I believe Red Cross recommends the minimum, 1 gallon per person per day. Two weeks is 14 gallons, times the number in your household - for us currently 3. 42 gallons - the size of a 55 gallon barrel or 2 x 30 gallons would do; or for those optimistic about reaching it, your home water heater might cover that. 42 gallons is not very much once you have bought the barrels and run the garden hose, and have a pump etc - and you rotate your stored water with daylight savings time. Personally though I would plan for more water, 3 gallons per day per person.

I think the gist of the CU article is that only 1% of those who say they are prepared have at least the things on their list, and if you list more things then the 1% will go down, but what's the point. I daresay any list is slanted to the abilities of those who make them - I can survive for weeks from the contents of my home without a knife (gasp) or duct tape, but I won't last more than 3 days without warm clothing and shelter to protect us from cold or wet.

Another way of putting Consumer Reports' analysis: if a disaster forced you outdoors in the next five minutes, what would you have to sustain life? Their poll indicates alot of people *think* they have some supplies, but only 1% actually do. So there will be alot of neighbors digging in their rubble looking for stuff (and maybe people), and/or in need of the basics, food and shelter.