Amid a growing number of posts and text messages on social media encouraging Americans to stockpile food and supplies for 90 days, the conversation around emergency preparedness has taken center stage. A text message that circulated among friends exemplifies the kind of alert that has become common in recent weeks.
The message references a cybersecurity expert who, after attending a conference, felt an overwhelming sense of alarm. He went on to caution those in his circle to prepare supplies for every member of their household for a span of 90 days.
Although the message did not cite any verifiable sources, it reflected concerns primarily regarding Iran and its cyber capabilities, as well as potential repercussions following the midterm elections held on November 3.
“I don’t want to incite panic, nor do I want people to rush out and hoard toilet paper,” the message stated. “I’m not someone who tends to be overly anxious, but I believe it’s wise to be prepared.”
For many Americans who have quietly stockpiled food for years, such warnings are not new. However, they note that this latest alert seems to align with earlier official statements made by the federal government.
“It’s not something unusual anymore, primarily because the government has been saying the same,” said Joe Farmer, a self-sufficient resident of Colorado who has lived off the grid for five years and supplies various resources, including military meals-ready-to-eat, to emergency preparedness communities.
Upon closer examination of the Pentagon’s plans and warnings from other nations, it appears that the related content is far more cautious than what is proliferating on social media.
But are most Americans genuinely prepared? Can they endure even 72 hours without access to supplies if store shelves run bare?
“No, they wouldn’t make it,” said Richard Terry, a small-scale farmer. He pointed out that too many people spend money on unnecessary items rather than building up their stockpiles.
His recommendations, however, are much simpler than what the headlines suggest. Regardless of whether the emergency arises from unemployment, tornadoes, fires, or floods, he believes “85% of the response measures are the same.”
On September 30, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the rollout of the “FORTRESS” initiative, which stands for “Federal Operations for Resilience, Troop Resources, Energy, Supply, and Survivability.”
A planning document released on October 25 outlined an emergency requirement mandating that major military installations in the U.S. must maintain basic operations for at least 90 days without external electricity, water, fuel, or supplies.
The Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment. The agency’s chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, shared a report from Fox News regarding this initiative.
It’s important to note that the 90-day standard pertains to military bases and is not a recommendation directed at households. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) still advises that families stock up on at least a few days’ worth of non-perishable foods and one gallon of water per person per day.
Nonetheless, the advice has permeated the public consciousness. By late October, former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino urged his podcast listeners to prepare a 30-day supply of essentials.
In a YouTube video, commentator Glenn Beck suggested stockpiling two weeks’ worth of supplies rather than just three days while reminding viewers not to panic.
As the Pentagon released its announcement, a wave of emergency preparedness activity surged overseas.
On October 22, the UK launched its “Be Ready” campaign, marking the first phase of a three-year emergency preparedness initiative that called for households to stockpile three days’ worth of drinking water and non-cook food, cash, flashlights, and batteries or hand-crank radios.
Japan followed suit shortly thereafter. On November 2, Disaster Prevention Minister Goshi Hosono urged families to stock up on at least three days’ worth of food, drinking water, and emergency sanitary supplies, with an ideal recommendation of a week’s worth.
Other regions of the world had already issued emergency preparedness suggestions prior to these developments. In March 2025, the European Commission published an emergency preparedness strategy calling for citizens to be able to sustain themselves for at least 72 hours.
The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency recommends a minimum of one week’s worth of supplies, while Germany’s Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance advises maintaining a stockpile for up to ten days.
The cybersecurity threats referenced in the text message are not without basis.
Officials in Minnesota reported that hackers attacked the equipment of over 30 community water systems in the state in late July, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency noted malicious activities targeting over 100 water systems that month.
Federal and state officials have investigated events potentially linked to Iranian hackers, but thus far, no organization has been officially held responsible. Officials indicated that the drinking water was never contaminated.
Farmer believes that what Iran can execute is likely limited. “I think if Iran had the capability to do a lot more, they would have done so already,” he said.
Food supplies have also been impacted. According to retailers, hackers took control of the refrigeration systems of hundreds of French supermarkets on October 12, raising internal temperatures and causing large quantities of food to spoil.
On November 2, similar attacks affected stores in at least seven European countries and a frozen food distribution center in Sweden. A Swedish grocer reported that their freezer temperature was remotely set to 122°F (about 50°C). Two Russian-speaking hacker groups later claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, but the messages have since been deleted. The Russian government denied involvement.
In light of current events, many emergency preparedness advocates have chosen to adopt a different term to describe their lifestyle.
“I no longer use the term ‘preparedness’—I prefer ‘homesteading,’” Richard Terry explained. “That old phrase has taken on a connotation I cannot agree with.”
Online, homesteading communities exchange advice on canning, raising chickens, digging wells, and running solar power.
Having worked as a project manager at FedEx for 37 years, overseeing data center operations, Terry experienced a pivotal moment in his life upon retiring when he realized he needed to leave Memphis after two shootings involving young people occurred within a mile of his home.
He purchased 12.5 acres of land in the countryside, including a pond suitable for raising fish. Today, he keeps 13 goats on his land in western Tennessee, and his daughter, a nurse, has built a home on a neighboring plot he acquired.
Terry recalls the creation of the Electromagnetic Pulse Commission authorized by Congress. The commission has issued warnings in its reports from 2004, 2008, and 2017 about the vulnerability of the U.S. electrical grid to electromagnetic pulses.
“Just-in-time inventory management means that once panic buying occurs, shelves will be cleared within three days,” he remarked.
He likens his stockpiles to fire extinguishers. While no one expects a fire will occur, most households keep a fire extinguisher on hand. When someone tells him that he may never use his reserves, he always responds, “I’d say thank God, and I hope I never have to.”
He donates some of the longer-stored food to local food banks.
One of his most significant investments was digging a well at home. Although he uses municipal water, he spent about $10,000 to drill the well and install the necessary equipment.
“I absolutely do not want to face a water shortage,” he stated.
He also keeps amateur radio equipment stored in a shielded room. “In a crisis, the most precious commodity is accurate information,” he said.
Farmer has a large vegetable garden, livestock, and a well. He notes that in his mountainous county, about 70% of residents live off the grid, much like himself.
“My lifestyle allows me to cope with rising costs associated with food prices, utilities, and other expenses,” he remarked.
He is concerned that panic buyers, who cannot store provisions, might ultimately hinder their neighbors more than help themselves.
“If you rush back from Costco with your car full of supplies, your neighbors will see you bringing things inside,” he said. “So whether you realize it or not, you’re also preparing for them.”
Trevyn Reese has recently been appointed president of Ready America, an emergency supply company based in Vista, California. That day, he shared insights during an interview.
Reese noted that since the government announced its guidance in late September, sales of emergency backpacks through online retailers, as well as big-box stores like Home Depot and Walmart, have seen significant upticks.
The family-owned company, which has been in operation for 35 years, also supplies emergency drinking water to FEMA.
“The government announcement has made people anxious; everyone wants to be ready,” Reese stated.
Like Terry, he believes the old standard of “three days” is insufficient today.
“You don’t know if roads will be blocked or how the situation might evolve,” he shared. “So now, you should at least have two weeks’ worth of food, water, and sanitary supplies.”
He also recommends preparing a month’s supply of prescription medications and some cash.
For those with only $200 to $300 on hand, he suggests that they first secure food and water, followed by essential items like first-aid kits, hand-crank flashlights capable of charging cell phones, weather radios, and water purification tablets. He also notes that their typical customers currently are families.
A more pressing issue looms: what happens when those who once mocked you for preparing for emergencies show up at your door when a crisis strikes?
Terry recounted how some acquaintances teased him, saying that if conditions deteriorate, they would come to his home for help.
“I think to myself, ‘No, you don’t get to come over here,’” he remarked. He may consider taking in individuals with vital skills, like doctors, but emphasized, “my family comes first.”
Reese encourages people to join local community emergency response teams and brainstorm with neighbors on how to prepare the necessary supplies.
“A single person can ultimately offer only so much support,” he noted.
He also wants to stress the importance of timing. “Once an earthquake, hurricane, or any disaster occurs, it will be too late to prepare,” Reese added.
The author of the text message igniting this wave of concern seems to grasp this reality.
He concluded his message with a plea: “I pray that this message ultimately proves to be unnecessary. I hope everyone ends up with plenty of rice and beans.”