A 72-hour kit is the bag you grab when you have to leave, or the bin you open when you stay and the power is out. Three days is the starting point because that is how long it can take for help or services to reach everyone after a large storm or outage.
The basic list
Ready.gov recommends these items for a basic emergency supply kit:
- Water: one gallon per person per day for several days
- Food: at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food
- A battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
- A flashlight and extra batteries
- A first aid kit
- A whistle to signal for help
- A dust mask, plastic sheeting, scissors, and duct tape
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for sanitation
- A wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- A manual can opener
- Local maps
- A cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
What to add for your household
- Prescription medicines and glasses
- Copies of important documents in a waterproof bag
- Cash in small bills
- Food, water, and a leash or carrier for pets
- Diapers, formula, and supplies for small children
- A change of clothes, a blanket, and sturdy shoes for each person
Build it or buy it
You can build a kit from the list above, or start with a ready-made kit sized for your household and add your own items to it. Either way works. The kit you finish is better than the perfect one you never put together.
Where to keep it
Keep the home kit in one place everyone knows, near an exit. Keep a smaller kit in each car and a small one at work. Check it twice a year and replace food, water, and batteries as they date out.
Ready-made kits for one person, two people, a family, the car, and the office are on our Kits page. Food, water, radios, and first aid are each on their own pages under Shop.