Raven Rock Armory / Civilian readiness / Updated October 28, 2026
Prepare for disruption.
Not panic.
A practical U.S. emergency preparedness guide covering the Pentagon's FORTRESS initiative, NATO and European resilience planning, 72-hour household supplies, longer outages, and what to do when power, water, communications, or deliveries fail.
Important: The reported 90-day military-base target is not a U.S. civilian stockpiling order. There is no verified public evidence that a specific attack is imminent. Use official local alerts for real-time instructions.
01 / The facts behind the headlines
What are the U.S., NATO, and European preparedness protocols?
These initiatives all aim to keep essential systems functioning during emergencies, but they apply to different groups. Military planning targets are not household requirements.
90 DAYSReported Pentagon base targetFox News reported on October 25, 2026 that major U.S. military installations are being planned to operate for at least 90 days without outside support. This is a reported military operational target, not a confirmed nationwide household requirement. Read the report.
72 HOURSEU minimum preparedness goalThe European Commission's Preparedness Union Strategy calls for guidance to help households manage at least 72 hours of disruption. NATO separately addresses continuity of national energy, food, water, health care, communications and transport. EU strategy.
3 DAYS+U.S. household starting pointReady.gov recommends supplies for at least three days. CDC recommends at least one gallon of water per person per day for three days and suggests working toward two weeks of water when possible. CDC guidance.
What FORTRESS actually addressesThe initiative, announced September 30, 2026, focuses on independent energy for bases, more resilient supply chains, strategic defense reserves, physical and cyber protection, and satellite/communications resilience. The Pentagon program and its October implementation memo are documented; the 90-day figure specifically comes from subsequent news reporting. U.S. Army report · Implementation memo reporting.
How other countries approach household readiness
Examples from official civilian guidance include Germany: up to 10 days of food and drinks; Norway: one week; Sweden: at least one week; and EU-wide planning: guidelines toward at least 72 hours. The durations differ by country and should not be presented as one common military protocol. Germany BBK · Norway DSB · Sweden civil defense agency.
02 / Start with the basics
Your 72-hour household emergency supply checklist
Build a simple kit first. Expand gradually for longer local disruptions without panic buying. Keep a portable go bag in addition to household supplies, and adjust for people, pets, climate, and health needs.
01 Water and food
- At least 1 gallon of drinking/sanitation water per person per day for 3 days.
- At least 3 days of shelf-stable, familiar food; add more as feasible.
- Manual can opener, ready-to-eat meals, infant and pet supplies.
- Rotate food, check labels and store supplies safely.
02 Medical and first aid
- Well-stocked first-aid kit and supplies for minor injuries.
- Medication list, allergies, prescriptions, spare glasses and devices.
- Ask your clinician/pharmacist about legal, safe emergency refills.
- Arrange a backup plan for refrigerated medicines or powered medical equipment.
03 Light and communication
- Flashlights or headlamps, spare batteries and charged power banks.
- Battery or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio with alert capability.
- Charging cables, a printed contacts list and paper local maps.
- Keep more than one way to receive emergency information.
04 Sanitation and evacuation
- Soap, wipes, trash bags, toilet supplies and personal hygiene items.
- Warm layers, sturdy shoes, blankets and weather-appropriate clothing.
- Copies of key documents, small bills and household meeting locations.
- A grab-and-go bag with essentials for every person and pet.
Source: FEMA Ready.gov emergency-supply checklist (PDF). A kit supports—not replaces—evacuation plans, official warnings, and community resources.
03 / Water comes first
How much emergency water should you store?
CDC's basic planning minimum is one gallon per person per day. Try to build toward a two-week water reserve if your home, budget, and storage allow. This is a baseline; needs can be higher during hot weather, illness, pregnancy, strenuous activity, or when caring for pets.
| People | 3-day minimum | 14-day target |
|---|
| 1 person | 3 gallons | 14 gallons |
|---|
| 2 people | 6 gallons | 28 gallons |
|---|
| 4 people | 12 gallons | 56 gallons |
|---|
| 6 people | 18 gallons | 84 gallons |
|---|
Simple formula: household members × days × 1 gallon = baseline water reserve. Use unopened commercial bottled water where possible, or clean food-grade containers. Replace self-filled stored water about every six months; follow the bottle's date for store-bought water.
CDC storage instructions.
Never assume floodwater or suspicious tap water is safe.Follow the local water utility's boil-water or do-not-use notices. Boiling does not remove chemical contamination; follow the hazard-specific instructions. CDC: making water safe during an emergency.
04 / If essential services fail
What to do during a power, water, or communications outage
Verify the situation
Check county emergency management, Wireless Emergency Alerts, NOAA Weather Radio and utility notices. Do not treat unverified social posts as official directions.
Decide whether to stay or go
Follow official evacuation orders. A wildfire, flash flood, chemical release and routine power outage require different responses; use the guidance for the actual hazard.
Protect drinking water and medications
Use stored water when officials say tap water is unsafe. Follow pharmacist instructions for medications needing refrigeration and check on anyone dependent on powered medical devices.
Keep communication simple
Send text messages if voice calls are unreliable. Use an out-of-area family contact. Check on neighbors, older adults and people who may need mobility assistance.
Prevent avoidable injuries
Use flashlights instead of candles when possible. Stay away from downed power lines and floodwater. Check for road closures before traveling and conserve phone batteries.
Critical safety warning: generators and indoor heat
Never run a portable generator indoors, in a garage, carport or near an opening. Keep it outdoors, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, and use a working battery-backed carbon monoxide detector. Never heat a home with a charcoal grill, outdoor camp stove or kitchen oven. CDC generator guidance.
Food-safety rule of thumb:Keep refrigerator/freezer doors closed. An unopened refrigerator stays cold for about 4 hours; a half-full freezer for about 24 hours; a full freezer for about 48 hours. Use a food thermometer and discard food when official safety guidance says it is unsafe. FoodSafety.gov.
05 / A 15-minute family plan
What your household should decide before an emergency
Agree on these five details
- One local meeting place and one backup location.
- An out-of-area contact everyone can reach.
- How to evacuate and where your go bags are stored.
- Who assists children, older adults, pets and people with disabilities.
- How to communicate without internet or working cellular service.
Complete these actions this week
- Check phone emergency alerts and subscribe to local notifications.
- Set aside 72-hour food and water basics.
- Test flashlights, batteries, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Make paper copies of key contacts and documents.
- Review your supplies every six months and practice the plan.
06 / RRA preparedness shopping guide
Shop Emergency Preparedness Gear at Raven Rock Armory
Browse RRA categories that complement a household emergency kit. We link to category pages rather than a fixed product list because individual items, distributor inventory, and availability can change. Start with water, food, medications and a plan—then consider equipment suited to your needs.
Medical essentials
First-aid supplies for home and go bags
Emergency lighting
Start with dependable handheld and hands-free light
Communication and backup power
Verify compatibility and emergency-alert capability before purchase
Go bags, cases and tools
Keep supplies accessible and weather-protected
Weather and specialized protection
Choose protection for the actual hazard and follow authorities
Buyer guidance: RRA does not currently have a verified dedicated category for safe drinking water, water treatment, emergency food rations or certified NOAA Weather Radios. The links above do not imply those items are carried or in stock. A general GPS/radio category is not necessarily a weather-alert radio. For specialized respiratory protection, fit, filter compatibility and the specific hazard matter; a gas mask does not replace official evacuation or shelter instructions.
Visit Training & Preparedness for the broader category or RRA home to search the current catalog.
06 / Questions readers are asking
Emergency preparedness FAQ
Did the Pentagon order Americans to store 90 days of food?
No. The reporting concerns a military installation self-sufficiency goal connected to FORTRESS. We found no verified U.S. directive ordering civilian households to stockpile 90 days of rations.
Does the FORTRESS initiative mean war is imminent?
No public evidence cited here establishes an imminent specific attack. Officials are planning for disruptions from several possible threats, and routine emergency preparation is useful regardless of the cause.
Should I prepare for 72 hours, 7 days or 14 days?
Start with a 72-hour household kit. For water, the CDC recommends working toward two weeks if feasible. Longer supplies can be useful where access or severe weather increases risk, but there is no single federal 90-day household mandate.
What if the electrical grid goes down?
Confirm official warnings, use safe backup lighting, protect refrigerated medicines and food, avoid indoor combustion equipment, conserve device power and follow evacuation instructions when issued.
What matters most for a family with pets or medical needs?
Prioritize a tailored plan, extra water, necessary food and medicines, spare batteries or electricity alternatives for medical devices, emergency contact information, transport arrangements and pet supplies.
07 / Verify for yourself
Official sources and further reading
These links open original government guidance or attributed reporting. Claims are separated by source type so readers can distinguish documented policy from a reported target.