On October 26, 2026, La Poste is issuing a sheet of three stamps dedicated to the emergency kit for extreme weather events. Because a crisis can upend daily life, it is essential to be prepared to take action.
Heatwaves, storms, and wildfires: the summer of 2026 was marked by a succession of events that exposed each of us to dangerous situations. These increasingly frequent crises affect more and more French people every year. We must face a reality: by 2030, average temperatures will have risen further. Ongoing climate change and its consequences demand a large-scale response. Today, the vast majority of French people do not feel prepared for a natural disaster. On a human level, this requires adaptation and an improvement in our collective resilience.
Whether in daily life or during a crisis, French Red Cross volunteers are on the ground, close to the people who need them most, working to protect and support them and help them get back on their feet. To anticipate future crises and feel better prepared to mitigate their impact, the French Red Cross encourages the public to assemble an emergency kit. Designed to ensure self-sufficiency for 24 to 72 hours until help arrives, the emergency kit or "Catakit®" must enable every household to meet five vital needs: hydration, nutrition, medical care, protection, and signaling one's presence. It should be supplemented individually and tailored to each household's specific needs with items such as photocopies of ID documents, medications, non-perishable food, and spare car and house keys. Putting together an emergency kit is another step toward personal resilience and helps you feel ready to respond to a crisis.
