Calculate a baseline, then adjust
Ready.gov recommends one gallon of water per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation. This is a planning baseline, not medical advice or a consumption limit. Account separately for pets and your household’s individual care needs.
Example: four people, three days
4 people × 3 days × 1 gallon = 12 gallons, approximately 45 liters. This does not include pets or extra quantities. Before shopping, count the sealed containers you already have and subtract them from your target. Write the difference on your list to avoid buying twice.
Calculate your baseline reserve
1 gallon per person per day. Add pets and individual needs separately.
Planning estimate. It does not predict outage duration or replace medical instructions. Your values are not sent.
Formula: multiply people × days × 1 gallon, then subtract gallons already stored.
Check space and access
Choose a place the people using the water can reach. Dividing containers among accessible locations may be more practical than placing the whole reserve in a heavy box. Follow container storage and expiration instructions; do not confuse a date you wrote with the manufacturer’s date.
Prepare a reserve you can carry
What you can store at home and what you can carry when leaving are separate decisions. Check container sizes and available transportation. On your household sheet, record who moves the reserve, where it is and what stays home. If ordered to evacuate, follow the official instruction and do not delay leaving to finish shopping.
A filter is not a guarantee
A filter’s limits depend on its design. Check which contaminants it treats and which it does not. Do not assume floodwater, seawater or water from an unknown source becomes drinkable with any filter. When a water notice is issued, check AAA and public health instructions.
Your task today
Count your current reserve, choose how many days to plan for and write down the difference. Then review access, transportation and individual needs with your household. The calculation organizes supplies; it does not predict how long service will be interrupted.
Sources and choices
Educational information. Follow official warnings and instructions. Call 9-1-1 for an immediate emergency.