A good emergency kit checklist starts with water: about one gallon (four litres) per person per day, for at least three days. Add non-perishable food, a flashlight, a radio, batteries, a first aid kit, medicines, copies of key documents, cash, and supplies for babies, kids and pets. Then store it where everyone can grab it.
This page is about the kit itself: what goes in it, how much to pack and how to keep it fresh. For the plan around it, such as who to call and where to meet, see our family emergency plan checklist.
Ready.gov, the American Red Cross and Get Prepared (Government of Canada) list very similar basics. Start here:
Water: enough for drinking and sanitation (amounts below).
Food: non-perishable food that needs little preparation, plus a manual can opener.
Light: a flashlight and extra batteries.
News: a battery-powered or hand-crank radio. Ready.gov and the Red Cross also suggest a NOAA Weather Radio in the US.
First aid kit: Get Prepared suggests bandages, antiseptic wipes, protective gloves, pain relievers and face masks.
Phone power: chargers and a backup battery.
Signal and air: a whistle to call for help and a dust mask.
Tools: a multi-purpose tool, and a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.
Sanitation: moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties.
Shelter supplies: plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape.
Warmth: an emergency blanket or a sleeping bag for each person, plus a change of clothes and sturdy shoes.
Cash: some cash on hand, ideally in small bills.
Paper: local maps, family contact details and a copy of your emergency plan.
Ready.gov and the Red Cross both use one gallon per person per day, and Ready.gov notes that covers drinking and sanitation. Get Prepared uses about four litres per person per day and asks households to be ready to look after themselves for at least 72 hours.
How many days? The Red Cross suggests a 3-day supply in a kit you can carry if you evacuate, and a 2-week supply at home. Here is the math for a family of four:
3 days: 4 people x 1 gallon x 3 days = 12 gallons, or about 48 litres.
2 weeks at home: 4 people x 1 gallon x 14 days = 56 gallons.
Pets: add extra water for each animal on top of this.
Get Prepared suggests small bottles, because they are easier to carry. For food, choose things your family will actually eat without cooking, such as canned beans, tuna, peanut butter, crackers and dried fruit. Ready.gov advises keeping canned food in a cool, dry place and boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.
Get Prepared warns that prescriptions may be hard to get during an emergency and for a while after, so it suggests packing enough medication for a couple of weeks if possible. The Red Cross lists a 7-day supply of medications plus medical items.
Prescription medicines, with a written list of names, doses and times.
Non-prescription basics. Ready.gov names pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medicine, antacids and laxatives.
Glasses, contact lens solution, and hearing aids with spare batteries.
Medical supplies such as syringes, and any equipment someone in your home relies on.
If getting extra medicine is hard, ask your pharmacist or doctor what is possible for your situation.
Store copies in a waterproof container, or electronically as Ready.gov suggests. Between the Ready.gov, Red Cross and Get Prepared lists, that means:
IDs, such as driver's licences and passports.
Birth certificates and wills.
Insurance policies and bank records.
Proof of address, plus your deed or lease.
A medication list and key medical information.
Phone numbers for family, friends and anyone who may help.
Babies: formula, bottles, baby food, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream.
Kids: books, games or puzzles, which Ready.gov and the Red Cross both list. You might also let each child pick one small comfort item to pack.
Older adults and anyone with limited mobility: glasses and hearing aids with spare batteries, from the Red Cross list, plus any specialized equipment a household member needs, as Get Prepared notes.
Personal care: soap, hand sanitizer, feminine supplies and other hygiene items.
The CDC's pet disaster kit list includes:
A 2-week supply of food in waterproof containers, and a 2-week supply of water.
Non-spill bowls, a manual can opener and written feeding instructions.
A 2-week supply of any medicines, with written instructions, plus a 1-month supply of flea, tick and heartworm prevention.
Copies of vet records, including the rabies certificate, and microchip details.
Recent photos and a written description of each pet, in case you get separated.
A leash, ID collar and harness, a carrier with bedding, and litter and a litter box for cats.
Cleaning supplies such as paper towels, plastic bags and disinfectant.
Grab-and-go: pack it in a backpack, duffel bag or wheeled suitcase. Get Prepared suggests a spot like a front-hall closet and says separate backpacks let each person personalize their own.
Home: keep the bigger, 2-week supply where it is easy to reach, and make sure everyone knows where it is.
Car: Ready.gov recommends a kit in the car in case you are stranded.
Work: Ready.gov suggests being ready to shelter at work for at least 24 hours, with food, water, medicines and comfortable walking shoes.
Ready.gov also suggests sealing items in airtight plastic bags and keeping the whole kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers.
Replace anything that expires, such as food, water, batteries and medicines, at least once a year, as Get Prepared advises.
Review the whole kit yearly and update it as your family changes. A new baby, a new pet or a new prescription all change the list.
Pick an easy-to-remember date for the check, such as a birthday or the start of a season.
Build it slowly if money is tight. Get Prepared suggests printing a checklist and adding items during everyday errands.
Plan on one gallon (about four litres) per person per day. The Red Cross suggests 3 days for a kit you carry and 2 weeks at home.
At least 72 hours. Get Prepared asks households to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours, and the Red Cross suggests a 2-week supply for sheltering at home.
Copies of IDs, passports, birth certificates, wills, insurance policies, bank records, proof of address and a medication list, kept in a waterproof container or stored electronically.
Get Prepared says prepackaged kits are an option. Check what is inside, then add your own water, medicines, documents and anything your kids or pets need.
Family Ready: Emergency Plan is an iPhone app with an editable emergency kit checklist based on Ready.gov and Get Prepared guidance, with optional sections for children, older adults, pets and rural homes. It also offers review schedules of 3, 6 or 12 months and optional local reminders. It is free to download with optional paid plans, and it does not contact emergency services for you.
Get Family Ready free on the App Store