SHTF STOCKPILE

A practical planning guide

Preparedness can be calm and practical. Start with your household’s everyday needs and build gradually.

Start with water

The app uses a baseline of 1 US gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation. For example, 4 people × 14 days = 56 US gallons. This is a planning assumption, not a guarantee that every household need is covered.

Ready.gov water guidance and CDC emergency water storage guidance explain storage, containers and circumstances that may require more water. CDC recommends trying to store a two-week supply if possible. Heat, pregnancy, illness and pets can change needs.

Store drinking water safely and follow official cleaning, treatment and replacement guidance. This app does not assess water quality. Enter water as US gal or L so it can be counted; 1 US gal = 3.785411784 L.

Build around what you actually use

Choose shelf-stable foods your household normally eats, account for dietary needs, and consider how you would prepare them during a power outage. This app does not calculate calorie coverage or food-days. Set individual targets appropriate for your household.

Check equipment and dates

Track flashlights and other equipment and set reasonable check intervals based on manufacturer guidance. A checklist is not a substitute for testing. Product dates do not all mean the same thing; follow product labels and authoritative food-safety guidance.

Keep the wider plan in mind

Supplies are only one part of preparedness. Discuss communication, evacuation, accessibility and pets. Keep emergency information in formats you can use during outages.

• Ready.gov: build a kit
• Ready.gov: make a plan

What this tool does not do

It is not an emergency alert service, medical advice, or a safety certification. It cannot verify your quantities or condition of supplies. For an immediate emergency, contact your local emergency services.