Preparing in a flat is the same five needs as any home, water, heat, light, communication and food, but with two twists: little storage space, and no safe way to burn fuel indoors. The answer is a compact, organised kit and heat that needs no flame. Sweden's Agency for Civil Defence (MCF, formerly MSB) recommends every household manage at least one week on its own. Here is how to do it in a small space.
Reviewed by Oskar Bjork, defence engineer (Swedish Armed Forces) and adviser to Kapsel. Last updated 2026-06-22.
What changes in a flat
- Storage is tight, so the kit has to be compact and in one place, not spread across a garage you do not have.
- No fireplace and no safe way to run a generator or grill indoors, so heat comes from layers, sleeping bags and body warmth in one closed room, not from combustion.
- Lifts stop in a power cut, so keep a torch by the door and know your stairs.
What to prioritise
- Water: 3 to 5 litres per person per day, stored compactly, plus a filter to treat more.
- Heat: sleeping bag per person, wool layers, gather in one small room and close it off.
- Light and power: head torch, power bank, candles used with care.
- Information: a battery or hand-crank radio for P4 and the VMA alert.
- Food: no-cook food for a week. A small camping stove only if you can ventilate safely.
Storing it where you can find it
In a flat, the kit that gets used is the one you can see and reach. A single organised bag by the hall beats boxes pushed under a bed. The Kapsel Core is built for exactly this, three capsules in one bag, designed to stay in view in a modern home rather than hidden away, with over 30 certified components for one to three people. See the Kapsel Core.
Frequently asked questions
How do I prepare for a power cut in an apartment?
Keep a compact kit in one reachable place: water and a filter, a sleeping bag and wool layers, a head torch and power bank, and a battery radio. Gather in one small room to stay warm.
How do I stay warm in a flat without electricity?
Use layers, a sleeping bag per person, and close off one room. Do not burn fuel, a generator or a grill indoors, it is a carbon monoxide risk.
Where should I store an emergency kit in a small flat?
In one place you can see and reach, ideally by the entrance. A kit you can find in the dark beats a bigger one buried in storage.
Related: a week without power and water and the complete checklist. Sources: MCF (mcf.se), krisinformation.se.