A staged 90 day blackout supply list: water, food and power by the numbers per person, with a cheaper plan that stops at two weeks.
- Per person, 90 days is about 360 L of water and 180,000 calories.
- Build in stages: 72 hours, then two weeks, then more if you want.
- Two weeks covers the longest recent Canadian storms for most households.
If you want to prepare for the "90 day blackout" idea, the supply list gets large quickly. This page gives the numbers per person, then shows how to build in stages so you can stop at 72 hours, two weeks or the full 90 days. For why 90 days is far beyond any recent Canadian outage, see could Canada have a 90 day power outage.
The numbers per person
| Item | 72 hours | 2 weeks | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water (about 4 L a day for drinking, cooking and washing) | 12 L | 56 L | 360 L |
| Food (about 2,000 calories a day) | 6,000 cal | 28,000 cal | 180,000 cal |
Four litres a day is a common planning figure, not an official rule. Official guidance is at least two litres per person per day for drinking, for at least three days. Multiply by everyone in your home, and add pets.
Stage 1: 72 hours
This is the official minimum. Water, no-cook food, a flashlight, a battery radio, a charged phone and any medicine. Our 72 hour checklist covers it.
Stage 2: two weeks
This covers the longest recent Canadian storms for most people. Add a larger water store (see how much water to store), shelf-stable food and a safe second source of heat. For power, a battery sized for essentials is enough: router, phone, lights and medical devices. Use the sizing guide, then compare options in the power station guide.
Stage 3: 90 days
Only go this far if you want to. It needs a way to make water (a gravity filter or purifier), long-life food such as rice, beans, oats and freeze-dried meals, and a way to recharge your battery, usually solar panels. Compare water filters and emergency food kits. Rotate food so it does not expire.
Quick comparison
| Brand | Best for |
|---|---|
| BBerkey | Countertop gravity filter systems |
| LLifeStraw | Portable filters for backup and travel |
| RReadyWise | Ready-made emergency food kits |
Gravity water filter for making drinkable water from a stored or local source.
- Gravity-fed, no pump needed
- Check which contaminants each model is rated for
- Plan how you will refill and clean it
Portable filters and purifiers for a grab bag or a backup.
- Straw, bottle and larger formats
- Handy as a backup, not your main supply
- Check exactly what each model removes
Long-life freeze-dried meals for a food store that lasts.
- Kits sized by days and people
- Compare calories per kit, not servings
- Check allergens and shelf life
Solar generators and power stations to keep essentials running and recharge.
Start here
Count what you already have with the outage planner, fill the gaps for two weeks first, and decide later whether 90 days is worth the space and cost. Our 90 day preparedness plan lays out the stages week by week.
Quick answers
How much water do I need for 90 days?
About 360 litres per person at 4 litres a day, or you can store less and add a filter to make more.
How much food do I need for 90 days?
About 180,000 calories per person at 2,000 a day. Rice, beans, oats and freeze-dried meals store well.
Do I need solar panels for a long outage?
For a few days a charged battery is enough. For weeks, a way to recharge such as solar panels helps.