A home emergency kit is a simple idea: enough supplies to get your household through several days if the power goes out, the tap stops being safe or the roads close. You don't have to buy it all at once, and you don't need a basement full of gear. You need a short list that fits your household and a place where you can find it in the dark.
The list below is built on Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, and organized by need. Ready.gov's own checklist has more items on it, so read the two side by side.
Start with the math
Ready.gov recommends at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation, plus at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food. A household of four planning for three days, for example, needs 12 gallons of water, which weighs about 100 pounds. Ready.gov also notes that children, nursing mothers, people who are sick and hot climates can all push that number higher. Pets need water too.
The emergency supplies list
Water
- Commercially bottled water, kept sealed, or food-grade containers you fill yourself. Replace water you bottled yourself every six months.
- A way to treat more water if you run out: a pot for boiling and regular unscented bleach. Our guide on how to purify water for drinking walks through both.
- A backup filter, such as this 1 gallon gravity filter or a pocket-size filter straw. Filters have limits, and the guide explains them.
Food
- Food you will actually eat that needs no cooking or refrigeration. The National Weather Service suggests dried fruit, nuts and granola bars.
- A manual can opener, plus cups, plates and utensils.
- Infant formula and pet food if your household needs them.
Light
- A flashlight for each person in the house. A rechargeable headlamp leaves both hands free for the stairs, the breaker panel or a child who needs help.
- One area light for the room you'll spend the most time in, such as this solar lantern, which charges by sun or USB-C.
- Spare batteries for anything that doesn't recharge.
Phone power and information
- A cell phone, charger and backup battery. A 20,000 mAh solar power bank gives you a way to top up when the outlets are dead, though solar charging is slow.
- Emergency alerts switched on in your phone's settings.
- Paper copies of key phone numbers and local maps, in case your phone dies.
Warmth and shelter
- A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person, clothing suited to your climate and sturdy shoes.
- Compact emergency sleeping bags if you're short on space. This set also includes whistles, which Ready.gov lists for signaling.
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape for sheltering in place.
Sanitation
- Wet wipes, trash bags and plastic ties.
- Soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and personal hygiene items.
- If your toilet can't flush, a folding portable toilet with a supply of disposable liner bags is more practical than a bucket.
Health
- A first aid kit.
- Prescription medications, which can be hard to refill during an emergency, and any over-the-counter medicine you rely on. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to keep a backup supply.
- Prescription glasses and contact lens solution.
Tools and paperwork
- A wrench or pliers to shut off utilities, and a note of where the shutoffs are.
- A dust mask, a fire extinguisher and waterproof matches.
- Some cash, and copies of important family documents saved electronically or kept in a waterproof container.
Where to keep it
Ready.gov suggests storing items in airtight plastic bags inside one or two easy-to-carry containers, and keeping kits at home, at work and in your car. In practice, a home kit tends to split in two. The heavy things, such as water and most of the food, stay in a closet or pantry. The things you'd need if you had to leave, such as medication, documents, a light and a charger, can go in a small pack by the door. A 20L three-compartment backpack is one option for that, or use a bag you already own.
Build it in three rounds
A whole kit in one shopping trip is a lot. One way to split it up:
- Today, from what you own. Gather flashlights, a can opener, spare blankets, documents and your medication list in one place.
- Next grocery run. Add water and no-cook food for several days, then wipes, trash bags and batteries.
- When you can. Add backup power, a filter, extra warmth and anything your household needs that isn't on a standard list.
Keep it ready
Ready.gov's advice is to replace expired items and rethink your needs every year as your family changes. Pick one date that's easy to remember and use it to check food dates, swap water you bottled yourself, recharge anything rechargeable and test every light. Store canned food somewhere cool and dry, and keep boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.
Common questions
How many days should an emergency kit cover?
Ready.gov says several days for food and water, and at least 24 hours for a kit at work. If your area tends to lose power for longer stretches, plan for more.
What should I buy first?
Start with water, then food you can eat without cooking, then light. Those cover the most immediate problems. See our guides on what to do during a power outage and how to prepare for a winter storm for what to add for those situations.
You can browse the gear in one place in our Emergency Supplies and Survival Gear collections.
Activearo Outdoor sells some of the gear linked in this article. You can build a good kit without it; the guidance above comes from the public sources listed below, so check them and your local officials for anything specific to your area.