Morten has started to 'prep': – Because what if, ilaa?

The time is 08.53 and Morten Heilmann steps out together with his girlfriend, Magdalene Hansen their apartment in Nuuk.

Before Morten Heilmann has to show up at work later, he has to go out to buy a water can, gas and whatever else he can find.

The time is 08.53 and Morten Heilmann steps out together with his girlfriend, Magdalene Hansen their apartment in Nuuk.

Before Morten Heilmann has to show up at work later, he has to go out to buy a water can, gas and whatever else he can find.

- I bought pamol yesterday, he says.

US attack on Venezuela and the subsequent overtures from Donald Trump who wants to buying, owning and annexing Greenland, has made him anxious.

- It is first time that I have felt so uneasy. There's just something about it here that makes me feel really, really nervous, he says and continues:

- I have one lots of thoughts after work and before I go to bed. You think, wonder what what's happening tomorrow?

Missing recommendations from the authorities

Morten Heilmann has missed information from the authorities. For what must one as a citizen do if the worst thing happens and the Americans annex the country?

- You can don't leave the country, he says.

- And what with the internet. If it closes and turns off, what do you do?

To feel just to stay a little ahead of the situation, Morten Heilmann has googled himself to how much water you must have in stock if you are to be able to cope itself for 72 hours.

To have enough water and food for three days was what the Danish authorities recommended the Danes in 2024, as a result of the security policy situation in Europe.

Such Morten Heilmann also believes that Greenland should have concrete recommendations.

- Mine impression is that people here at home seem 99 or 100 percent sure that there is not something happens. But what about the one percent? he asks and settles in the passenger seat in the car.

His girlfriend, Magdalene Hansen, starts the car and they drive off.

- What if we lose the connection?

Morten Heilmann is far from the only one who, in light of the US's threats, has stayed restless and have begun to think about 'prepping' - as it is called, when you private person prepares for crises or disasters.

Both in more and more stories and postings appear in the media and on social media up, if people – especially in Nuuk –which are either already prepared or, like Morten Heilmann, have begun to think along those lines.

Among other things Intalik Milne, who also lives in Nuuk, posted a video on TikTok where he comes with a few tips on how to prepare for crisis situations.

- The first advice is to have a stock of food for several days. Maybe five to seven days. It can be everything from canned food to freeze-dried food, he says, among other things, in the video.

Also in Qaanaaq there are people who have become more restless the latter and requests information on how one should behave as a private person themselves. This is what David Qujaukitsoq, who lives in the city, tells us.

- There are people who are missing some action plans from the politicians or from authorities. We don't get to know anything about what must happen if war breaks out or disasters or something like that, he says and asks:

- What happens if we no longer have a connection to the coast?

Mental 'prepping'

Back in Nuuk are Morten Heilmann and his girlfriend halted at Stark.

When Morten Heilmann enters the shop, he becomes like one of the first to be met by signs with offers on heater fans, oil for heat guns and radiators.

He stops briefly to look at the selection.

- I don't think I need that. I have a lot warm clothes at home, he says and laughs a little.

Morten Heilmann steers to an area where it says stacked a lot of water cans of different sizes; 5 litres, 10 liters and 25 litres.

- I've done a bit of research on it. For three people you have need approximately 40 – 50 liters of water for three days, he says.

He reaches for five 10-liter cans and goes up to cash register to pay.

Outside in the car, Magdalene Hansen sits and waits. Although she would really like to take part in Morten Heilmann's mission to 'prep', let's say she be.

Currently, she is trying to shield herself from the news stream and all the worries.

- Not to be ignorant, but to protect mine mental health, she says.

Precisely to address the population's concerns about crises and "unforeseen events" in the meeting launched the organization Folk & Security in collaboration with UNICEF Kalaallit Nunaanni 12 January two information leaflets None

The names of the two pamphlets are "What if?" and "How to support your child in times of crisis", and will within the near future be distributed around the country.

According to Tina Dam, program manager at UNICEF Kalaallit Nunaanni, the pamphlets must both help to create security in families and give people practical and concrete advice on how to take care of each other, their mental health and prepare to times of crisis.

- The pamphlets are not as such made for this particular one situation with the US and Trump, but in recent years the world has been through a bit of everything with pandemics, tsunamis, earthquakes, says Tina Dam.

- So there are different situations that these pamphlets describe speaks in. It's about creating security and protecting the children if everyday life suddenly turns upside down, she says.

However, the timing for the publication of the pamphlets is good, he admits she.

- The interest in Greenland and harsh rhetoric, that follows can quickly create some insecurity. Both among children and adults. It is completely natural and human, says Tina Dam and continues:

- They fall on a dry place now, you could say. But that It wasn't planned that way. And it would be absolutely optimal if we never needed them.

High demand for gas and water bottles

Morten Heilmann's last stop on the shopping trip is Orsiivik Marine Center. Here he has to buy gas.

Inside is store manager Rasmus Nilsson. According to him is there are many who have recently come to buy gas, water cans, cartridges and dried food.

- It's terrible, says the store manager and adds:

- People are a little afraid of what will happen. But they show it not. However, you can feel it on them.

Rasmus Nilsson says that it is gas that sells the most for the time being.

- Fortunately, we have a decent warehouse, he says continues:

- We have burned our hands in the past, the times we have had a power outage here in town. That is why we have a large stock of gas.

Are you yourself a little nervous about what will happen?

- You have the thoughts at the back of your head, replies Rasmus Nilsson.

- But hopefully they (the politicians and the authorities, ed.) control it.

On page seven in the pamphlet 'What if' it says that it is the public bodies that are responsible for things during crises such as civil preparedness, law and order and security of supply.

Whether naalakkersuisut and the authorities in this country has an action plan, however, is something that Morten Heilmann has been a little uncertain about.

- It all happens a lot on Facebook. The most recent messages I have seen from Naalakkersuisut or others are through Facebook, he says.

- Perhaps it is not enough to say or write that it enough to go. Because what if, ilaa?

Her knows the shelves with gas, Morten Heilmann has found two containers with 450 grams in each. He looks satisfied.

Since he has paid her at the checkout, he goes out and throws the two gas canisters into the trunk, where the five water cans stand.

- I would also like to buy some freeze-dried food, but that will have to stay another day, he says and slams the trunk door.

What do the authorities say?

Sermitsiaq has reached out to several of the country's public officials in connection with this article institutions and authorities to find out if they have a contingency plan or plan of action lying ready for emergency situations - or for if war broke out in Greenland.

In one written response, it says from Tusass that they have a contingency plan that covers "all conceivable events".

- We are thus always prepared to intervene when an incident occurs on our site systems or infrastructure for whatever reason, it says.

The Greenland Police does not want to comment on "internal operational considerations", but states in writing that it is the police's task "to maintain security, peace and order".

- Regardless of the situation, the Greenland Police will always fulfill its role in society. This also includes in any crisis situations, the police reply.

Arctic Command, Nukissiorfiit and the Health Service have confirmed receipt of our inquiry and will return with a response.

The preparedness in Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq and Naalakkersuisut have not responded to ours inquiry.