Netherlands residents not well prepared for disasters

Last week’s global Windows outage showed how vulnerable the world is to digital disruptions. This time, the outage affected airports, hospitals, and communication systems. Next time, it could be electricity, water purification, or payment processors. Netherlands residents are not well prepared for when things go wrong, Pieter-Jaap Aalbersgerg of the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) told NOS.

“Suppose all the power goes out, and it is pitch black. What do you do? Do you have an emergency kit with candles, water, batteries, and cash? Those certainties ensure that you are more resilient,” Aalbersberg said. “Also, consider what you depend on and see if you will get into trouble if you cannot leave the house for a while and can’t go shopping”

The NCTV director also advises talking to your neighbors about their needs. “Is there perhaps someone who needs a lot of care, and now can you support that person as a neighborhood, for example.”

The Nehterlands puts a lot of energy into protecting its systems, but it is a good idea to also have a plan B, the NCTV said. “The threat is increasing, especially with all the conflicts of today, and attacks on digital systems are becoming more real. Last week’s outage was a wake-up call. We really need to become more resilient. That does not mean preventing something from happening, but above all, ensuring that society can continue to function if it does.”

The Red Cross also urged Netherlands residents to make basic preparations for a disaster. “We think it is a far-fetched idea, but last week, it turned out that it was not,” Nicole van Batenburg of the Red Cross said. “Write down telephone numbers, make copies of your important documents, and, of course, make sure that you have an emergency kit and enough water. In the event of a flood, drinking water can become contaminated, for example.”