The massive power outage that hit the Iberian Peninsula on April 28 left millions of people without power for hours. Despite the European Union (EU)’s call for people to create a survival kit in recent months, most Spaniards did not have one. According to a survey conducted by the DYM Institute for the newspaper “20 Minutes,” 55.4% of the population now report having either already equipped themselves with basic emergency supplies or considering doing so after the incident.
Specifically, 10.7% of respondents stated that they already own an emergency kit, while 44.7% have not yet purchased one but are considering doing so after the blackout. In contrast, 38.7% of Spaniards stated that they neither own an emergency kit nor plan to purchase one.
At the end of March, the European Commission presented a proposal for an emergency kit amid the debate over increasing defense spending. The goal was to prepare European citizens for the first 72 hours of potential conflicts, natural disasters, cyberattacks, or pandemics.
The power outage that affected Spain highlighted the usefulness of this kit, as the basic items recommended by Brussels include candles, batteries, a flashlight, a radio, an external battery for mobile phones, and cash. The EU Commissioner for Crisis Preparedness, Crisis Management and Gender Equality, Hadja Lahbib, even went so far as to publish a video showcasing her essential items: matches, canned goods, a Swiss Army knife, and even a deck of cards.
Differences by Political Affinity
The DYM report also reveals significant differences in respondents’ political affinity. In this context, Popular Party voters are the most likely to have purchased an emergency kit or are considering doing so on a larger scale: 15.1% already have the kit, and more than half (51.4%) intend to do so. Only 30.2% of this group do not plan to purchase it.
In contrast, PSOE and Sumar voters are the least likely to have confidence in the kit’s usefulness. In both cases, only 9.7% say they have already purchased the items included in the kit. More than half of Yolanda Díaz’s voters (56.3%) are not even considering purchasing them, compared to 42.4% of the Socialists.
Of those considering purchasing a survival kit following the major power outage, 43.9% of PSOE voters belong to this group, while only 32% of Sumar voters are considering doing so.
Of those who voted for Vox, 12.9% say they already own the EU-recommended kit, and 37.2% are considering purchasing one. However, almost half (46.2%) say they are not considering purchasing such a kit.
