Emergency Water Storage: How Much and How to Store It
Preparing a home water supply for emergencies and natural disasters.
How much to store
FEMA recommends 1 gallon per person per day for at least 3 days. A family of 4 needs minimum 12 gallons. For extended preparedness (2 weeks), that is 56 gallons. Include water for pets (same 1 gallon/day guideline).
Storage options
Commercial water jugs (3-5 gallon): Convenient, stackable, food-grade plastic. Replace every 6-12 months. 55-gallon drums: Most space-efficient for large storage. Use food-grade blue drums. Add water preserver concentrate to extend shelf life to 5 years. Water bricks/containers: Modular, stackable units in 1.6-3.5 gallon sizes.
Purification backup
For emergencies beyond your stored supply: portable pump filters (Sawyer, LifeStraw), purification tablets (chlorine dioxide), and boiling (1 minute rolling boil) are effective against biological contaminants. None of these remove chemical contaminants. See our emergency guide for boil-water advisory protocols.