Are You Prepared? Families Consider 90 Days of Emergency Supplies

With everything happening around the world and growing concerns about potential emergencies, including the possibility of war, supply-chain disruptions, or interruptions to everyday services, one question is worth asking: Are you prepared? 
Across the country, families are thinking more about emergency preparedness and whether they have enough groceries, water, medications, fuel, and other necessities to get through an extended disruption. 
While no one knows what the future holds, having a household emergency supply is one way families can be better prepared for unexpected situations. 
What Would 90 Days of Supplies Look Like for a Family of Five? 
For a household of five, preparing for a 90-day emergency requires more than a few extra cans of soup in the pantry. It means thinking ahead about the basic necessities a family would need if shopping trips, deliveries, utilities, or other everyday services were temporarily disrupted. 
Here are some examples of what a 90-day supply might include: 
 Water: Approximately 450 gallons, based on one gallon per person per day for drinking and basic needs. Additional water may be necessary for cooking and sanitation. 
 Shelf-stable food: Canned meats, vegetables, fruits, beans, rice, pasta, oatmeal, cereal, peanut butter, soups, sauces, and powdered milk. A family should consider its individual nutritional needs and plan for approximately 3,000 calories per person per day as a planning example. 
 Medications and health supplies: A supply of necessary prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, first-aid supplies, and other essential medical items. Check with your pharmacist or healthcare provider about safely obtaining emergency medication supplies. 
 Hygiene and sanitation: Toilet paper, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, diapers, trash bags, disinfecting wipes, and basic cleaning supplies. 
 Power and fuel: Batteries, flashlights, lanterns, extra fuel stored safely and legally, and a generator if available. 
 Other necessities: Blankets, clothing, weather-appropriate gear, pet food, cash in small bills, cooking supplies, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio. 
Are You Stocking Up? 
Emergency preparedness doesn't necessarily mean rushing out and purchasing everything at once. Families can begin gradually by adding a few extra shelf-stable items to their grocery carts, checking expiration dates, organizing existing supplies, and identifying what they would need most. 
It is also important to consider the needs of children, older family members, pets, and anyone who depends on regular medications or medical equipment. 
Are you stocking up on groceries, water, medications, fuel, and other everyday necessities just in case? Have you started preparing for a possible 90-day emergency, or do you feel life is still business as usual? How much food and water do you think your household would need to make it through three months? 
For example, a recommendation for a family of five preparing for a possible emergency or extended disruption, I would recommend building a 90-day emergency supply of food, water, medications, hygiene products, and household necessities. 
The goal is to have enough supplies to manage for three months if grocery stores, deliveries, utilities, or transportation become difficult to access. 
Here is a comprehensive shopping and preparation list. 
Family of 5, 90-Day Emergency Preparedness List: 
1. Food - 90-Day Supply 
Focus on shelf-stable foods with a long storage life, nutritional value, and easy preparation. 
 Food Item 
 Suggested Quantity 
White rice 
 50 lbs. 
Dry beans 
 25 lbs. 
Pasta 
 30 lbs. 
Oatmeal 
 15 lbs. 
Flour 
 25 lbs. 
Sugar 
 15 lbs. 
Peanut butter 
 10 jars 
Canned vegetables 
 90 cans 
Canned fruit 
 45 cans 
Canned meat/chicken 
 45 cans 
Canned tuna 
 30 cans 
Canned soups 
 45 cans 
Pasta sauce 
 20 jars 
Macaroni and cheese 
 30 boxes 
Cereal 
 15 boxes 
Crackers 
 15 boxes 
Powdered milk 
 5-10 lbs. 
Cooking oil 
 2 gallons 
Salt 
 5 lbs. 
Honey 
 2 jars 
Coffee/tea 
 90-day supply 
Bouillon/broth 
 10 containers 
These are suggested starting quantities, not a complete nutritional ration. Adjust them for ages, appetites, dietary needs, and the amount of food your family normally eats. 
Other foods worth storing: 
 Instant potatoes 
 Pancake mix 
 Dried fruit 
 Nuts and trail mix 
 Protein bars 
 Canned chili 
 Canned spaghetti 
 Shelf-stable juice 
 Baby food or formula, if needed 
 Vitamins, if appropriate 
2. Water Supply 
Water is one of the most important things to prepare. 
Using the standard minimum planning guideline of one gallon per person per day: 
 Time Period 
 Water for 5 
3 days 
 15 gallons 
7 days 
 35 gallons 
14 days 
 70 gallons 
30 days 
 150 gallons 
90 days 
 450 gallons 
Store: 
 Commercially bottled water 
 Large food-grade water containers 
 Water storage barrels 
 Water purification filters 
 Unscented household bleach for appropriate disinfection uses 
 Water purification supplies 
The CDC recommends storing at least a three-day supply and working toward two weeks when possible. A 90-day supply requires substantial storage space, so plan for safe replenishment and purification too. CDC 
3. Medical and First-Aid Supplies 
 Prescription medications 
 Pain relievers 
 Fever reducers 
 Allergy medications 
 Cold and flu medications 
 Cough medicine 
 Antacids 
 Anti-diarrhea medication 
 Thermometer 
 Bandages 
 Gauze 
 Medical tape 
 Antiseptic wipes 
 Antibiotic ointment 
 Disposable gloves 
 First-aid kit 
 Hand sanitizer 
 Extra eyeglasses or contacts 
Don't wait until an emergency to refill prescriptions. Ask your pharmacy about allowable emergency supplies. 
4. Hygiene and Household Supplies 
These items are easy to overlook! 
 Item 
 Suggested Starting Supply 
Toilet paper 
 40-60 rolls 
Paper towels 
 20 rolls 
Bar soap 
 20 bars 
Shampoo 
 5 bottles 
Toothpaste 
 10 tubes 
Toothbrushes 
 10 
Laundry detergent 
 2 large containers 
Dish soap 
 3 bottles 
Trash bags 
 2 large boxes 
Disinfecting wipes 
 10 containers 
Bleach 
 2 bottles 
Feminine hygiene products 
 90-day supply 
Deodorant 
 10 
Toilet cleaning supplies 
 2 sets 
Quantities should be adjusted to your family's actual usage. 
5. Power and Emergency Equipment 
If electricity goes out, having backup equipment can make a tremendous difference. 
 Generator 
 Generator fuel, stored safely 
 Battery-powered lanterns 
 Flashlights 
 Extra batteries 
 Battery-powered radio 
 Solar-powered phone charger 
 Portable power banks 
 Extension cords rated for intended use 
 Battery-operated fans 
 Rechargeable lights 
 Candles and matches 
 Lighters 
 Fire extinguisher 
Important: Never operate a generator inside a home, garage, or enclosed space. Keep it outdoors and away from doors and windows because of carbon monoxide poisoning risk. 
6. Cooking Supplies 
If electricity or natural gas becomes unavailable: 
 Propane camping stove 
 Extra propane cylinders 
 Manual can opener 
 Cast iron cookware 
 Cooking utensils 
 Paper plates 
 Plastic utensils 
 Aluminum foil 
 Food storage containers 
 Matches 
 Lighters 
 Portable grill 
Only use outdoor cooking equipment outdoors. 
7. Fuel and Transportation 
Consider keeping: 
 Vehicles fueled rather than routinely running nearly empty. 
 Approved fuel containers. 
 Emergency roadside kit. 
 Jumper cables. 
 Tire repair kit. 
 Spare tire. 
 Vehicle first-aid kit. 
 Paper maps. 
 Cash for emergencies. 
Store gasoline only in approved containers and according to local fire-safety requirements. 
8. Important Household Necessities 
 Flashlights 
 Batteries 
 Duct tape 
 Work gloves 
 Tarps 
 Plastic sheeting 
 Rope 
 Basic tool kit 
 Scissors 
 Sewing kit 
 Blankets 
 Warm clothing 
 Rain gear 
 Boots 
 Fire extinguisher 
 Whistle 
9. Important Documents and Financial Preparation 
Keep copies in a waterproof container. 
 Driver's licenses 
 Birth certificates 
 Social Security information 
 Insurance policies 
 Medical records 
 Prescription lists 
 Bank information 
 Emergency contact numbers 
 Property information 
Keep some cash in smaller denominations in case electronic payment systems are unavailable. 
10. Don't Forget Your Pets! 
For a family with pets, remember: 
 90-day supply of pet food, if practical. 
 Pet medications. 
 Water. 
 Leashes and collars. 
 Waste bags. 
 Cleaning supplies. 
 Vaccination records. 
 Pet carriers. 
Being prepared isn't about living in fear. It's about having a plan and knowing your family has the necessities to weather unexpected circumstances.