Last updated November 1, 2026 by the BasicSurvivalKit.com team
A two week emergency supply lets your household shelter at home for 14 days. Plan about 14 gallons of water per person, two weeks of food, a way to cook outdoors, backup power, a sanitation plan, a safe way to stay warm, two weeks of medicine and a full first aid kit. The American Red Cross recommends two weeks of supplies for sheltering at home.
Many emergencies do not make you leave. Storms, grid failures, cyberattacks and supply disruptions are more likely to keep you at home for days or weeks. The American Red Cross recommends a two week supply for sheltering at home, and it is the level that covers the vast majority of real world events.
1. Water: about 14 gallons per person
Two weeks at 1 gallon a day is 14 gallons per person. Stackable 7 gallon containers or WaterBricks make this easy. Before a storm, fill a bathtub water bag. Keep a gravity filter as backup.
2. Food: 14 days of meals
The easiest way is a 30 day food bucket or a few Mountain House buckets, plus pantry foods your family already eats. Add canned protein, rice, beans and comfort foods. See the full emergency food selection.
3. A way to cook
Cook outdoors on a two burner propane stove or a rocket stove, and store enough fuel for two weeks. Never cook with fuel indoors.
4. Power
A portable power station keeps phones, lights and small medical devices running. For the fridge and freezer, step up to a solar generator or a dual fuel generator. Read our power outage guide first.
5. Sanitation
If water or sewer service stops, you need a plan for toilets. A Luggable Loo with waste gel bags solves it. Add wipes, hand sanitizer and heavy duty trash bags.
6. Heat and cooling
In winter, a safe indoor propane heater and cold weather sleeping bags keep you warm. Always use a carbon monoxide alarm. See the winter storm guide.
7. Medicine and first aid
Two weeks of prescriptions (ask your doctor about extra supply), a full home medical kit, a thermometer and a pulse oximeter.
8. Home safety
Fire extinguishers, smoke and CO alarms, and a fireproof safe for documents. See home safety gear.
Want to go further? See Level 3: 90 days and beyond.
Common questions
How much food do I need for two weeks?
Plan about 1,800 to 2,400 calories per adult per day, so roughly 25,000 to 34,000 calories per adult for 14 days. Kids usually need less.
What is the most important thing for sheltering at home?
Water first, then food, then a plan for sanitation and a safe way to stay warm or cool. Most people forget sanitation until it is too late.
This guide shares general preparedness information based on public guidance from Ready.gov, the American Red Cross and the CDC. It is not professional advice. Always follow local officials during an emergency.