Prepare for several days at home with a basic emergency reserve of food and water, then add illness-related supplies such as a thermometer, soap or hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, masks and prescription medicines. FEMA and Ready.gov’s guidance is general U.S. preparedness advice—not current instructions for a particular disease—so follow local public health guidance for infection-control measures.
How much food and water should you keep at home?
Ready.gov’s emergency supply checklist sets a baseline of 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least three days and at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. The indexed checklist does not state a publication year. Treat this as a starting point, then account for your household’s actual needs and local risks.
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Gevoke 410 Piece Waterproof Hard Shell First Aid Kit, Red | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
FEMA’s pandemic preparedness instructor guide explains the practical reason for keeping supplies on hand: “Having several days of food and water in your emergency kit means you don’t have to go out to buy it if you are sick.”
What should go in an outbreak-ready kit?
Food, water and basic emergency supplies
Keep the outbreak-related items alongside general emergency essentials. Ready.gov’s checklist includes:
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- Water and non-perishable food for the three-day baseline.
- A battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight and batteries.
- A first-aid kit and whistle.
- A dust mask, moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties.
- A wrench or pliers and a manual can opener.
Illness-related supplies
FEMA’s pandemic preparedness teaching guide names these additional items:
- A thermometer for checking temperature; it is a monitoring tool, not a diagnosis.
- Soap or hand sanitizer.
- Disinfecting wipes.
- Masks.
- Prescription medicines.
- Supplies for pets.
These are general kit examples. The guide does not establish which mask to choose, how to use cleaning products for a specific pathogen, or how much medication to store. Use current public health instructions and medicine guidance for those decisions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should you tailor the kit to your household?
Ready.gov advises adjusting emergency supplies to daily living needs and concerns. Consider who lives in the home, their essential needs, how much storage space is available and the local risks you are preparing for. Add items such as:
- Prescription medicines and glasses.
- Infant formula and diapers.
- Pet food, water and other pet supplies.
- Hygiene items, important documents and clothing.
- Activities that can help keep children occupied.
Make the reserve usable for the people who will rely on it: consider dietary requirements, the needs of household members and the supplies you can store safely. Keep it somewhere accessible so household members can find it when needed.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWhich health instructions should you check locally?
Outbreak guidance can vary by disease and location, and recommendations may change. FEMA’s pandemic teaching material is general preparedness guidance; it does not provide current pathogen-specific directions for masks, cleaning, medication quantities or other infection-control measures. Check your local public health authority for advice on what to use and how to use it. Ready.gov’s current resources are also available at Ready.gov.
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