How much water and food to store in Latvia?

Short answer. Latvia's Ministry of Defence asks households to be able to cope alone for the first 72 hours and to stock food, water and essentials for at least 3 to 7 days ¹. Plan about 3 litres of drinking water per adult per day, 4 litres in hot weather, for at least 3 days (a week recommended), plus 10 to 12 litres a day for hygiene ¹.

How long should a Latvian household be self-sufficient?

The booklet Kā rīkoties krīzes gadījumā (2024 edition) sets two horizons ¹:

• 72 hours on your own. Be able to manage the first three days without outside help.
• 3 to 7 days of supplies. In the booklet's words: "sagatavo pārtikas, ūdens, pirmās nepieciešamības preču krājumus u.c. mantas vismaz 3 – 7 dienām" (prepare stocks of food, water, essential goods and other items for at least 3 to 7 days) ¹.

The Ministry of Defence runs these messages under its "72 stundas" (72 hours) campaign on sargs.lv ².

How much water does Latvia recommend?

Source: Ministry of Defence booklet ¹.

For a household of two adults over seven days, that is about 42 litres of drinking water (2 × 3 × 7), before hygiene water. The booklet also lists a water filter and water disinfection tablets ¹. See /guides/water-per-person and /guides/water-purification.

What food should I store?

The booklet asks for long-life food that keeps at room temperature, with a shelf life of at least 6 months, needs little water or cooking, and is high in calories ¹. Examples it gives: tinned food, root vegetables, pasta, grains, crispbread, instant soups, flour, oil, hard cheese, coffee, tea, sugar, honey, jam and nuts ¹. It sets no separate food quantity: food is part of the 3-to-7-day stock ¹.

Add baby food or other special diets if needed, and food and water for pets ¹. A dry-fuel camping stove and a thermos help when there is no power ¹. See /guides/food-shelf-life, /guides/power-outage and /guides/pets.

What else belongs in the home stock?

• Medicines. A home medicine kit with at least one product from each group: painkillers and fever reducers, medicines for digestive problems, anti-allergy and calming medicines, disinfectants, dressings, your regular medicines, a thermal blanket and a thermometer ¹.
• Cash. Enough for the family's needs for a week, in 5, 10 and 20 EUR notes ¹.
• Information. A portable radio, copies of important documents in plastic wrapping and a list of important phone numbers ¹.
• Light and power. A torch, batteries and spare batteries, a power bank and spare charger, matches, lighters and candles ¹.

The full list, line by line, is on the kit page. See also /guides/first-aid-kit and /guides/important-documents.

Frequently asked questions

Is 72 hours enough in Latvia?

72 hours is the minimum you should manage alone; the booklet asks for supplies for at least 3 to 7 days ¹.

How much drinking water per person per day?

About 3 litres per adult, or 4 litres in hot weather ¹.

Does the booklet give a food quantity?

No. It describes the type of food (long-life, at least 6 months' shelf life, high in calories) and includes it in the 3-to-7-day stock ¹.

Should I keep cash?

Yes: enough for a week for the family, in 5, 10 and 20 EUR notes ¹.

Sources

1. Latvijas Republikas Aizsardzības ministrija (hosted by VUGD) — Kā rīkoties krīzes gadījumā. Papildinātā redakcija 2024 — https://vugd.gov.lv/lv/media/1351/download (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. Sargs.lv (Aizsardzības ministrija) — Buklets "Kā rīkoties krīzes gadījumā" — https://www.sargs.lv/lv/buklets-ka-rikoties-krizes-gadijuma (accessed 2026-10-20)