Central banks are on alert. Keep cash at home in case the systems are paralyzed

Just 5 seconds was adequate for 50 million Spain to go back to a time erstwhile digital money did not exist. The giant blackout of April 28, 2025 became a brutal test for modern Europe, revealing its fundamental weakness. erstwhile the lights went out and the payment terminals went silent, thousands of euros in the bank accounts became useless. You couldn't even buy a bottle of water for them. This event became a powerful informing signal that prompted central banks across the continent to make an urgent appeal: Each household must have a cash reserve. The Spanish crisis has shown that in the digital age our finances are more fragile than it might seem, and the preparation for the worst is no longer the domain of the Preppers, but the work of all conscious citizen.

Spanish nightmare. How 5 seconds shut down 50 million countries

What happened at 12:33 a.m., April 28, 2025, changed the perception of safety in Europe forever. In just 5 seconds, the Spanish energy network has lost 15 gigawatts of powerwhich represented 60% of national demand. The effects were immediate and disastrous. Card payments fell by 55% and banking systems were paralyzed. Millions of people lost access to their own money.

Large retail chains, specified as Dia, were massively closing their stores. Only the largest Carrefour hypermarkets tried to function, accepting only cash. In front of a fewer branches of banks that managed to run emergency power, there were miles of queues. Public transport stopped – the metro in Madrid and Barcelona stopped operating and 35 000 train passengers It got stuck on the road and required evacuation. The economy lost EUR 400 million in 1 day, and the tragic balance sheet closed by the number eight fatalities in Spain and Portugal, who died from a deficiency of electricity.

Europe draws conclusions. A fresh preparedness strategy and the function of cash

Paradoxically, just a period before the Spanish disaster, 26 March 2025, The European Commission has presented a fresh preparedness strategy. It aims to strengthen the capacity of associate States to prevent and respond to emerging threats specified as lightning, cyber attacks or natural disasters. The strategy includes 30 key actions aimed at developing a "ready culture" across the Union.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen stressed the importance of the initiative: "New realities require a fresh level of preparedness in Europe. Our citizens, our associate States and our companies request appropriate tools to act." A key component of the strategy is the advice that citizens be able to accomplish self-sufficiency for a minimum of 72 hours in the case of a cut-off from basic services. The Spanish crisis has proved that these are not theoretical considerations, but an urgent need.

Central banks talk with 1 voice. How much cash to keep at home?

In consequence to expanding threats, central banks across Europe have started to issue circumstantial recommendations on cash holding. It is headed by the Dutch De Nederlandsche Bank, which recommends keeping home 70 euro per adult and 30 euro per childwhich is adequate for a 72-hour malfunction of payment systems.

Swedish Riksbank, the central bank of the country that pioneered the non-cash society, present officially recommends citizens to keep cash reserves for at least a week. akin steps were taken by Austria, promoting the initiative “The Cash for All Cases” and recommending the retention of around EUR 100 per household member in tiny denominations. Even the U.S. national Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends Americans to have a stock of cash in crisis kits. This is simply a global trend and a clear signal – relying solely on digital money is besides risky.

Poland in the vanguard ready. How do our procedures compare with Europe?

Against the background of Western Europe, Poland appears as a country much better prepared for the crisis. Our Government safety Centre (RCB) has been developing any of the most advanced guidelines throughout the Union for years. While Brussels recommends preparing for 72 hours, Polish recommendations talk about stocks for 3 to 7 days.

The Polish list of emergency equipment, the alleged "resistance backpack", contains more than 25 items – from documents, through food and water, to a battery radio and charged powerbank. This shows that a culture of readiness is systematically being built in Poland, which is well above the standards of many Western countries. Spanish blackout confirmed this approach and proved that Polish procedures are not exaggerated, but are a function model.

Practical guide. How to prepare a home emergency kit?

According to European and Polish guidelines, everyone should have a basic endurance kit at home. Its key element, alongside supplies, is cash. By converting recommendations into Polish conditions, A household of 4 should have a minimum of PLN 860 at home to cover expenditure for 3 days of crisis. Experts advise that this amount should be stored in different, mainly smaller denominations (10, 20, 50 PLN), which will make it easier to make purchases erstwhile spending the remainder may be a problem.

The basic emergency set for 72 hours should include:

• Water: a minimum of 3 litres per individual per day.
• Food: products with a long shelf life which do not require cooking (conservatives, energy bars, biscuits).
• Cash: in tiny denominations, protected from moisture.
• First-aid kit: with fixed medicine and basic dressings.
• Light source: Battery flashlight (or dynamo) with battery supply.
• Battery radio: to perceive to emergency messages.
• Important documents: copies of individual IDs, possessions, insurance policies.

Spanish blackout, although it lasted comparatively short (most of the power was restored within 24 hours), was a lesson that Europe cannot ignore. He showed that in a planet dependent on technology, good old cash inactive remains the foundation of financial security. Getting ready present is an investment in the peace of tomorrow.