Emergency supplies in an apartment with no storage

By SGWNI. Checked on 2 November 2026.

You can fit three days of food and water into a small apartment by using the gaps you already have: under the bed, the back of a closet, and the floor of a wardrobe. For one person, three days is three 1-gallon jugs and a grocery bag or two of food. The CDC asks for at least 3 days of water, and a 2-week supply if possible. In a studio, 3 days is a real goal to start with, and you can see where you stand before you try to go further.

How much you need to fit

The figure from the CDC and Ready.gov is at least 1 gallon of water per person per day. For one person, 3 days is 3 gallons, and 2 weeks is 14 gallons. For two people, double it.

That’s where the weight is. A gallon of water weighs about 8.3 pounds, so 3 gallons is about 25 pounds. A 24-pack of 16.9 oz bottles holds a little over 3 gallons, and it’s easier to split up and tuck into small spaces than jugs are. If you’re on an upper floor with no elevator, bring it in a case at a time.

Your exact food total comes from the food storage calculator. As a rough idea, 3 days for one adult at 2,000 calories a day is 6,000 calories.

Choose food that fits

In an apartment, what counts is how much energy fits on a shelf. Using typical package sizes and USDA energy figures:

A jar of peanut butter holds about as much energy as six cans of beans. Cans still make better meals, and the CDC notes you don’t need special emergency food. But if your shelf is small, mix them with denser foods that need no cooking. Ready.gov suggests ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal, peanut butter and dried fruit, along with a manual can opener.

Rice and pasta are compact too, but they need water and a way to cook them. Count them as extras, not as part of your 3 days.

Where to put it

Think in small spaces, not one big one.

• Under the bed. Cases of water and flat bins fit here. It’s often the largest open space in an apartment.
• Closet floor. Good for a bin of cans, since it’s usually dark and stays cool.
• Closet top shelf. Keep this for light things like blankets, bars and hygiene supplies.
• Inside a suitcase. It’s empty storage most of the year. Unpack it before you travel.
• Behind the couch. Water bottles stand in a narrow gap.

The USDA says to keep canned food in a cool, dry place, below 85°F. It says never to store it above or beside the stove, or under the sink. That rules out some obvious kitchen spots, along with the closet where the water heater lives.

Store water in a cool place out of direct sunlight, and away from anything toxic. The CDC gives 50°F to 70°F as the range for stored water. A balcony or patio gets direct sun, so it doesn’t work for water, and it doesn’t work for canned food in a hot summer either. The USDA says temperatures over 100°F are harmful to canned goods.

If your apartment is on the ground floor in a flood-prone area, keep supplies up on shelves. The USDA says to store food out of the way of contaminated water, because most food that touches flood water has to be thrown out.

What doesn’t make sense in an apartment

• A generator. The CDC and CPSC say to use generators only outdoors, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents, and never on a porch. That rules out balconies and most apartment buildings. A power bank or a small power station is the realistic option.
• Camp stoves and charcoal grills. Ready.gov says these are for outdoor use only. Your lease or fire code may also limit them on a balcony, so check. Plan on food that needs no cooking.
• Large water barrels. A 55-gallon drum may not suit a small space or an upper floor. Smaller containers can be moved, and you can carry them if you have to leave.

Build it slowly

You don’t need to find room for everything this weekend. Ready.gov says to build your kit over time, and suggests adding one regularly used item on each grocery trip. If you’re using food you normally eat, what you store is part of what you’d have in the kitchen anyway. The slow-build planner turns your target into a weekly list.

Use the oldest first, and put new groceries behind it, so nothing sits long enough to take up space for no reason.

Know your neighbors

Apartment living has one advantage: people are close by. Check in with neighbors who might need extra help. A quick word in the hallway about who has what could stretch everyone’s supplies, and it takes no storage space.