72-Hour Emergency Kit Checklist

A 72-hour kit is the absolute baseline of emergency preparedness. FEMA, the Red Cross, and every emergency management agency in the country agrees: you need to survive on your own for at least 72 hours after a disaster. That means water, food, shelter, and basic medical supplies for every person in your household, packed and ready to go. This checklist covers exactly what belongs in yours.

Water (1 Gallon Per Person Per Day)

Three days means three gallons per person. A family of four needs 12 gallons minimum. That is roughly 100 pounds of water, so plan your storage and transport accordingly. Always include a backup purification method.

• 3 gallons of water per person (commercially sealed bottles last longest)
• Portable water filter or purification tablets
• Collapsible water container (for refilling from safe sources)

Food (2,000 Calories Per Person Per Day)

For a 72-hour kit, you want food that is shelf-stable, lightweight, and requires little to no preparation. Save the freeze-dried meals for your long-term stockpile. Your 72-hour kit needs grab-and-go options.

• Emergency food ration bars (like Datrex or SOS)
• Protein bars (6 to 9 per person)
• Peanut butter packets or pouches
• Dried fruit and trail mix
• Instant oatmeal or instant coffee packets
• Hard candy or glucose tablets (quick energy)

Shelter and Warmth

Exposure kills faster than hunger or thirst. If you are evacuating, you may end up sleeping in your car, a shelter, or outdoors. Pack for the worst-case scenario.

• Emergency Mylar blankets (2 per person)
• Emergency bivvy or sleeping bag
• Lightweight tarp (8x10 feet minimum)
• Paracord (25 feet for shelter rigging)
• Change of clothes (weather-appropriate)
• Extra socks and underwear
• Rain poncho
• Work gloves
• Warm hat and bandana

First Aid

• Compact first aid kit (adhesive bandages, gauze, tape, antiseptic)
• Prescription medications (72-hour supply in original bottles)
• Pain relievers (ibuprofen, acetaminophen)
• Antihistamines (Benadryl)
• Anti-diarrheal medication (Imodium)
• Moleskin (for blisters if walking)
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Nitrile gloves (2 pairs)

Light and Communication

• Flashlight (LED, compact) with extra batteries
• Headlamp
• NOAA weather radio (hand-crank preferred)
• Portable phone charger (fully charged, 10,000mAh minimum)
• Whistle (for signaling rescue)
• Printed list of emergency contacts and phone numbers
• Local area map (paper, not digital)

Tools and Miscellaneous

• Multi-tool or Swiss Army knife
• Duct tape (small roll or wrap around a pencil)
• Zip ties (assorted)
• Lighter and waterproof matches
• N95 masks (2 per person)
• Garbage bags (heavy duty, doubles as rain cover or ground cloth)
• Pen and small notebook
• Zip-lock bags (various sizes for waterproofing)

Documents and Cash

• Copies of IDs (driver's license, passport)
• Insurance cards and policy numbers
• Emergency contact list
• Cash in small bills ($100 to $300)
• USB drive with digital copies of important documents
• Waterproof document pouch

Sanitation

• Hand sanitizer
• Wet wipes or baby wipes
• Toilet paper (compressed camping roll)
• Waste bags with absorbent gel
• Toothbrush and travel toothpaste
• Feminine hygiene products

Special Considerations

• Baby supplies (formula, diapers, wipes, bottles)
• Pet supplies (food, water, leash, carrier, meds)
• Spare glasses or contacts
• Hearing aid batteries
• Comfort items for children (small toy, coloring book)
• Deck of cards or small game (morale counts)

Kit Storage Tips

Pack everything in a durable bag or backpack that you can carry comfortably. A rolling duffel works if you are driving. Store it somewhere accessible, not buried in the garage behind holiday decorations. Check it twice a year (when you change your clocks is an easy reminder). Rotate food and water on their expiration schedule. Keep one kit at home and a smaller version in each vehicle.

The best kit is the one you actually have packed and ready. Perfection is the enemy of preparedness. Start with the basics, then upgrade over time.