A well-stocked emergency kit should cover six basic needs: water, food, first aid, light and communication, sanitation, and important documents. The goal is to keep your household self-sufficient for at least 72 hours, since that’s the window when help may not be available after a disaster. Below is a category-by-category breakdown of what belongs in your kit and why.
Water: The Single Most Important Item
Store at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day for a minimum of three days. That covers drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene like brushing teeth. A family of four needs 12 gallons just for the baseline three-day window. If you have space, aim for a week’s supply.
Store water in food-grade containers and keep it in a cool, dark place. Rotate your supply every six months. As a backup, keep a small bottle of regular unscented liquid bleach in your kit. If you ever need to disinfect questionable water, the CDC recommends 1 to 2 drops per quart. Let it sit for 30 minutes before drinking. Portable water filters rated to remove bacteria and protozoa are another lightweight backup worth including.
Food That Lasts Without Refrigeration
Pack at least a three-day supply of food that doesn’t need cooking or refrigeration. The simplest options are canned goods (soups, vegetables, fruits, tuna, chicken), peanut butter, crackers, granola bars, dried fruit, nuts, and ready-to-eat cereals. Don’t forget a manual can opener.
Shelf life varies more than most people realize. Peanut butter, canned fruits, canned soups, and ready-to-eat cereals stay at peak quality for about a year. Dry pasta, white rice, salt, and vegetable oils can be stored indefinitely under the right conditions, though rotating every two to three years is smart. Powdered milk lasts 12 to 24 months at room temperature, or up to two years if it comes in nitrogen-packed cans. Crackers and boxed powdered milk have shorter shelf lives of around six months, so mark them with a date and swap them out regularly.
Choose calorie-dense foods over bulky ones. Peanut butter, nuts, and dried fruit pack a lot of energy into a small space. If you want hot meals and have a portable stove, add rice, pasta, or instant oatmeal, but always have options that work straight out of the package.
First Aid Kit Contents
The American Red Cross recommends a family-of-four kit include the following:
- 25 adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
- 5 sterile gauze pads (3×3 inch) and 5 sterile gauze pads (4×4 inch)
- 2 absorbent compress dressings (5×9 inch) for larger wounds
- 1 roll of adhesive cloth tape (10 yards)
- 1 gauze roll bandage (3 inch) and 1 roller bandage (4 inch)
- 2 triangular bandages, useful as slings or tourniquets
- 5 antibiotic ointment packets and 5 antiseptic wipe packets
- 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets for allergic skin reactions
- 1 instant cold compress
- 1 emergency blanket (the thin, reflective mylar kind)
- 2 pairs of nonlatex gloves
- Tweezers
- An oral thermometer (non-mercury, non-glass)
- A breathing barrier with a one-way valve for CPR
Add any prescription medications your household needs, with at least a week’s supply rotated to stay current. Over-the-counter pain relievers, antihistamines, and anti-diarrheal medication round out the basics.
Light, Communication, and Power
Power outages are one of the most common consequences of any disaster, so your kit needs independent light and information sources.
For lighting, a battery-powered or hand-crank lantern works best for general use, while a headlamp keeps your hands free for tasks. LED models run far longer on batteries than older bulb types. Pack extra batteries (AA and AAA cover most devices) and store them outside the device to prevent corrosion.
For information, a NOAA weather radio is essential. These receivers pick up continuous emergency broadcasts on dedicated frequencies that regular AM/FM radios can’t access. Look for a model that runs on batteries, has an AC adapter, and ideally includes a hand crank or solar panel as a third power source. Many emergency radios combine NOAA, AM/FM, a flashlight, and a USB charging port in one device, which saves space.
Keep a portable phone charger (power bank) fully charged in your kit. A whistle is also worth including for signaling rescuers if you’re trapped. It carries farther than your voice and costs almost nothing.
Tools and Practical Gear
A few simple tools make a big difference when infrastructure fails:
- Multi-tool or utility knife: handles cutting, prying, and minor repairs
- Wrench or pliers: needed to shut off gas and water valves at your home
- Duct tape and plastic sheeting: for sealing broken windows or creating a makeshift shelter
- Local maps: GPS may not work if cell towers go down
- Matches or a lighter in a waterproof container
- Dust masks or N95 respirators: useful during fires, volcanic ash, or structural collapse
Store everything in a sturdy, portable container like a large backpack or a plastic bin with handles. If you need to evacuate quickly, you should be able to grab it and go.
Sanitation and Hygiene
When water and sewer systems go down, sanitation becomes a real health risk fast. Your kit should include garbage bags with plastic ties (which double as an improvised toilet lining), moist towelettes, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, soap, toilet paper, and feminine hygiene products. A small bottle of liquid bleach serves double duty for both water purification and surface disinfection.
If you wear contacts, pack a spare pair of glasses. Include a toothbrush and toothpaste, any personal care items you rely on daily, and at least one full change of clothes per person. Sturdy shoes matter too, especially if you’re evacuating through debris.
Important Documents
In an evacuation, you may need to prove your identity, access money, or provide medical history without your phone or computer. Keep copies of the following in a waterproof bag or container inside your kit:
- Government-issued IDs (driver’s license, passport)
- Insurance policies (home, auto, health)
- Bank and credit card account numbers
- Medical records, medication lists, and vaccination records
- Emergency contact list with phone numbers written out (not just saved in your phone)
- Copies of your home deed, lease, or vehicle titles
A USB drive with scanned copies of all these documents takes up almost no space and gives you a digital backup. Store some cash in small bills as well, since ATMs and card readers often go offline during widespread outages.
Supplies for Infants and Young Children
Babies and toddlers need their own dedicated supplies. If you’re formula feeding, pack ready-to-feed formula in single-serving containers, since it doesn’t require mixing with potentially contaminated water. If you also use powdered formula, include bottled water, a liquid measuring cup, and a food-grade mixing container with a lid. For breastfeeding families, pack disposable nursing pads and, if you pump, a manual pump as a backup in case of power failure, plus breast milk storage bags and a small cooler with ice packs.
Beyond feeding, the CDC recommends including at least one large pack of diapers, two packs of baby wipes, diaper rash cream, baby wash, resealable plastic bags for dirty items, age-appropriate baby food and snacks, infant pain reliever with acetaminophen, a bulb syringe, an infant thermometer, at least two pacifiers if your child uses them, extra clothes, two blankets, and a baby carrier like a sling or front carrier. Also include your child’s medical and vaccination records.
Pet Supplies
Pets need their own section in your emergency kit. The Red Cross recommends packing food and water for at least three days, along with bowls and a manual can opener if your pet eats canned food. Include any medications your pet takes, copies of medical and vaccination records in a waterproof container, and information about feeding schedules and any behavior issues, in case someone else needs to care for your animal temporarily.
Pack sturdy leashes, harnesses, or carriers so your pet can be transported safely without escaping. A current photo of you with your pet is surprisingly important: it serves as proof of ownership if you get separated. Cat owners should add a small bag of litter and a disposable pan. If you have space, a familiar toy or blanket can help reduce your pet’s stress in an unfamiliar environment.
How to Maintain Your Kit
Building the kit is half the job. The other half is keeping it current. Check your kit every six months, replacing expired food, rotating water, updating medications, and swapping out batteries. A good habit is to check it when you change your clocks for daylight saving time. As your family changes (new baby, new pet, new medication), update the kit to match. Store it somewhere accessible, not buried in the back of a closet. Everyone in your household should know where it is.