Official government advice
What governments advise households to keep at home in case of an emergency — quoted exactly as published, with a link to each official source.
Sources checked 03 Nov 2026. Only governments whose official page we could open and confirm are listed.
6 countries
UK
UK Government — Be Ready campaign
“Being ready for 3 days helps you manage while support reaches those most in need.”
“Bottled water for 3 days — 3 litres per person per day for drinking. More would be needed for other tasks such as cooking and washing.”
Europe
Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MCF)
“Devise a plan detailing how to maintain access to water, food, communication and heating in your home for at least a week.”
Europe
Suomi.fi — Finnish public services
“The recommendation is to reserve enough supplies to last you and other members of your household for at least 3 days.”
North America
Ready.gov (FEMA)
“Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for several days.”
“Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)”
North America
Government of Canada — Get Prepared
“Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.”
“You will need about four litres per person, per day.”
Oceania
National Emergency Management Agency — Get Ready
“In an emergency, you may be stuck at home for three days or more.”
“Water for three days or more — make sure you have at least nine litres of water for every person.”
Links to suppliers will be added later, once the current legal hold on sponsorship and payments is lifted.
These are official recommendations, not statistics. UKStats is independent and reproduces each government’s wording without adding to it. New Zealand’s litres figure is derived from its stated nine litres for three days.