United States

Being prepared in the US

What official guidance in the US recommends, how much water to store, emergency numbers, and calculators, checklists and food guides.

By the SupKit teamUpdated 28 October 20262 min read

The short answer

Ready.gov now says 'several days' of food and water rather than naming a fixed number of days.¹ Ready.gov advises at least one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation.²

What official guidance recommends

Ready.gov now says 'several days' of food and water rather than naming a fixed number of days.¹
Ready.gov advises at least one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation.²
Pick emergency foods your family will actually eat and that suit any special diets.³

What to have in your kit

The US basic kit includes a battery or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.¹
US kits include a whistle to signal for help and a dust mask to filter contaminated air.¹
US kits include plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape for sheltering in place.¹
US kits include a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, plus a manual can opener.¹
Ready.gov suggests reviewing your kit every year as your family's needs change.¹

How much water to store

Drinking water at the official figure, in gallons:

People	3 days	7 days	14 days
1	3 gallons (11.4 L)	7 gallons (26.5 L)	14 gallons (53 L)
2	6 gallons (22.7 L)	14 gallons (53 L)	28 gallons (106 L)
4	12 gallons (45.4 L)	28 gallons (106 L)	56 gallons (212 L)
6	18 gallons (68.1 L)	42 gallons (159 L)	84 gallons (318 L)

Guidance where you live

Washington State

Emergency numbers

Number	What it's for
911	Emergency: police, fire, ambulance

Calculators

Work out how much water and food your household needs, and how long what you have would last.

See all 5 →

CalculatorsCalculator 0.79 galper person per day (SupKit) Emergency water calculator Work out how much drinking water your household needs for 3, 7 or 14 days, including pets, in gallons and litres. CalculatorsCalculator 2,250calories a day for an adult Emergency food calculator Work out how much emergency food your household needs in calories, with a sample shopping list from everyday long-life food. CalculatorsCalculator 0.32 gala day for a medium dog Pet water calculator How much water to store for your dogs, cats, rabbits and birds in an emergency, from SupKit's estimates by species and size.

Food storage

How much long-life food to store, what's on the label and when to start using it.

See all 9 →

Food storage2 min read 5 yearsunopened, for best quality Storing baked beans for emergencies How long unopened baked beans keep, how many cans your household needs and when to start using them. Food storage2 min read 5 yearsunopened, for best quality Storing canned chickpeas for emergencies How long unopened canned chickpeas keep, how many cans your household needs and when to start using them. Food storage2 min read 5 yearsunopened, for best quality Storing canned chili for emergencies How long unopened canned chili keeps, how many cans your household needs and when to start using them.

Emergencies

What matters most in a power cut, a flood, a heatwave and more.

See all 5 →

Emergencies2 min read 7things that matter most Preparing for a winter storm or cold snap What matters most in a winter storm or cold snap, what official guidance in the US says, and long-life food that suits it. Emergencies3 min read 8things that matter most Preparing for an earthquake What matters most in an earthquake, what official guidance in the US says, and long-life food that suits it. Emergencies2 min read 6things that matter most Preparing for a heatwave What matters most in a heatwave, what official guidance in the US says, and long-life food that suits it.

Checklists

Emergency kit checklists shaped around the people and pets you live with.

See all 7 →

Checklists3 min read 2.6 galof water for 3 days Emergency kit checklist for cat owners 25 things to have ready for a cat owner, with how much water and food to store for 1 adult and a cat. Checklists3 min read 4.8 galof water for 3 days Household emergency kit checklist 21 things to have ready for a household, with how much water and food to store for 2 adults. Checklists3 min read 5.7 galof water for 3 days Emergency kit checklist for dog owners 25 things to have ready for a household with a dog, with how much water and food to store for 2 adults and a dog.

Questions

How much water should I store in the United States?

Ready.gov advises at least one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation.

How many days of supplies should I have in the United States?

Ready.gov now says 'several days' of food and water rather than naming a fixed number of days.

What is the emergency number in the United States?

911: Emergency: police, fire, ambulance.

Sources

Build a Kit, Ready.gov (US Department of Homeland Security / FEMA). Checked 28 October 2026.
Water, Ready.gov (US DHS / FEMA). Checked 28 October 2026.
Food, Ready.gov (US DHS / FEMA). Checked 28 October 2026.

We summarise official guidance in our own words. Always follow advice from your local authorities.