The family water storage checklist.

What is inside

• How much water your family needs, with a per-person, per-day table from a 3-day minimum to a 30-day supply.
• Which containers are food grade and proven, from bottled cases to stackable jugs, water bricks, and drums, and which to never use.
• Where and how to store it: cool, dark, off bare concrete, and spread across the home so one accident never costs your whole supply.
• A twice-a-year rotation schedule tied to the spring and fall clock changes, with a 30-minute routine.
• An emergency treatment quick reference for boiling, bleach, filters, and tablets, including what each cannot remove.
• A one-page master checklist to print, stick on the fridge, and work through.

How much water should you store?

FEMA, the CDC, and the American Red Cross all land on the same number: one gallon per person per day, half for drinking and half for cooking and basic hygiene. That works out to three gallons per person for a 3-day minimum and fourteen gallons for a two-week supply. Add more for hot climates, pregnant or nursing mothers, the very young or old, anyone ill, and pets. The checklist includes a full sizing table and a worked example for a real family.

Want the full guide first? Read how much water to store, use the water storage calculator, or visit the water hub.