Three days of supplies at home: Ex-FBI deputy's advice as Pentagon plans FORTRESS

As the US prepares to fortify its military bases under the Pentagon's doomsday war plan, former FBI Deputy Director is urging Americans to think about security closer to home. His message is clear: "Fortress my house", calling on families to stockpile at least three days' worth of food, water and emergency essentials.Bongino said the military was doing its part to safeguard national security, but households also needed to prepare for the possibility of emergencies. (Photo: Reuters)New Delhi,Oct 29, 2026 09:47 ISTAs the Pentagon prepares for a scenario in which US military bases must sustain themselves for 90 days without external support, former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is urging Americans to take basic precautions at home.Bongino encouraged families to keep at least three days’ worth of food, water and essential supplies on hand, saying a basic stockpile can help households manage temporary disruptions while emergency services work to restore normalcy.“Get your stuff today. Please. Do it for your family,” Bongino said on The Dan Bongino Show podcast on Wednesday, encouraging families to prepare for emergencies in advance.His remarks came days after details of the Pentagon’s FORTRESS initiative emerged, outlining measures to ensure US military bases can sustain themselves for at least 90 days without external support during a major conflict that disrupts essential infrastructure or supply chains. Bongino said the military was doing its part to safeguard national security, but households also needed to consider how they would manage temporary disruptions to essential services.“The Pentagon’s doing its job to keep our national security safe and make ‘Fortress America’. You have to make ‘Fortress my house’, ‘Fortress my apartment’,” he said. He urged people to keep emergency radios, batteries, food supplies and water filtration equipment ready, saying these items could prove useful if access to basic services is interrupted.“The best day of your life, you don't need them. And in 10 years, you're like, 'Ah, I wasted $1,000 or whatever.' The worst day in your life is your kids looking you in the face like, 'Hey Dad, Mom, where's the water?' And, 'Well, we don't have any,'” he said.Bongino, who has also worked with the US Secret Service and the New York Police Department, said families should plan ahead rather than wait for an emergency to occur.“Please, do it for everyone. Your neighbors are not going to have any extra food,” he said.PENTAGON’S 90-DAY PREPAREDNESS PLANThe FORTRESS initiative is designed to reduce the US military's dependence on civilian infrastructure during a major conflict, Fox News Digital reported, citing relevant documents it reviewed.Under the plan, major military installations in the continental United States would be expected to sustain essential operations independently for at least 90 days, including access to electricity, water, fuel and communications.Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said the military could not afford to rely on civilian municipal infrastructure to maintain national defence.“We don’t want to rely on standard civilian municipal infrastructure to run our national defense. We just simply can't. It's an intolerable risk,” Parnell was quoted as saying by the news outlet.The plan envisages portable nuclear reactors, large-scale battery storage and independent power grids to keep military installations running if civilian power supplies are disrupted.It also calls for strategic reserves of ammunition, fuel, critical minerals, electronics, spare parts and medical supplies to reduce dependence on supply chains that could be affected during a conflict.The Pentagon is also preparing for civilian factories to switch to defence production during a crisis and for alternative suppliers to fill critical gaps if international supply routes are disrupted.Parnell said the initiative was intended to ensure that military operations could continue even during a prolonged, multi-front conflict.US TO TEST ITS EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEMSeparately, the US is scheduled to conduct a nationwide test of its Emergency Alert System (EAS) on November 17. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are scheduled to carry out the exercise between 2.20 pm and 2.50 pm Eastern Standard Time.The test alert will be broadcast on television and radio, but will not be sent to mobile phones or other devices. Federal regulations require the system to be tested once every three years, allowing authorities to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.FEMA and Ready.gov also recommend that households maintain a basic emergency kit that can support them for at least three days. Suggested supplies include water, non-perishable food, radios, flashlights, spare batteries, first-aid kits, essential medicines and sanitation products.Power banks, local maps and extra supplies for sheltering in place are also recommended.- Ends