Calculate emergency food supply needs for quarantine, lockdown, or natural disaster. Covers calories, water, and shelf-stable staples for 1–30 days.
Whether it is a quarantine, a winter storm, or another short-term disruption, it helps to know how much food and water a household actually needs.
Enter the number of adults, children, and days of supply. The calculator estimates daily calorie needs by age and activity level, then converts that into shelf-stable quantities such as rice, pasta, canned goods, peanut butter, powdered milk, and water.
It also keeps the supply list balanced enough to cover calories, protein, fats, and basic nutrition instead of assuming every emergency pantry should look the same.
Emergency food planning is easier when the calorie target, water requirement, and shopping list are computed together. That makes it easier to compare a 3-day buffer with a 2-week pantry without rebuilding the same arithmetic each time.
Calories: adult male ≈ 2,200/day (sedentary), adult female ≈ 1,800/day, child (4–13) ≈ 1,600/day. Water: 1 gallon (3.78L) per person per day (drinking + cooking + hygiene). Macro split: 50% carbs, 25% protein, 25% fat for balanced emergency nutrition.
Result: 105,840 total calories needed, 56 gallons of water, 25 lbs rice, 12 cans proteins
2 adults × 2,000 cal/day + 2 children × 1,600 cal/day = 7,200 cal/day. 14 days × 7,200 = 100,800 cal. Add a 5% buffer: 100,800 × 1.05 = 105,840 cal. Water: 4 people × 14 days × 1 gal = 56 gallons.
You can survive 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. Water is the priority. A family of 4 needs 56 gallons for a 14-day supply. Start with water, then add calorie-dense, shelf-stable foods.
Don't just stockpile carbs. A balanced emergency diet looks like: 40–50% carbs (rice, pasta, oats, crackers), 20–25% protein (canned tuna, chicken, beans, peanut butter), 20–25% fats (oils, nuts, shelf-stable cheese), plus vitamins and comfort items.
A 2-week supply for a family of 4 costs approximately $100–200 at grocery store prices. Buying in bulk reduces this to $75–150. Compare that to the $500+ you'd spend panic-buying when a crisis is already announced. Preparation is always cheaper than reaction.
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Sedentary adult male: 2,000–2,200. Sedentary adult female: 1,600–1,800. Child 4–8: 1,200–1,400. Child 9–13: 1,600–2,000. These are lower than normal because quarantine means minimal physical activity.
1 gallon (3.78L) per person per day minimum. This covers drinking (0.5 gal) and cooking (0.5 gal). For full hygiene needs, 2 gallons is better.
White rice (20–30 years), dried beans (10+ years), canned goods (2–5 years), honey (indefinite), salt (indefinite), powdered milk (20 years), peanut butter (2 years). Rotate stock using FIFO.
Yes. A basic multivitamin and Vitamin C supplement help prevent deficiencies if fresh produce is unavailable for extended periods. Vitamin D is also critical if you can't get sunlight.
Formula, baby cereal, and pureed foods have shorter shelf lives (6–12 months). Stock extra and rotate frequently. Breastfeeding mothers need an additional 500 cal/day.
Cool, dark, dry location. Sealed containers or food-grade buckets. Add oxygen absorbers to bulk grains. Rotate stock every 6–12 months. Keep a written inventory with expiration dates.