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Amounts for 14 days
Per person, and the example for a household of 4 adults and 2 dogs of about 15 lb (7 kg).
| What | Per person | Example: 4 adults + 2 dogs |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 1 gal (4 L) a day per adult; 0.5 L a day per small dog | ~63 gal (240 L). At least six 5-gal (19 L) jugs for ~7 days, plus a 100-gal (380 L) WaterBOB in the tub at minute 0, a filter and bleach. With no tub: 13 jugs |
| Food | 2,500 kcal a day per adult (3,000 for a large build) | ~140,000 kcal. At least 5 days of no-cook food |
| Pets | Their usual brand: switching in a crisis causes diarrhea | One sealed 22–26 lb (10–12 kg) bag: about 30 days for two small dogs. Medicines and a toy |
| Medicines | 90 days of prescriptions | General first aid kit plus a trauma kit: tourniquet, pressure bandages, hemostatic gauze, gloves, shears |
| Cash | 2 weeks of essential expenses | In small bills; plus the destination's currency if you might leave the country |
| Power | A 20,000 mAh power bank | A 500–1,000 Wh portable power station with a folding solar panel (the safe option in an apartment), 40+ AA/AAA batteries, headlamps |
| Communication | One GMRS/FRS radio | One hand-crank NOAA radio, 4 GMRS/FRS radios, satellite messaging (Garmin inReach or the phone's satellite feature), printed contacts and paper maps |
| Sanitation | 60 heavy-duty bags, unscented bleach, soap, wipes, toilet paper, a bucket with a lid, feminine products, hand sanitizer | |
| House and tools | ABC extinguisher, CO detector, duct tape, heavy plastic sheeting, multitool, gas shut-off wrench, padlocks, rope | |
| Clothing and protection | A cold and rain layer, closed boots, work gloves | N95 masks (smoke, dust, fallout) |
For a longer food reserve, 1 to 5 weeks in three levels, see the 1- to 5-week reserve.
