Ex-FBI boss tells Americans to take warnings to stock up seriously: 'Get your stuff today'

The former Deputy Director of the FBI has issued an urgent warning to Americans as countries worldwide start stockpiling supplies for a potential crisis. 

Dan Bongino, who left the bureau in January, said the public needs to do what the UK and European governments are telling citizens: Have a preparedness plan and at least three days of food and power ready.

'Have yourself an emergency radio, have yourself some batteries, get yourself some emergency food, get yourself a rain collection and water filtration, some filtration tablets,' he said on Monday.

'Get your stuff today. Please. Do it for your family,' Bongino added.

Governments in the UK, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and France have encouraged households to keep food, water, medicines and other essentials available for emergencies.

The UK’s updated guidance released this month recommends enough supplies for three days, helping families cope if severe weather, cyberattacks or other disruptions interrupt essential services.

Bongino, who has also worked for the Secret Service and NYPD, said preparing in advance could reduce anxiety and prevent families from finding themselves without essentials when a crisis strikes.

‘There’s nothing wrong with being prepared. It’s not panicking or anything like that,’ he said.

Countries across Europe have issued public warnings for citizens to begin storing emergency food and water in case of a crisis (Stock Image)

former Deputy Director of the FBI Dan Bongino is urging Americans to stockpile supplies for a potential disaster

Bingino announced his resignation as the number two agent at the FBI on December 17, 2025, without stating a clear reason for the sudden exit after just a year on the job.

The long-time law enforcement officer explained that the US military is already preparing for a potential crisis to cut off access to food, water and emergency supplies - and the public needed to do the same.

Bongino's warning came just hours after details of FORTRESS were revealed, a plan to keep US forces fighting and military bases stocked for at least 90 days, even if civilian infrastructure fails.

'The Pentagon’s doing its job to keep our national security safe and make "Fortress America." You have to make "Fortress my house," "Fortress my apartment." Please, do it for everyone. Your neighbors are not going to have any extra food,' he added on his podcast.

The Pentagon's emergency plan comes as some European countries have issued urgent pleas to begin stockpiling supplies for a potential disaster, although the alerts have not given specific details of what the emergency is.

Bongino, 51, said that 'panic kills' and the best way to avoid disaster is to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

'I was not in the military. I haven’t been in combat but ask your heroes who have been. They will tell you: you can’t panic,' Bongino said.

The FORTRESS plan is calling for portable nuclear reactors, large battery systems and independent local power grids to keep US military bases running during blackouts.

Every major military base in the continental US is expected to maintain essential operations, including independent access to electricity, water, fuel and communications for 90 days

British officials have launched the Be Ready campaign, urging the public to prepare for a possible disaster by stockpiling supplies

Civilian factories would also be prepared to switch to defense production, backed by stockpiles of ammunition, fuel, critical minerals, electronics, spare parts and medical supplies.

Critical military needs would require at least two qualified supply or production options to prevent the loss of a single supplier from disrupting operations.

Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell told Fox News: 'We don't want to rely on standard civilian municipal infrastructure to run our national defense.'

The warnings from Bongino and the Pentagon came after boiling tensions across Europe devolved into mass civil unrest, with riots and protests breaking out in Paris, Rome, Milan, Barcelona, and Albania's capital of Tirana.

In the UK, government officials launched its 'Be Ready' campaign on October 22, urging households to keep multiple days' worth of essentials in case a crisis temporarily disrupts everyday services.

In Sweden, the country's civil defense guidance is warning households to be able to manage on their own for at least one week 'in case of crisis or war.'

'The state of the world has worsened drastically in recent years. War is being waged in our vicinity. Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common. Terror threats, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns are being used to undermine and influence us,' the bulletin stated.

Bongino has made controversial comments about the alleged 'deep state' in Washington targeting President Donald Trump and conservatives

Multiple countries have urged citizens to stock at least three days' worth of food, water and emergency items such as batteries and lights for an unspecified emergency (Stock Image)

Bongino, who returned to being a conservative commentator and podcaster after his tenure at the FBI, has previously made controversial comments regarding the US government.

Prior to taking the position of Deputy Director under FBI leader Kash Patel, Bongino accused the FBI and Department of Justice of acting as the so-called 'deep state,' which targeted President Trump and other conservatives during the Biden Administration. 

Months after leaving the intelligence community, Bongino claimed he was 'living in fear' and thought 'thugs' would come for him.

'I'm terrified,' he said on the Hang Out with Sean Hannity podcast in May. 'They’re going to send some thugs to my house.'

Bongino has previously referred to his former FBI colleagues as 'thugs,' but it was unclear who he was referencing here.

However, his latest warning specifically pointed at specific messages posted across Europe, including a joint statement from the UK and Canada.

The statement on Sunday announced the strengthening of their defense financing and cooperation on defense industrial readiness.

Elsewhere, Japan’s Disaster Management Minister Goshi Hosono has announced that on November 2, the nation will officially urge every household to keep at least three days of food, water and toilet supplies so people can manage on their own right after a major natural disaster such as a large earthquake or volcanic eruption.