Planning Emergency Supplies for Large Groups (50–1000 People)

Large schools, warehouses, corporate campuses, and public facilities often have responsibility for dozens or hundreds of people during an emergency. Planning emergency supplies for these environments is very different from preparing for a small office or household.

The challenge is not only deciding what to store, but how to calculate quantities, organize supplies, and make them accessible when people must remain inside or cannot safely leave the building.

Why Planning for Large Groups Is Different

As the number of people increases, emergency planning becomes more complex. Facilities must think about:

  • How much food and water to store
  • Where supplies should be located across buildings or floors
  • How staff will distribute supplies during an incident
  • How to maintain order and accountability

Without a structured approach, these calculations can quickly become overwhelming.

Food and Water Planning at Scale

For large groups, many organizations rely on:

These solutions remove the need to manually calculate quantities or portion supplies during a stressful situation.

Organizing Supplies Across a Facility

Rather than storing everything in one place, facilities often use a layered approach:

  • Classroom or department-level supplies
  • Floor warden and safety team equipment
  • Central storage for larger group resources
  • Mobile options for transporting supplies where needed

This ensures access regardless of where an incident occurs.

Supporting Shelter-in-Place and Extended Incidents

Large groups present a particular challenge during shelter-in-place events, where people may need to remain inside for hours without access to normal food service or water utilities.

Having pre-organized food, water, and operational kits allows staff to focus on safety rather than logistics.

A Practical Way to Plan for Large Groups

Many facilities simplify this process by planning emergency supplies based on the number of people they are responsible for, rather than trying to estimate individual items.

This approach is especially effective for:

  • School districts and campuses
  • Warehouses and manufacturing sites
  • Multi-floor office buildings
  • Government and public agency facilities
  • Related Emergency Supplies for Large Facilities

Facilities responsible for large groups commonly store: