Food planning
How much emergency food does your family need?
Plan enough meals for each person, with the water and equipment to prepare them. A serving count on a package is only the starting point.
A storm can interrupt shopping, and an outage can leave you unable to cook your usual meals. Decide how many people your reserve needs to feed and how many days it should last. Then plan meals you can prepare with the water and equipment available at home.
Look beyond serving counts
Check the total calories, portions, ingredients and preparation instructions for each food. A serving may be a side dish or an ingredient rather than a complete meal. Account for dietary restrictions so everyone in your household has suitable food.
Plan preparation, too
For meals that need water or heat, include the required water and preparation equipment in your reserve. Keep ready-to-eat options available as well, and follow each product’s instructions.
Store and review
Label the storage area and put older supplies where you can use them first. Follow the packaging’s storage and date guidance, and review quantities when your household changes.
Compare emergency food supplies.
FoodSafety.gov recommends having at least a three-day supply of food on hand. Read its food safety guidance for disasters and emergencies for storage and outage advice.
Turn knowledge into readiness
Prepare for the people counting on you
A plan is easier to build before daily life is interrupted. Check what you have, close one gap and make sure your household knows what to do.
Build your starter plan
