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DR-Inland in Denmark

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 • 9:23 AM UTC - in Denmark

Prepared for cyber attacks, war - or zombies? More of us are taking crisis courses

At free courses across the country, Danes are being equipped to manage on their own for three days - and at the same time help their neighbors.

Peter Thygesen, Natalie Viberg and Cathy Bilgrav are three of the several thousand Danes who have attended one of the Danish Emergency Management Agency's free courses. (Photo: © Steen Færgemand, DR News) 31 minutes ago

What do you do if there is suddenly no power in the socket or water from the tap?

Several of us are taking courses at the Danish Emergency Management Agency to learn.

Last year, the agency held courses for a total of 14,500 Danes on crisis-ready home preparedness - at libraries, community centers and many other places.

And they expect at least as many this year.

- Overall, these are people who want to deepen their knowledge so they are sure they are doing the right thing, explains senior project manager Malou Laursen.

* Cathy Bilgrav came to the course to learn more about what she should prepare for - and how. (Photo: © Steen Færgemand, DR News)

* Peter Thygesen was one of those who showed up for the course on crisis-ready home preparedness at the Hammerum-Gjellerup Library near Herning last night. (Photo: © Steen Færgemand, DR News)

1 / 2 Cathy Bilgrav came to the course to learn more about what she should prepare for - and how. (Photo: © Steen Færgemand, DR News) 1 / 2 Peter Thygesen was one of those who showed up for the course on crisis-ready home preparedness at the Hammerum-Gjellerup Library near Herning last night. (Photo: © Steen Færgemand, DR News) 2 / 2

30 people showed up for the course at the Hammerum-Gjellerup Library near Herning.

- I came to be prepared for whatever it might be. Whether it's a cyber attack, war or... well, I don't think zombies are that relevant, but you never know, says Cathy Bilgrav and breaks into a disarming grin.

Many of the other course participants share that slightly hesitant curiosity, including Peter Thygesen.

- If an alarm goes off, you have to figure out where to go and how to behave, he says about his reason for attending the course.

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Prepared together

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This year, the Danish Emergency Management Agency has chosen to place extra focus on crisis-ready neighborliness - that is, being prepared together.

This can range from a neighborhood buying a backup generator together, to simply talking about how to look out for one another.

- There are plenty of elderly people, for example, who manage very well on their own in daily life, do their own shopping and are not in contact with the municipality or others. But the day the power goes out, they will suddenly become very vulnerable, points out senior project manager Malou Laursen.

- And then it's nice to know that there are some neighbors who will knock on the door to check if everything is okay, she says.

* For Natalie Viberg, a crisis-ready neighborhood is a natural fit: - We have a small, closed-off road, so we know each other and already run back and forth between each other's houses. So I think it's a no-brainer to be able to stand together in something like this as well and know who has what. (Photo: © Steen Færgemand, DR News)

* Vivi Højlund has prepared 'a little' for a crisis situation, but only within her own household so far: - We do talk a bit with the neighbors, but it's not something we've discussed further. Maybe we will after tonight, she says. (Photo: © Steen Færgemand, DR News)

1 / 2 For Natalie Viberg, a crisis-ready neighborhood is a natural fit: - We have a small, closed-off road, so we know each other and already run back and forth between each other's houses. So I think it's a no-brainer to be able to stand together in something like this as well and know who has what. (Photo: © Steen Færgemand, DR News) 1 / 2 Vivi Højlund has prepared 'a little' for a crisis situation, but only within her own household so far: - We do talk a bit with the neighbors, but it's not something we've discussed further. Maybe we will after tonight, she says. (Photo: © Steen Færgemand, DR News) 2 / 2

The Danish Emergency Management Agency has a team of 100 volunteer instructors who travel around the country to hold the courses.

It is free. The only requirements are that there are at least 20 registered participants per course and that a room with AV equipment is available.

You can read more about the courses at borgerberedskabet.dk (https://borgerberedskabet.dk/).

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