14-Day Shelter-in-Place Checklist
A two-week home supply list, the official upper target in several guides, with water, food, sanitation and backup plans in US and metric amounts.
Checklist
0 of 33 ticked
Water 0/3
Food 0/4
Cooking 0/4
Sanitation 0/3
Light and communication 0/6
Health 0/5
Home and heat 0/5
People 0/3
Everything on this list is ticked. Check it again when you rotate your supplies.
Two weeks is the longest target I found in official household guidance. The Red Cross suggests a stay-at-home kit of at least 2 weeks. PreparedBC says a home kit should cover up to two weeks. CDC suggests a 2-week water supply if possible.
Water for two weeks
At 1 gallon (3.8 L) per person per day, one person needs 14 gallons (53 L). A household of four needs 56 gallons (212 L), which is eight 7-gallon (26 L) containers.
If that does not fit, store what you can and have two ways to treat water.
Food for two weeks
Plan about 28,000 calories per adult at the general guide of 2,000 a day. FDA notes that your needs may be higher or lower. See stocking food by calories and the 14-day meal ideas.
Think about leaving, too
Two weeks of supplies does not mean staying is always right. If your home gets too hot, too cold or unsafe, or officials say to go, leave.
Carbon monoxide warning. Generators, camp stoves, barbecues, charcoal, and kerosene or propane burners give off carbon monoxide, which you cannot see or smell and which can kill within minutes. Never use them indoors, or in a garage, basement, shed, tent or covered porch, even with doors and windows open. Outdoors, keep them at least 20 feet (6 m) from doors, windows and vents.
Where to buy
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Water storage container, 7 gal / 26 L
Reliance: Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container
A rigid 7 gal (26 L) container sold for drinking water storage, so one jug covers several person-days.
Water filter rated for bacteria and protozoa
Sawyer: Sawyer Products SP129 Squeeze Water Filtration System
Sawyer rates this filter at 0.1 absolute micron and states that bacteria, protozoa and cysts cannot pass through it.
Water filter rated for bacteria and protozoa
LifeStraw: LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
A straw-style filter that needs no power, sold by LifeStraw for hiking, travel and emergency preparedness.
Water filter rated for bacteria and protozoa
GRAYL: GRAYL GeoPress 24 oz Water Purifier Bottle
GRAYL states it removes viruses, bacteria and protozoan cysts and is independently tested to NSF/ANSI protocols 42 and 53.
Camp stove, outdoor use only
Coleman: Coleman Classic 2-Burner Propane Camp Stove
A two-burner propane stove for cooking through an outage; use it outdoors only, never indoors or in a garage, because it produces carbon monoxide.
5 gal / 19 L bucket with a lid
Reliance: Reliance Luggable Loo Portable 5 Gallon Toilet with Snap-On Lid
A 5 gal (19 L) bucket toilet with a seat and snap-on lid, for when the toilet can't be flushed.
Battery lantern
Black Diamond: Black Diamond Moji Lantern
A small AAA-powered lantern that lights a table or room corner without an open flame.
Battery lantern
Goal Zero: Goal Zero Lighthouse Core Lantern and USB Power Hub
A lantern with a USB port, so it can also top up a phone in an outage.
Spare batteries for your flashlights and radio
Energizer: Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA Batteries, 4 Pack
Energizer states AA Ultimate Lithium cells last up to 25 years in storage and work from -40°F to 140°F (-40°C to 60°C), which suits stored kits.
Phone power bank
Anker: Anker Power Bank, 20,000mAh, Built-In USB-C Cable
A 20,000 mAh pack holds several phone charges and has its own cable, so one less thing to find in the dark.
Battery or hand-crank radio, with NOAA Weather Radio
Midland: Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather AM/FM Radio
Runs from multiple power sources including a hand crank, and receives NOAA weather channels with alert.
Battery or hand-crank radio, with NOAA Weather Radio
Kaito: Kaito KA500 5-Way Powered Emergency AM/FM/SW Weather Alert Radio
Has solar, hand-crank and other power options plus a flashlight and reading lamp.
Battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm
Kidde: Kidde KN-COB-B-LP Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Battery Operated
Kidde lists it as UL Listed with an electrochemical sensor, and it runs on 3 AA batteries so it keeps working in a power outage.
Check price at Amazon.comNo Canadian link yetBattery-operated carbon monoxide alarm
Kidde: Kidde C3010 Worry-Free Carbon Monoxide Alarm, 10-Year Sealed Battery
Kidde lists its Canadian C3010-CA as CSA Listed with an electrochemical sensor and a sealed lithium battery, so it keeps working in an outage; check the listing shows the CSA mark before buying.
No US link yetCheck price at Amazon.caFirst aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes and gloves
First Aid Only: First Aid Only 299 Piece All-Purpose First Aid Kit
A soft-sided kit with a broad mix of common supplies for home use; check contents and replace used items.
First aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes and gloves
Adventure Medical Kits: Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker Medical Kit
Sized by the maker for 2 people for 2 days and includes a guide book for when you can't get information online.
Sources
- PreparedBC: Home Emergency Plan (PDF) https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/embc/preparedbc/preparedbc-guides/preparedbc_household_plan.pdf
- PreparedBC: Neighbourhood Guide (PDF) https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/embc/preparedbc/preparedbc-guides/preparedbc_neighbourhood_guide.pdf
- American Red Cross: Power Outage Safety Checklist (PDF) https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/get-help/power-outage/EN_Power-Outage-Safety-Checklist.pdf
- CDC: How to Create an Emergency Water Supply https://www.cdc.gov/water-emergency/about/how-to-create-and-store-an-emergency-water-supply.html
- FDA: Calories on the Nutrition Facts Label https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-facts-label/calories-nutrition-facts-label
- USDA FSIS: Shelf-Stable Food Safety https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/shelf-stable-food
- Ready.gov: Build a Kit https://www.ready.gov/kit
- Washington State Department of Health: Toilet Use During an Emergency https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/wastewater-management/toilet-use-during-emergencies
Updated November 9, 2026