How much emergency food and water should you store in Switzerland?

Short answer. The Swiss Federal Office for National Economic Supply (FONES, German BWL) recommends that every household keep food for about one week ("Lebensmittel für rund 1 Woche") and at least 9 litres of drinking water per person, the equivalent of one six-pack of 1.5 L bottles, to cover drinking and cooking for three days ¹.

How much water does Switzerland recommend per person?

FONES sets the minimum at 9 litres per person, which it describes as one six-pack of 1.5 L bottles ¹. That amount is meant for drinking and cooking over three days ¹. FONES also states that water suppliers must restore a minimum drinking-water supply from the fourth day of an interruption ¹. The Alertswiss emergency plan refers to a supply for 3 to 4 days ².

FONES also lists "other drinks" without giving a quantity ¹. For a broader comparison of water allowances between agencies, see our guide on how much water to store per person.

How much food should a Swiss household keep?

The target is food for about one week ¹. No quantity is given per item; the foods below are presented as parts of that one-week supply ²:

• Rice or pasta; flour and dry yeast; pulses
• Oil or fat
• Canned vegetables, fruit and mushrooms
• Long-life sausages and dried meat
• Ready meals (for example rösti) and instant soups
• Hard cheese and processed cheese
• UHT milk and condensed milk
• Muesli, dried fruit, nuts, rusks or crispbread, chocolate
• Sugar, jam, honey; stock, salt, pepper; coffee, cocoa, tea
• Special diet food if someone in the household has an intolerance ²

Pet food should be stored as needed ¹. Our guide on food shelf life and rotation explains how to keep such a stock usable.

What else belongs in the Swiss emergency supply?

Beyond food and water, FONES lists ¹:

The Alertswiss emergency plan adds a torch, with a crank torch suggested, and a first-aid kit containing anti-diarrhoea medicine, painkillers, a thermometer, tweezers, wound ointment, dressings, plasters and bandage scissors ². The complete list is on our official kit list page.

Is there an official calculator?

Yes. FONES provides an online calculator at www.notvorratsrechner.bwl.admin.ch to size the supply for your household ¹. The FONES brochure "Kluger Rat – Notvorrat" is dated 17 February 2025 ¹. Alertswiss also publishes its personal emergency plan, which includes a supplies section, in 13 languages online ³.

Frequently asked questions

Is 9 litres of water per person enough?

FONES presents 9 litres per person as the amount for drinking and cooking over three days, and notes that water suppliers must restore a minimum supply from the fourth day ¹. Other agencies use different figures; our water guide compares them.

Why does Switzerland recommend a battery radio?

FONES specifies a battery radio that receives both DAB+ and FM ¹. Official instructions are broadcast on the radio; see the alerts page.

Do I need masks in my emergency supply?

Yes. FONES lists 50 hygiene masks per person, along with disinfectant ¹.

Should I plan for pets and special diets?

Yes. FONES lists pet food as needed ¹, and the Alertswiss plan lists special diet food for intolerances ². See also our guides on pets and vulnerable people.

Sources

1. Bundesamt für wirtschaftliche Landesversorgung BWL — Kluger Rat – Notvorrat — https://www.bwl.admin.ch/de/kluger-rat-notvorrat (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz BABS (Alertswiss) — Notfallplan — https://www.alert.swiss/content/dam/alertswiss-internet/de/notfallplan/Emergency%20plan_A4_DE.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. Alertswiss (BABS) — Notfallplan — https://www.alert.swiss/de/vorsorge/notfallplan.html (accessed 2026-10-20)