Beyond Panic: How Families Are Building Practical Resilience for Future Crises

Dan C, a physiotherapist in Maryland, began building his emergency supply after becoming a father. He has so far invested approximately $6,000 (£4,470), storing the provisions on shelves in his basement.

“It’s part of my responsibility as a parent,” says Dan, 38, who has two children under 10.

A few years ago, his home was cut off during a severe February cold snap, leaving the family without power for two days. Although he had already started keeping supplies, “there were numerous gaps in what I had prepared for,” he says.

Dan’s stockpile now includes 150 gallons of water and several large soft-plastic water containers that can be filled and stored in a bathtub. He also keeps chlorine dioxide tablets, often used to render water from streams or rivers safe to drink.

His “rotating pantry” consists of long-life foods such as oats, quinoa, and peanut butter. These items are regularly used in cooking and then replaced, so supplies are not left to expire. For his family of four, he maintains roughly three months of food.

Dan also has solar panels, a camping stove, a tent, wood supplies, and a propane fireplace insert that can operate off the grid without electricity or wood. He additionally keeps extensive medical supplies, including bleeding control kits.

In the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency advises people to assemble an emergency kit, create a family emergency plan, and stay informed about how to respond to different incidents.

Dan says that when it comes to emergency planning, “there can be a tendency to catastrophise,” but for him, it is about being a “responsible homeowner.”

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