72 hours is the standard baseline for a household emergency kit — long enough to cover most short-term disruptions (storms, outages, evacuations) without requiring long-term storage infrastructure.
Water: 1 gallon per person, per day, minimum (more in heat or for anyone pregnant, sick, or a child). That's 3 gallons per person for 72 hours. Store in food-grade containers, out of direct sunlight, and rotate every 6-12 months.
Food: Focus on shelf-stable items requiring no refrigeration and ideally no cooking:
- Canned goods (check pop-top or pack a manual can opener)
- Peanut butter, nuts, dried fruit
- Crackers, granola bars
- Ready-to-eat meals
Aim for roughly 1,500-2,000 calories per person per day, and account for dietary restrictions and infant/pet needs specifically — don't assume the household stock covers everyone.
Rotate stock on a schedule (write the date on it when you buy it) so "emergency food" doesn't quietly expire unnoticed for three years.