An emergency kit is not just for people who live in hurricane or earthquake zones. Power failures, floods, wildfires, winter storms, and local evacuations can interrupt water, electricity, transportation, and pharmacy access with little warning. A well-planned 72-hour kit gives your household the basics needed to leave quickly or manage the first days of a disruption.
September is National Preparedness Month in the United States, making it a useful time to build a kit or refresh one you already own. Start with essentials, customize for the people and animals in your home, and store everything where it can be reached quickly.
Choose a go-kit and a stay-at-home supply
A portable go-kit should contain at least three days of supplies you can carry if officials tell you to evacuate. A stay-at-home supply can be larger. The American Red Cross recommends three days of food and water for evacuation and two weeks for home use when practical.
You do not need to buy a preassembled survival bag. A sturdy backpack, duffel, or lidded plastic tote works. The right container is easy for your household to move, protects contents from moisture, and is clearly identifiable. If one bag becomes too heavy, divide supplies among adults or create smaller kits for the car and workplace.
Water comes first
Plan for at least one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. For a three-day kit, that means three gallons per person. Children, nursing parents, pets, hot weather, and illness may increase the amount needed.
Store commercially bottled water in a cool area away from chemicals and direct sunlight. Check its condition during every kit review. If you cannot transport the full amount during an evacuation, carry what you safely can and include a plan for following local guidance about safe water sources. Never assume floodwater or clear-looking stream water is safe to drink.
Pack food that works without normal utilities
Choose nonperishable foods your household already eats and that require little water or preparation. Options include ready-to-eat canned meat, beans, fruit, nut or seed butter, shelf-stable milk, crackers, energy bars, and dried fruit. Include a manual can opener when any item lacks a pull tab.
Account for allergies, medical diets, infants, and pet food. Avoid making the entire kit very salty because water may be limited. Rotate food before its best-quality date by using it in normal meals and replacing it with fresh stock.
Light, information, and phone power
Pack a flashlight or headlamp for each adult, spare compatible batteries, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio. A NOAA Weather Radio can provide alerts when cellular service or home internet is unavailable. Battery lanterns are safer than candles around children, pets, and damaged buildings.
Add charging cables and at least one charged power bank. Store important phone numbers on paper in case a phone is lost, damaged, or out of power. DaiLova’s guide to setting up emergency contacts on your phone can help make critical information accessible before a crisis.
First aid, medication, and personal needs
Include a basic first-aid kit, any prescribed emergency medicines, and copies of prescriptions. The Red Cross suggests a seven-day medication supply when possible. Follow the instructions from your clinician or pharmacist, particularly for controlled drugs or medicine that requires refrigeration.
Add eyeglasses, contact-lens supplies, hearing-aid batteries, mobility-device accessories, menstrual products, diapers, wipes, and other daily necessities. CDC guidance for people with disabilities emphasizes backup batteries or chargers for adaptive equipment, communication aids, medical supplies, and important health documents. Customize rather than relying on a generic checklist.
Sanitation, weather protection, and basic tools
- Moist towelettes, hand sanitizer, soap, toilet paper, and trash bags
- Dust masks, work gloves, sturdy shoes, and a change of clothes
- Warm blankets or sleeping bags appropriate for your climate
- Whistle, multi-purpose tool, wrench or pliers, and duct tape
- Local paper maps, pencil, and waterproof matches if appropriate
Know how to shut off household utilities, but do so only when authorities or a qualified professional advise it. A tool is useful only if household members understand its safe purpose.
Protect documents and a little cash
Place copies of identification, insurance information, prescriptions, emergency contacts, and essential household records in a waterproof pouch. Keep originals secured according to your normal safety plan. A secure digital backup is helpful, but do not make internet access your only option.
Include small bills because card terminals and ATMs may not work during an outage. Avoid storing an amount that would create a serious loss if the kit were stolen. Add a spare house key only if you can secure it appropriately.
Do not forget pets
Pets need their own water, food, bowls, medication, leash or carrier, waste supplies, vaccination records, and a recent photo. Make sure identification tags and microchip details are current. Identify pet-friendly shelter or lodging options before an evacuation becomes necessary.
Where to store the kit
Keep the main kit near an exit in a dry, easy-to-reach location known to everyone in the household. Do not bury it behind seasonal storage. In areas with extreme heat or freezing temperatures, protect medicines, batteries, and water from damaging conditions.
Create smaller kits for the car and workplace if your risks and commute justify them. Household members may be separated when an emergency begins, so one container at home should not be the entire plan.
Review the kit every six months
- Replace expired food, medication, batteries, and damaged water containers.
- Recharge power banks and test flashlights and radios.
- Update contact details, documents, clothing sizes, and medical needs.
- Confirm every household member knows where the kit is and how to carry it.
- Practice a brief evacuation plan and choose a meeting point.
The bottom line
A useful emergency kit is portable, current, and designed for your actual household. Begin with water, food, light, information, first aid, medication, sanitation, and documents. Add the needs of children, older adults, disabled household members, and pets. Review the kit twice a year, and pair supplies with a simple communication and evacuation plan. Preparation cannot prevent an emergency, but it can remove avoidable problems during the first critical hours.
