This blog post examines France’s newly announced official “survival guide,” Tous résilients, a compact 30‑page booklet designed to help citizens prepare for a broad range of emergencies — from severe weather and industrial accidents to cyberattacks, terrorism, and even limited war scenarios.
Drawing on three decades of experience in civil safety and emergency management, I’ll explain what’s in the guide, why it matters, and how individuals and communities can turn its recommendations into practical resilience.
What the guide covers and why it matters
The French government plans to publish Tous résilients before October 13, coinciding with National Resilience Day.
The initiative takes inspiration from Sweden’s 2018 national preparedness booklet and aims to provide straightforward, actionable advice to households across the country.
Unlike exhaustive civil defense manuals, this short format focuses on accessible steps the public can implement immediately to reduce risk and improve outcomes during crises.
Short, well-targeted guidance lowers the barrier to preparedness, clarifies official alerting channels, and encourages civic participation in resilience-building activities.
The guide’s scope includes natural hazards, technological incidents, cyber threats, public health emergencies, and security-related events.
Three core sections: Prepare, Protect, Engage
The booklet is organized into three intuitive sections: Prepare, Protect, and Engage.
Each section is designed to move readers from individual readiness to community involvement.
Prepare focuses on practical, immediate measures: how to shelter safely indoors, what to do during floods (including avoiding fast-moving waterways), and safe evacuation procedures when required.
These are simple behaviors that can prevent injury and save lives when seconds matter.
Protect explains how to recognize France’s alert systems, interpret alarms, and follow official communication channels during an emergency.
Knowing where to find verified information and how to act on official directives is as important as having supplies on hand.
Engage encourages citizens to take an active role in community resilience — whether by raising awareness among neighbors, volunteering with local civil protection groups, or considering service in the army reserves.
Resilience is multiplied when individuals work collectively.
Practical preparedness: the emergency kit and everyday risks
One of the most tangible takeaways from Tous résilients is the recommended basic emergency kit.
A small, well-chosen set of items greatly increases self-reliance in the first 72 hours after an incident.
The guide suggests essentials that are realistic for most households.
Assemble these items now and review them annually so they remain useful when needed.
Recommended emergency kit items
While a small portion of the booklet acknowledges potential war scenarios, the emphasis remains on everyday risks most citizens are likely to encounter: storms, industrial accidents, disease outbreaks, cyber incidents, and terrorism.
This pragmatic focus increases the guide’s relevance and encourages broader uptake.
Here is the source article for this story: France to release official ‘survival guide’ to help people prepare for emergencies