Travel Advice
How Much Water and Food to Store for a Cancun Hurricane
By C-Point Editorial · Published · Updated
Update: Update if SEMAR's public preventive guide or Secretaría de Salud disinfection guidance changes.
As of Oct. 10, 2026, the public SEMAR preventive guide says a hurricane kit should cover at least 3 days. For water, that means 5 liters per person per day. For food, SEMAR lists shelf-stable items that cover the same 72-hour window.
Water amount
SEMAR's public preventive guide says your kit should cover food, water, and supplies for at least 3 days, and that you should store at least 5 liters of water per person per day. That works out to 15 liters per person for 72 hours. SEMAR also says a normally active person needs about 2 liters per day just for drinking, with heat or illness increasing demand.
Food amount
SEMAR's list includes crackers, rice, cereals, canned fruit and vegetables, soups, dried fruit, juices, tuna, milk powder, granola, candy, coffee, and tea. The key point is to have enough of these items to cover the same 3-day window.
If the water is not safe
Secretaría de Salud says drinking water can be made safer by boiling it for 5 minutes or adding 2 drops of household chlorine per liter.
The simplest rule
Use the 3-day minimum, then multiply the water by the number of people in your group.
| Item | Verified guidance |
|---|---|
| Water | At least 5 liters per person per day for at least 3 days, which equals 15 liters per person for 72 hours. |
| Food | Plan for at least 3 days of food; SEMAR lists crackers, rice, cereals, canned fruit and vegetables, soups, dried fruit, juices, tuna, milk powder, granola, candy, coffee, and tea. |
| If water is unsafe | Boil it for 5 minutes or add 2 drops of household chlorine per liter. |
Common questions
+How many liters of water do I need per person per day?
The public SEMAR preventive guide supplied here says at least 5 liters per person per day.
+How much food should I store for 72 hours?
SEMAR says your kit should cover food, water, and supplies for at least 3 days.
+Can tap water be made safe after a hurricane?
Yes. Secretaría de Salud says to boil drinking water for 5 minutes or add 2 drops of household chlorine per liter.
+What nonperishable foods work best in Cancun?
SEMAR's list includes crackers, rice, cereals, canned fruit and vegetables, soups, dried fruit, juices, tuna, milk powder, granola, candy, coffee, and tea.
+Is the SEMAR water target 4 liters or 5 liters?
The public SEMAR PDF supplied here says 5 liters per person per day.
How this answer was researched
Compiled only from the official SEMAR preventive guide and Secretaría de Salud guidance supplied in the research package.
Data collected 10 October 2026. Facts last checked 10 October 2026.
Sources
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