The short answer
How much food and water should you store for an emergency?
Plan on 1 gallon (about 3.8 litres) of water per person per day (US Ready.gov) and about 2,200 calories of food per adult per day (German government guidance). For a family of four, 10 days means about 40 gallons (150 litres) of water and 88,000 calories of food that keeps without a fridge.
Most governments ask for at least 72 hours of supplies. Sweden and Norway suggest one week, and Germany up to 10 days. Use the calculator above for your exact household.
Why are 33 countries telling people to stock up?
In late October 2026, a map of at least 33 countries that advise households to keep emergency supplies spread widely online. The advice itself is not new and is not a warning about a specific event. Governments update it as they plan for power cuts, extreme weather, cyberattacks and supply disruptions. The EU's Preparedness Union Strategy, adopted in March 2025, asks every household to be able to manage on its own for at least 72 hours.
| Country or region | Recommended supply |
|---|---|
| European Union (Preparedness Union Strategy) | At least 72 hours |
| United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Canada, Mexico, Japan | 72 hours (3 days) |
| Sweden, Norway | About one week |
| Germany | Up to 10 days |
| United States (Ready.gov) | Several days; many US states recommend being "2 weeks ready" |
Summarised from Newsweek's October 2026 map and national guidance. Check your own government's emergency website for local advice.
Germany's 10-day food list (per person)
The German Federal Office of Civil Protection publishes this example for one adult for 10 days, about 2,200 calories a day, plus 20 litres of drinks:
| Food group | Amount for 10 days |
|---|---|
| Cereals, bread, potatoes, pasta, rice | 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) |
| Vegetables and pulses (canned or jarred) | 4 kg (8.8 lb) |
| Fruit and nuts | 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) |
| Milk and milk products (UHT milk, hard cheese) | 2.6 kg (5.7 lb) |
| Fish, meat, eggs or egg powder | 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) |
| Fats and oils | 0.357 kg (0.8 lb) |
It is an example, not a rule. Swap in foods your household already eats, and rotate them so nothing expires.
Tips that make a supply actually useful
Build it slowly
Buy one or two extra items with each weekly shop instead of everything at once. It costs less and avoids empty shelves for others.
Rotate what you store
Use the oldest items in normal cooking and replace them. Store-bought bottled water keeps until its best-before date; replace tap water you bottle yourself about every 6 months.
Plan for no power
Choose food that needs little or no cooking, keep a manual can opener, and have light, a radio and a charged power bank ready.
Sources and limitations
Water guidance from Ready.gov (FEMA). Food amounts from the German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance's emergency supply guide. Country recommendations from Newsweek and national guidance. People who are pregnant, nursing, ill, very active or in hot climates may need more water. This is general information, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much water do I need for an emergency?
Ready.gov recommends at least 1 gallon (about 3.8 litres) per person per day, for drinking and basic hygiene. Germany's guidance is 2 litres per person per day for drinking and cooking. For 2 people for 10 days that is 20 gallons at the US rate.
How many days of food and water should I store?
At least 72 hours is the minimum in the EU, UK, France, Canada and Japan. Sweden and Norway suggest about a week, Germany up to 10 days, and many US states recommend being ready for 2 weeks.
Why are 33 countries telling people to stockpile food?
Governments are updating routine preparedness advice for power cuts, extreme weather, cyberattacks and supply disruptions. A map of at least 33 countries giving this advice went viral in October 2026. The advice is not tied to a specific announced emergency.
How much food does one person need for 10 days?
About 22,000 calories, or 2,200 a day. Germany's example list for one adult is 3.5 kg of grains, bread, pasta or rice, 4 kg of vegetables and pulses, 2.5 kg of fruit and nuts, 2.6 kg of milk products, 1.5 kg of fish, meat or eggs and about 0.36 kg of fats and oils.
What should be in a basic emergency kit?
Water, food that keeps without a fridge, prescription medicines, a first aid kit, a flashlight, a battery or hand-crank radio, spare batteries, a charged power bank, some cash, copies of important documents, a manual can opener and hygiene items.
How long does stored water last?
Commercially bottled water keeps until its best-before date if unopened and stored somewhere cool and dark. Ready.gov suggests replacing water you store yourself about every six months.
Do I need to buy everything at once?
No. Adding a few long-lasting items to each normal shop builds a supply within a few weeks, costs less and avoids panic buying.