Emergency Survival Kits: Essential Supplies for Every Household
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How to Build an Emergency Survival Kit
Severe weather, wildfires, earthquakes, power outages, and other emergencies can disrupt access to food, water, medical care, and communication. A well-stocked emergency survival kit can help you and your household manage until services are restored or help arrives. The right kit depends on where you live, who is in your household, and the emergencies you may face.
Start with the essentials
Store supplies in a sturdy, easy-to-carry container. Keep the kit somewhere you can reach quickly, and make sure everyone in your household knows where it is. Consider preparing both a home kit and smaller kits for your vehicle and workplace.
- Water: Store at least one gallon per person per day for drinking and basic sanitation. Plan for at least three days, and store more when possible. Children, people who are ill or pregnant, and hot conditions may require additional water.
- Food: Choose at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food that does not require refrigeration. Include a manual can opener and any special foods household members need.
- Medication and health supplies: Pack prescription medicines, a first-aid kit, glasses or contact-lens supplies, and essential medical items. Ask a health care professional how to plan for medication needs during an extended disruption.
- Light and communication: Include a flashlight or headlamp, extra batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, a phone charger, and a backup power bank.
- Basic tools and supplies: Consider a whistle, multipurpose tool, duct tape, work gloves, local maps, and sanitation items such as moist towelettes, garbage bags, and hand sanitizer.
- Important information: Keep copies of identification, emergency contacts, insurance details, and other essential documents in a waterproof container. Store digital copies securely as well.
- Cash and keys: Keep some small bills and spare keys in a secure place within the kit.
Pack for your household
A useful kit reflects the people who will rely on it. Add infant formula, diapers, and other baby supplies; mobility or communication aids; hearing-aid batteries; and supplies for anyone with allergies, dietary restrictions, or ongoing medical needs. Include comfort items for children, such as a small game or familiar toy.
If you have pets, prepare food, water, a leash or carrier, waste bags, medications, and copies of vaccination records. Identify in advance where you can take pets if you need to evacuate.
Make a kit for your car
A vehicle kit can help if you become stranded or need to travel during an emergency. Depending on your climate and driving conditions, consider packing drinking water, shelf-stable snacks, warm clothing or blankets, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, a phone charger, basic tools, and reflective warning items. In winter, add supplies suited to snow and cold, such as a snow brush, traction aid, and extra warm layers. Keep items secured so they do not become hazards if the vehicle stops suddenly.
Plan for local hazards
Think about the emergencies most likely in your area. People in flood-prone places may want waterproof storage and a plan for moving supplies to higher ground. Those in areas with extreme heat, wildfire, or severe winter weather should add supplies and clothing suited to those conditions. Follow instructions from local emergency officials, especially when they recommend evacuation or sheltering in place.
Store and maintain your supplies
Check your kit at least twice a year. Replace expired food, water, and medications; test flashlights and radios; and make sure batteries and power banks work. Update clothing sizes, contact information, and documents as your household’s needs change. Store supplies in a cool, dry place, and keep items that may be damaged by water in sealed bags or containers.
Make a plan, not just a kit
Supplies are only one part of emergency preparedness. Decide how household members will contact one another, choose meeting places, and identify evacuation routes and nearby shelters. Write down important phone numbers in case your phone is unavailable. Practice the plan so everyone understands what to do.
A thoughtfully prepared kit cannot prevent emergencies, but it can make the first hours and days safer and less stressful. Start with the basics, build around your household’s needs, and keep the supplies ready to use.
Essential Tips for Assembling a Life-Saving Emergency Survival Kit
- Pack enough water for at least three days.
- Include shelf-stable food and a manual can opener.
- Add a first-aid kit and essential medications.
- Keep a flashlight, extra batteries, and a whistle.
- Store copies of important documents in a waterproof bag.
- Check expiration dates and refresh supplies regularly.
Pack enough water for at least three days.
Pack enough water to last at least three days in an emergency. A general guideline is one gallon per person per day for drinking and basic sanitation, with extra water for hot weather, illness, pregnancy, or special needs. Store water in clean, sealed containers and check it regularly so your supply stays safe and ready to use.
Include shelf-stable food and a manual can opener.
Include shelf-stable food in your emergency kit so you have meals available if power or grocery access is disrupted. Choose foods your household will eat, check expiration dates regularly, and pack a manual can opener if any items come in cans.
Add a first-aid kit and essential medications.
Include a well-stocked first-aid kit in your emergency supplies, with items such as bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, medical tape, and tweezers. Add essential prescription and over-the-counter medications, along with any needed medical supplies, such as an inhaler or glucose-monitoring equipment. Keep medicines in their original, labeled containers when possible, check expiration dates regularly, and ask your health care provider or pharmacist how to plan for medication needs during an emergency.
Keep a flashlight, extra batteries, and a whistle.
Keep a flashlight, extra batteries, and a whistle in your emergency survival kit. A flashlight helps you move safely when the power is out, while spare batteries keep it working when you need it most. A whistle can help rescuers locate you if you’re trapped or unable to call for help.
Store copies of important documents in a waterproof bag.
Keep copies of important documents—such as identification, insurance information, medical records, and emergency contacts—in a waterproof bag as part of your emergency survival kit. This helps protect them from rain, flooding, and spills, so essential information is easier to access if you need to evacuate or your originals are damaged. Consider storing digital copies securely as a backup, too.
Check expiration dates and refresh supplies regularly.
Check the expiration dates on food, water, medications, and other kit supplies regularly, and replace anything that’s expired, damaged, or no longer safe to use. Set a reminder to review your kit at least twice a year, and update clothing, batteries, documents, and household-specific items as your needs change. Keeping supplies fresh ensures your kit is ready when you need it.
