?

Not at all – I couldn't do it I'd only pour it through a cloth / coffee filter Boil it Boil it and also keep a filter or tablets ready (e.g. Micropur)

4. What do you use to prepare a hot meal during a power cut, and where?

A grill or gas stove indoors Not at all – I eat cold food A gas stove, but without spare cartridges A gas stove with spare cartridges, outdoors only / well ventilated

5. How do you keep your supplies current and usable?

Not at all – I don't know what has expired I rarely check I check them about once a year I use them up continuously and replace them "first in, first out" (with an inventory list)

6. How would you get emergency information if power and the mobile network fail?

Not at all – only via my smartphone Via the car radio A battery or hand-crank radio (FM/DAB+) A battery/hand-crank radio, plus Alertswiss and the known emergency meeting point of the municipality

7. Do you know what the siren signals in Switzerland mean?

No, not at all I only know that sirens exist I know the general alarm I can tell the general alarm and the water alarm apart and know what to do in each case

8. Have you agreed in your household how to reach each other in an emergency and where to meet?

No, nothing agreed We would just call each other We have talked about a meeting point A written emergency plan with meeting points, a contact list on paper and the known emergency meeting point of the municipality

9. How do you handle social media messages during a crisis?

I share whatever I see I usually believe what is widely shared I'm sceptical, but I don't actively check I rely on official sources (Alertswiss, authorities, SRF) and verify before sharing

10. Do you have an emergency kit ready in case you have to leave quickly?

No, none at all In an emergency I'd have to gather things first Yes, a bag is roughly packed Yes, packed, carryable (adults max. approx. 20–25 % of body weight) and within reach

11. How are your important documents (IDs, insurance policies) secured?

Not particularly All originals in one place at home Copies in a folder A waterproof folder, plus a digital copy and a second set kept outside the home

12. How well stocked is your home first-aid kit?

None, or almost nothing A few plasters and painkillers Basic supplies with dressings and common medicines Complete basic supplies plus a reserve of your regular medication

13. How would you keep warm during a power cut in winter?

I'd run a grill, patio heater or generator indoors I don't really have an idea With warm clothing and blankets Heat a single room, layer up, sleeping bag/blankets – never an open flame indoors

14. Do you have cash in case cards and ATMs stop working?

No, none at all Only some loose change Some cash somewhere at home Some cash in small notes, within reach in your supplies or emergency kit

The five result levels

Level 1: Unprotected

In an emergency you would depend on immediate help – your key first step is a basic supply of water and food.

Right now you have hardly any preparedness in place. That's no reason to panic, but it is a wake-up call: even a power cut lasting several hours, severe weather or an order to "stay indoors" would catch you off guard. The good news is that the first steps are simple, cheap and quick.

Start with the foundation: at least 9 litres of drinking water per person and non-perishable food for about a week. Buy only what you eat anyway and set a little aside during your normal shopping – no expensive panic buying. Add a battery-powered light source and a radio.

Use the checklists as a shopping guide and work through them week by week. Even after the first shop you'll be much better off than today.

Level 2: Basic kit

You've taken the first steps – now it's about completing your supplies and preparing an emergency kit.

A few building blocks are already in place, but there are gaps. You may have water or food, but the pieces don't yet work together: the full week's supply, the means to treat water, or an emergency kit within reach in case you have to leave home.

First round your supplies up to about a week and make sure you can cook and treat water even without electricity. Think of the often-forgotten items: a manual can opener, spare batteries, some cash in small notes.

Then pack an emergency kit. Keep it to a carryable weight – for adults at most around 20–25 % of body weight. The checklists help you not to overlook anything.

Level 3: Solidly prepared

Your basics are sound – now it's worth strengthening household organisation and communication.

You've prepared in several areas and would get through the first days. What makes the difference now is less about kit and more about organisation: does everyone in the household know what to do, where to meet and how to reach each other if the network is overloaded?

Create a family emergency plan. Via Alertswiss the Confederation provides a free template that answers three questions: how do I contact my family? Where do I go? What do I take with me? Enter your municipality's emergency meeting point and put together a contact list on paper.

At the same time, check that your emergency kit is current and carryable, and get familiar with the emergency numbers. That turns solid equipment into a well-rehearsed routine.

Level 4: Well equipped

You are comprehensively prepared – now deepen your communication and situational awareness for long or large-scale events.

Your preparedness is above average: supplies, water, emergency kit and organisation work together. For the last few per cent, it's worth looking at the areas that become decisive in long or widespread situations – above all grid-independent communication.

Explore the options for emergency communication: from hand-crank radio and PMR/CB to amateur radio and mesh-based networks. A second, independent information channel is valuable if mobile and internet go down.

Also keep an eye on the current situation picture and refine your family emergency plan until all roles and meeting points are settled. That prepares you even for rare but high-impact scenarios.

Level 5: Crisis-ready

You are exemplarily prepared – keep your preparedness current and pass on your knowledge.

Congratulations: across all areas – water, food, communication and safety – you are excellently equipped. You would not only get through an emergency yourself but could also support neighbours and family. That is exactly what eases the burden on the emergency services in a crisis.

Your task now is mainly to maintain the level: rotate supplies, replace batteries and medication, and run through the emergency plan and contact list with everyone once a year. Also check rarely used knowledge – such as where your protected place would be assigned and when a shelter is actually used.

Stay informed about the current situation and go deeper into specialist topics like radio. And share your knowledge: encouraging those around you to prepare makes the whole neighbourhood more resilient.