What should actually be in your emergency kit?
Written by Andy Kruger
BuildSOS CEO7 min read
The short answer
Cover the basics for at least 72 hours: water, non-perishable food, a first aid kit, medications, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, plus the less-obvious essentials people forget, cash in small bills, a manual can opener, copies of important documents. In FEMA’s 2023 national survey, only about half of adults (51%) said they felt prepared for a disaster. Keep your kit in a labeled, accessible container everyone in the household knows about, and build a smaller version for your car if you’re away from home often.
Why 72 hours is the benchmark
After a disaster, you may need to get by on your own for several days before help arrives (Ready.gov). That’s why your kit should cover at least 72 hours: not indefinitely, just long enough to be self-sufficient until help arrives or normal services resume.
Being ready for that window does more than just get you through it. It reduces reliance on external aid, which frees up emergency responders to focus on people who are more vulnerable or in more critical need. It also measurably reduces stress and panic in the moment, since you’re not scrambling to gather essentials while also dealing with the disaster itself.
The full kit, item by item
Water and food
- Water: one gallon per person per day, minimum 3-day supply
- Non-perishable, ready-to-eat food: canned goods, protein bars, dried fruit, nuts
- Manual can opener
Health and safety
- First aid kit: bandages, antiseptic wipes, adhesive tape, gauze, scissors, tweezers, pain relievers, and any necessary prescription medications
- Dust masks, for airborne particles and contaminated air
- Personal hygiene items: soap, hand sanitizer, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, wet wipes
Light, power, and information
- Flashlights with extra batteries, or rechargeable
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio, for emergency alerts when cell service is down
- Cell phone chargers, including a portable power bank or solar charger
- Whistle, to signal for help
Shelter and warmth
- Emergency blankets
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape, for temporary shelter or sealing a damaged area
- Extra clothing, rain gear, and sturdy walking shoes
Documents and money
- Copies of important documents: identification, insurance policies, medical records, emergency contacts
- Cash in small denominations, since ATMs and card readers may not work during an outage
Household-specific
- Baby supplies, if applicable: formula, diapers, wipes, baby food
- Pet supplies, if applicable: food, water, leash, carrier
- A multi-tool or basic tool kit
- Entertainment items (books, games) to help kids and adults manage the wait
Where to store it, and where to buy it
- Indoor closet or cupboard on the main floor. Central, accessible to everyone, away from basements or other flood-prone areas.
- A labeled, waterproof container. Something durable enough to protect contents and clearly marked so everyone in the household recognizes it instantly.
- A portable bag near an exit, if you want a grab-and-go version for evacuation, separate from your full home kit.
- A smaller kit in your car, especially if you spend significant time away from home: water, snacks, a first aid kit, a flashlight, a blanket.
- A duplicate kit at an alternate location, like a relative’s house, if you’re in a high-risk area and want a backup in case your primary kit isn’t accessible.
For buying supplies, Ready.gov (FEMA’s site) has detailed guidance on what to include, and the American Red Cross store, Home Depot, and most major retailers carry the individual components if you’re building a kit gradually rather than buying an assembled one.
Frequently asked
Do I need to buy everything specialized, or will household items work?
Household items work for most of this. You don’t need camping-specific gear, just the basics assembled in one place and checked periodically.
How much should I expect to spend?
Costs vary widely depending on what you already have on hand. Building gradually, a few items at a time, is a completely reasonable approach if cost is a factor, and it’s better than not starting because a full kit feels expensive all at once.
How often should I check and update my kit?
Periodically, at minimum once a year. Replace expired food and medications, and adjust contents as your household’s needs change, new baby, new pet, changed medications.
Should I keep a kit somewhere other than my house?
If you’re in a high-risk area, a duplicate kit at a relative’s house or another safe location is a good backup in case your primary kit isn’t accessible when you need it.
What’s the one item people most often forget?
Cash in small bills. It’s easy to assume cards will work, but ATMs and card readers frequently don’t function during a power outage, and small bills matter since making change may not be possible either.
Sources
About the author
Andy Kruger
Andy Kruger is CEO of BuildSOS, author of When the Storm Comes, and sits on multiple boards and advisory groups shaping disaster resilience policy and research.
About Andy