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NORWAY EXPLAINED

The emergency supplies Norway’s government wants you stock

Life is full of shocks, and you never know when the unexpected, such as a power cut, could be lurking around the corner. The Norwegian Civil Defence keeps updated guidelines of what residents should keep in their homes for emergencies.

Published: 21 February 2023 13:10 CET
Updated: 21 January 2024 07:42 CET
Food storage
In this article, we will go through some of the common risks in Norway and official emergency storage recommendations in the country. Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

Norway is well-known as a safe country – that’s why tens of thousands of people move to the country each year.

However, even well-off societies are vulnerable to crises, regardless of their nature. From health crises to security concerns, as well as power cuts and extreme weather, you never know when life’s about to become a bit more unpredictable.

Therefore, taking basic precautions and preparing for the unexpected in advance should definitely be something you think about every once in a while – even in Norway.

Thankfully, Norway’s Civil Defence keeps an overview of the essential supplies you need to get you through emergencies such as power cuts and extreme weather. 

Why it’s a good idea to plan ahead

Power outages are especially tricky, as most people in Norway are highly dependent on electricity for heating, lighting, cooking, hot water, and electrical appliances.

Therefore, the website sikkerhverdag.no – operated by the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (Norwegian: Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap) – has typically recommended having enough supplies for around three days. However, it has said it wants to update its guidelines and that households should manage for up to seven days. 

Although, the civil defence did say that managing to store water for up to seven days while  living in a housing association would be a challenge for many. 

What to include in your emergency storage

The state-funded website states that people in Norway would do well to keep a small emergency reserve of things that they cannot do without, such as water, food, medicines, and heat sources.

As the DSB notes, with simple emergency supplies, most people can manage on their own for at least three days, enabling them to get through most crises.

If a protracted crisis appears, your emergency store will buy you enough time to draw up new plans and consider your next steps. At the same time, you also help ensure that those who need it most can get help first.

The Directorate for Social Security and Preparedness also offers an recommended emergency store that people in Norway are suggested to have:

  • Nine litres of water per person
  • Two packages of crackers per person
  • One packet of oatmeal per person
  • Three tins of canned food or three bags of dry food per person
  • Three cans of cold cuts per person
  • A few bags of dried fruit or nuts, biscuits and chocolate
  • Any prescribed medication
  • A wood, gas, or kerosene stove for heating
  • A grill or cooker that runs on gas
  • Candles, a flashlight with batteries, or a kerosene lamp
  • Matches or a lighter
  • Warm clothes, a blanket, and a sleeping bag
  • A first aid kit
  • A battery-operated Dab radio
  • Batteries and a mobile phone charger that you can use in your car
  • Wet wipes and disinfectant
  • Drying/toilet paper
  • Sanitary products
  • Some cash
  • Extra fuel and wood/gas/kerosene/rubbing alcohol for heating and cooking
  • Iodine tablets in case of nuclear incidents if you are under 40, pregnant, breastfeeding or have children living at home

The example of an emergency store above is considered ample for three days. If guidelines that Norwegians will need stores for seven days are officially adopted, then more food, water, and sanitary products may be needed. 

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NORWAY EXPLAINED

The things you won’t see in Norway that are common elsewhere

When you move to (or visit) a new country, you almost inevitably encounter a bit of culture shock - or, at the very least, some surprising social norms and experiences.

Published: 22 April 2024 15:50 CEST
The things you won't see in Norway that are common elsewhere

Moving to Norway – or just visiting it as a tourist – offers no shortage of incredible sights and experiences that you’ll struggle to find anywhere else.

However, among these features lie several elements of European urban life that are conspicuously absent from life in Norway, drawing curious glances from visitors accustomed to their presence elsewhere.

With that in mind, The Local has compiled a list of things you might find noticeably – and somewhat oddly – missing from day-to-day life in Norway.

A (mostly) cashless society

In a world where cash is king, many newcomers to Norway remain baffled by the apparent absence of cash in everyday transactions.

In most Norwegian cities, it’s not uncommon for people to see entire months pass without a single physical coin or banknote changing hands.

Instead, most people use electronic payment methods such as the widespread Vipps e-payment app, mobile payments, and contactless cards, effectively rendering cash obsolete in many scenarios.

Ordering takeout? There’s Vipps.

Going shopping? You pay via card.

Paying the mortgage rate? Online banking.

Donating at church? Vipps again.

As Håkon Fyhn, an associate professor at NTNU who researches robotisation, digitisation, and automation, told The Local in a recent interview, Norwegian society is characterised by a high level of trust in government and banks, so people don’t use cash because they trust digital money.

EXPLAINED: The pros and cons of Norway going cashless

“The short answer is that for most people in Norway, there are now digital alternatives that are more convenient to use and readily available – notably credit cards (on plastic or phone) and Vipps (a Norwegian phone-based money transfer service) for small and medium exchanges,” he said.

Homeless people in Norway

Wandering the streets of most of Norway’s cities, you’ll likely notice the absence of a demographic that tends to be, unfortunately, quite present in urban landscapes in Europe – homeless people.

Homelessness has significantly declined in Norway since 2012, with numbers halving, according to recent data.

This reduction can be attributed to a concerted strategy that emphasises the development of housing and support services, alongside the cultivation of expertise in addressing homelessness, as reported in a 2022 article by Husbanken Norway.

Efforts have been particularly targeted at vulnerable groups within the housing market, with a specific focus on families with children and people grappling with substance abuse and mental health issues.

According to a national survey on homelessness in Norway conducted in 2020, the total number of homeless people was 3,325.

Considering the country’s population of approximately 5,400,000 inhabitants, this is a rate of 0.62 homeless persons per 1,000 inhabitants, which is considered relatively low.

No piles of trash on the street (for the most part)

While bustling tourist hubs – such as the Lofoten Islands in the north of Norway or the Trolltunga rock formation in Vestland Country – can become full of trash in peak tourism season, generally speaking, Norway’s streets tend to be very clean compared to some other European countries.

With a deeply ingrained culture of personal responsibility for waste management, many Norwegians maintain their urban environments to a very high standard, making ugly piles of trash a rare sight.

READ MORE: What you need to know about rubbish and recycling in Norway

The widespread adage is to leave every place cleaner than how you found it. Therefore, don’t be surprised when you see picking up others’ litter in the woods, on hikes, or on walks through their neighbourhoods.

That being said, there is a very intense debate on the over-tourism of Norway’s top attractions – and the negative impacts of this phenomenon – going on in the country at the moment. The Local has covered this issue in more detail in this article.

Few skyscrapers

Norway’s skyline starkly contrasts the towering cityscapes synonymous with many other Western countries.

Even in Oslo, the country’s capital, strict building limits curtail the construction of skyscrapers. Instead, the cityscape is usually dominated by low to mid-rise buildings.

The situation is more or less the same in other major Norwegian cities, such as Bergen, Stavanger, and Trondheim.

Furthermore, as Norway is spread across vast stretches of land, its population is thinly scattered across the expansive terrain.

Therefore, historically, the necessity for towering skyscrapers to make use of urban real estate hasn’t been pressing, given the abundance of space available (outside major urban centres).

READ MORE: Property prices in Norway to surge over the next few years

Factors such as population pressure, limited supply, and growing demand in the real estate market in the country’s major cities are raising questions about whether this should continue.

Where are the curtains?

Another curious absence that might go unnoticed until pointed out is the absence of curtains on the windows of Norwegian homes.

Unlike in many other countries, where curtains are a common decoration for privacy, Norway’s residents often forego this conventional window dressing, preferring unrestricted views of the surrounding landscapes and prioritising more natural light during the day.

Interestingly, the prevalence of curtains varies across different districts and neighbourhoods, with areas with higher populations of international residents at times featuring a higher concentration of curtain-clad windows.

This may stem from a desire to cater to the preferences of those accustomed to the conventional use of curtains for privacy.

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