A Slice of Texas : FORTRESS America: How to Prepare for 90 Days Without Power

FORTRESS America was announced on September 30, 2026, with a deadline of October 30 to establish its program office. Its reported goal includes enabling major U.S. military bases to sustain essential operations independently for at least 90 days.

The military’s FORTRESS America initiative focuses on keeping U.S. installations operating when civilian power and supply chains are disrupted. Recent reporting describes a goal of sustaining essential operations independently for at least 90 days, including electricity, water, fuel and communications.

That raises a question for the rest of us: What if our families faced 90 days without reliable electricity, running water or deliveries?

The military is preparing for this, but what about us?

Here is where I would start, based on what my family has already experienced.

An IBC Tote can store between 275-gallons up to 330 gallons. Easy to store in the garage or outside.

Water Comes First—We Learned That Personally

During our outages, water was the preparation we missed most. We are accustomed to turning a faucet and having water instantly available—for toilets, handwashing, bathing, cooking and watering the garden.

If my family had to choose between losing electricity or running water, we would choose to keep the water. Doing without it was harder.

For a basic storage calculation, start with one gallon per person per day:

Household	Baseline for 90 days
1 person	90 gallons
2 people	180 gallons
3 people	270 gallons
4 people	360 gallons

That is a starting allowance, not enough for normal household water use. Add water for pets, livestock, hot weather and additional washing needs.

Bottled water helps, but three months’ worth takes considerable space. Food-grade water totes, commonly available in 275- and 330-gallon sizes, offer another option. Choose containers suitable for drinking water with a known history—never one that held toxic chemicals.

Rain barrels can supplement storage, but rainfall is not guaranteed, and collected rainwater needs treatment before drinking.

Store Water—and Know How to Treat More

I personally use a Berkey (even for my tap water) and keep extra filters. Whatever system you choose, know what its particular filters remove and have a second treatment method.

Download or print water-treatment instructions now.

Keep both my Emergency Water Filter article and the CDC’s emergency water-treatment instructions available offline.

In my grid-down book, MILES APART, Jessie and his grandmother face this same problem when the power stays out and the tap goes dry. They bring out trash cans to collect rain while also worrying about their livestock. That fictional situation reflects a very practical question: Where will your next water come from?

A typical 15-foot round Walmart above-ground pool holds about 4,000–4,500 gallons, depending on its depth and fill level.

Save Drinking Water by Planning Sanitation

During an extended outage, I would reserve safe water for drinking, cooking and essential hygiene rather than flushing toilets. Have a waterless toilet option ready, whether a properly managed composting toilet or a portable emergency toilet with supplies for containing and disposing of waste.

Keep a handwashing station, soap, toilet paper, trash bags and personal hygiene supplies.

Selected wash water can be reused around suitable plants. Choose greywater-compatible products: “biodegradable” alone does not mean plant-safe.

Stock up on instant foods that require less fuel, to stretch those 90+ days

Plan Meals Around Water and Fuel

Three months can strain a household’s cooking fuel. Count everyone eating, including relatives who might join you, and include water and fuel for coffee, tea and washing dishes.

Instant rice, oatmeal, potatoes, soups and coffee can reduce cooking time. Add ready-to-eat proteins such as canned meat, fish, beans and nut butter, along with vegetables, fruit and foods suited to individual dietary needs.

Write a seven-day menu and repeat it roughly 13 times. Test it using your backup stove and measure fuel use:

Fuel used per day × 90 = estimated cooking fuel needed.

Keep no-cook meals for bad weather or fuel shortages. Outdoor cooking may also make your activity visible, so consider privacy and alerting unwanted visitors.

Related: No-Cook Pantry Foods

Cover the Rest of Daily Life

Power and lighting: Test your batteries, solar charging and essential devices. A power station needs a way to recharge. See My Family’s Backup Power Plan and Lighting Options We Actually Use.
Medical supplies: Inventory prescriptions, diabetes supplies, first aid, a thermometer, tissues, appropriate pain relievers and oral rehydration supplies. If everyone became ill together, would those supplies already be home?
Temperature and transportation: Plan for extreme heat or cold, refrigerated medicines and somewhere else to stay if necessary.
Home, pets and community: Check locks, fences, carriers and pet supplies. Establish a family security and emergency-response plan, and coordinate check-ins with trusted neighbors.
Information: Keep a battery radio, paper contacts, maps, cash and printed instructions. Download practical information while you still can.

During a prolonged grid failure, families could face interrupted water, spoiled refrigerated food, limited communications, fuel shortages and delayed medical care or deliveries. Preparation means accounting for those dependencies before they fail.

Start by counting what you have, calculating how long it lasts and identifying what runs out first. For my family, water gets the first attention.

Explore more firsthand preparation ideas in my GRID DOWN collection.