Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino used his podcast this week to tell Americans to build a 30-day stockpile of food, water, and emergency supplies, citing warnings issued by the UK government and elsewhere about preparing for cyberattacks and disruptions to power.

According to 13WHAM-TV, he encouraged listeners to assemble an emergency radio, batteries, emergency food, rain collection, water filtration, and filtration tablets.

He argued that preparation reduces panic rather than causing it, telling listeners "it's never good to panic and the best way to reduce it is to be prepared."

The recommendation stands out because it far exceeds what governments currently advise.

The federal government's ready.gov website recommends maintaining enough food and water to last several days, and insideradio.com reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises one gallon of water per person per day for three days, with a two-week supply recommended when possible.

Last week the United Kingdom launched its "Be Ready" campaign advising citizens to stockpile at least 72 hours of water and food against the threat of "state-sponsored terrorism" by Russia or a climate crisis, according to The Guardian, as cited by 13WHAM-TV.

Bongino's 30-day benchmark goes beyond both.

Bongino pointed to a Pentagon initiative as a model for households.

insideradio.com reports that the FORTRESS initiative, announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in September, focuses on strengthening military installations against disruptions to electricity, water, fuel, communications, and supply chains, and that Fox News Digital reported Pentagon planning documents call for major bases to maintain essential operations independently for at least 90 days.

"The Pentagon is preparing every major U.S. military base to survive 90 days without outside support," Bongino said. "You have to make Fortress My House, Fortress My Apartment."

He warned that neighbors will not have extra food to share, saying, "Panic kills," from his Secret Service experience.

The warnings land amid growing concern about infrastructure vulnerabilities, cyberattacks, and geopolitical instability, concerns that ripple into markets through defense budgets, supply-chain exposure, and consumer stockpiling behavior.

For households, the immediate stakes are practical: Bongino framed the cost of preparation against the scenario of children asking "where's the water?" with none available. He pushed back on alarm during a subsequent broadcast, saying he was not predicting an imminent catastrophe.

"I'm not telling you the world's going to end tomorrow. Just telling you to be prepared," he said. Bongino announced his resignation from the FBI in December of 2025 and now hosts the Westwood One syndicated shows "The Bongino Report AM" and "The Bongino Report PM" as well as his daily podcast.