30-Day Shelter-in-Place Checklist

No government page I found gives a 30-day household list. Official guidance stops at about two weeks, so this page is my own extension of it. Do the 14-day list first.

Build this slowly from your regular shopping, while stores are working normally. During an actual shortage FDA asked people not to buy more food than they need for a week or two, and to leave some for others. See the shortage checklist.

Water: store some, plan to treat the rest

Thirty gallons (114 L) per person is too much for most homes. A practical plan:

1. Store 14 days, or as much as fits.
2. Know your nearest water source that could be treated.
3. Keep two ways to treat water. No treatment fixes water contaminated with fuel or chemicals.

Food: only stock what you eat

About 60,000 calories per adult at 2,000 a day. Store it in the ordinary pantry and rotate it. Canned food you never eat is wasted money.

Medicine

Do not ration or stretch prescriptions. The Red Cross suggests keeping a 1-month supply, and Canada.ca suggests medication for a couple of weeks. Ask your pharmacist or doctor what is possible. See medication planning.

After two weeks, reassess

If you are still home without services after 14 days, check official information, check on neighbours, and ask whether you should move somewhere with power and water.

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.