The Dutch government is hiring nearly 1,000 customs officials. Britain’s health agency is mulling how to ensure medicine supplies. Ireland is preparing border inspections for food shipments and even racehorses.

Call it contingency planning. Call it preparedness. Just try not to call it panic.

As Prime Minister Theresa May struggles to navigate Britain’s divorce from the European Union, the disarray is amplifying the need for governments around the bloc to have backup plans for a variety of chaotic possibilities.

The European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, issued an urgent advisory on Thursday for countries in the region to accelerate preparations “at all levels and for all outcomes.” It warned that Britain’s withdrawal would have a significant impact on supply chains, trade, transportation and personnel. Getting ready immediately “is of paramount importance,” it said.

Banks are already moving staff out of Britain, and companies like Airbus are increasing inventory to insure against shortages.