All Dutch Citizens to Receive Emergency Booklet

Article from NOS.nl transleted by Ref fm.
Starting next week, all Dutch citizens will receive a booklet in their mailbox titled “Prepare for an Emergency Situation”. The goal is to raise awareness among citizens about the consequences of disasters such as floods, war, or cyberattacks.

The 33-page government brochure, which will be delivered between November 25 and January 10, includes tips for the first three days of a disaster. During this time, the government and emergency services may not be able to assist everyone, so citizens need to be self-sufficient.

“We are extremely vulnerable, and the question is whether we fully understand that.” Ot van Daal “.

The call for people to prepare for emergency scenarios has been heard for some time. NATO chief Rutte stated last year that, due to the Russian threat, it’s time for us to “mentally prepare for war.” The Dutch government supported this call and added that, in addition to war, scenarios such as floods and pandemics are also possible.

As a result, many Dutch people purchased survival kits. However, experts believe there’s still room for improvement in raising awareness.

Empty Supermarkets and No Online Communication
When you open the booklet, you’ll encounter disaster scenarios that we mostly see in movies. If hackers successfully attack our power grid, we could be unable to communicate with friends and family within hours. Gas stations will close, supermarkets will run out of goods, and it may no longer be certain that water will come from the tap. A few hours later, you might be sitting under a blanket with a candle burning next to you, listening to the emergency radio with your neighbors.

Doesn’t this scenario cause fear? According to outgoing Minister of Defense Brekelmans, the opposite is the goal: If people carefully consider the first 72 hours of a disaster, they will become more resilient and feel safer.

The brochure is certainly needed, according to Brekelmans. He pointed out on Nieuwsuur that cyberattacks are happening daily and that Russian ships are spying in the North Sea. “They may be preparing for sabotage that could affect vital infrastructure. It is very possible that Russia will take more risks in the coming years.”

What Can You Do?
The booklet encourages people to assemble an emergency kit, which should include copies of identification documents, a map of the neighborhood, and a whistle to attract the attention of emergency services.

In addition, the government advises thinking about potential emergency scenarios. Who will pick up the children from school if digital communication is lost? How will you help the neighbor who has difficulty walking?

Campaigns like this are desperately needed, says Ot van Daalen.
He is a lawyer specializing in cybersecurity and has written a book about disasters that could impact the Netherlands. “We are extremely vulnerable, and the question is whether we fully realize this.”

The biggest dangers, according to Van Daalen, occur when our internet goes down and critical infrastructures are at risk of failing. Think of sluices that can no longer be closed, leading to floods. This could then cause essential data centers to flood, with even more disastrous consequences. “It’s precisely these connections that pose the greatest danger.”

Near Flooding in Amsterdam
It’s a good thing that the outgoing government is launching this campaign, says the security expert. At the same time, he believes that the government itself must step up its efforts.

As an example, Van Daalen points to the high water levels in Amsterdam in 2023: at the sluice complex in IJmuiden, alarm systems were turned off because they were going off too often and were making too much noise. As a result, the capital narrowly escaped a flood.

Outgoing Minister Brekelmans says that his defense apparatus will deploy all resources in the event of a disaster. However, he adds: “If something very large happens, no government can help every household.” Additionally, he notes, it may well be that the Dutch military will send more resources to Eastern Europe in the coming years. “In such a situation, society needs to be more self-reliant.”

According to Brekelmans, a self-sufficient society also has a preventive effect: our adversaries would be discouraged by it. “If you know that an attack won’t disrupt us, there’s little point in trying.”