During the coronavirus pandemic, many shoppers are stockpiling food — and grocery stores are struggling to keep shelves stocked. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released new guidelines on how many weeks worth of groceries most healthy families should buy: just one.

“Please only buy what your family needs for a week,” FEMA posted in a Q&A. “It is important to remember that many families may be unable to buy a supply of food and water for weeks in advance. Freight flows are not disrupted, but stores need time to restock.”

Even during statewide stay-at-home orders, grocery stores remain open. The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also answered questions on the possibility of food shortages:

Q: Will there be food shortages?

A: “There are no nationwide shortages of food, although in some cases the inventory of certain foods at your grocery store might be temporarily low before stores can restock. Food production and manufacturing are widely dispersed throughout the U.S., and there are currently no wide-spread disruptions reported in the supply chain.

“USDA and the Food and Drug Administration are closely monitoring the food supply chain for any shortages in collaboration with industry and our federal and state partners. We are in regular contact with food manufacturers and grocery stores.”

Q: What is USDA doing to ensure access to food?

A: “USDA is monitoring the situation closely in collaboration with our federal and state partners. FNS is ready to assist in the government-wide effort to ensure all Americans have access to food in times of need. In the event of an emergency or disaster situation, Food and Nutrition Service programs are just one part of a much larger government-wide coordinated response. All of our programs, including SNAP, WIC, and the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, have flexibilities and contingencies built-in to allow us to respond to on-the-ground realities and take action as directed by Congress.”

Learn more about available FNS flexibilities to help ensure food access during the pandemic response at www.fns.usda.gov/disaster/pandemic.