Direct answer
A basic emergency supply kit covers three days of food, water, and essential supplies for everyone in the household. Three days is the standard recommendation because it covers most natural disasters, power outages, and local emergencies while staying manageable in terms of storage and cost. Building it incrementally over a few weeks is more practical than buying everything at once.
This post covers general emergency preparedness recommendations for household planning purposes. It is not medical or safety advice. For medical emergencies, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately. Consult a doctor regarding specific medication needs or medical equipment.
What the kit needs to cover
An emergency kit addresses the supplies that become unavailable or inaccessible during a disruption: water when the tap isn’t safe or running, food when stores are closed or roads are impassable, light and communication when power is out, and basic medical supplies when getting to a pharmacy isn’t possible.
The kit doesn’t need to be elaborate. A well-stocked kit for a two-person household fits in a single large bin or duffel bag and costs under a hundred dollars to put together from scratch.
Water
Water is the most critical supply and the one most households are least prepared for. The standard recommendation is one gallon per person per day, covering drinking and basic sanitation. For a household of two people over three days, that’s six gallons minimum.
Store water in food-grade containers. Commercially bottled water is the most straightforward option since it comes sealed and has a printed expiration date. Large five-gallon jugs work for home storage but require a dispenser or careful pouring. Fill clean plastic containers from the tap as a lower-cost alternative, though tap-filled containers should be replaced every six months.
Store water away from direct sunlight and away from chemicals or fuel since plastic containers can absorb fumes over time. A cool, dark location extends shelf life.
If the water supply becomes compromised during an emergency, water can be made safe by boiling for one minute at a full rolling boil, or by adding unscented liquid chlorine bleach, typically eight drops per gallon for clear water. A portable water filter rated for bacteria and protozoa is a useful addition for extended emergencies.
Food
Three days of food per person should require no cooking or minimal preparation since power and gas may not be available. Focus on shelf-stable items with reasonable calorie density that the household will actually eat.
Practical options: canned beans, canned fish, canned soup, peanut butter, crackers, nuts, dried fruit, granola bars, instant oatmeal packets, and shelf-stable milk or plant milk. Choose foods that don’t require refrigeration after opening and that can be eaten at room temperature if necessary.
A manual can opener is essential and easy to forget. Include one in the kit rather than assuming one is accessible in the kitchen.
Aim for roughly 2,000 calories per person per day as a baseline. For a household with specific dietary needs, allergies, or medical requirements, the food selection needs to reflect those from the start rather than being addressed during an emergency.
Rotate food every six to twelve months by moving kit items into regular use and replacing them with fresh stock. Emergency food that has expired when it’s needed defeats the purpose of having it.
Light and power
A power outage is the most common emergency situation most households face.
At minimum: two flashlights with fresh batteries, a headlamp for hands-free use, extra batteries in the correct sizes, and a fully charged portable power bank for phones. A battery-powered or hand-crank radio provides access to emergency broadcasts without relying on a phone signal or internet connection.
Candles are an option but require more caution than battery-powered light. If included, add a lighter or waterproof matches and use only in stable holders away from anything flammable.
Communication and information
A charged phone and a portable charger covers most communication needs. Keep the power bank in the kit fully charged and recharge it every few months so it’s ready when needed.
A battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio receives emergency broadcasts even without cell service or internet. These cost between twenty and fifty dollars and are worth including for households in areas prone to severe weather, flooding, or earthquakes.
Write down key phone numbers on paper and store a copy in the kit. Phone contacts stored only in a phone aren’t accessible if the phone dies or is damaged.
Keep copies of important documents in a waterproof bag or sealed plastic sleeve inside the kit: identification, insurance cards, and a brief household medical summary. Originals should be in a fireproof storage location.
First aid and medications
A basic first aid kit covers the injuries and minor medical situations most likely to occur during an emergency: cuts, burns, sprains, and minor illness. Most pre-assembled first aid kits from a pharmacy cover the basics adequately. Check that yours includes adhesive bandages in multiple sizes, gauze pads and medical tape, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, scissors, a digital thermometer, pain reliever, antidiarrheal medication, and nitrile gloves.
Prescription medications are the most important and most overlooked supply in most household emergency kits. Maintain at least a three to seven day supply of any essential prescription medication. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about getting a small emergency supply filled if the current prescription doesn’t allow for extra stock.
Include any medical equipment that household members depend on: blood glucose monitors and supplies, EpiPens, inhalers, or anything else that would be needed urgently if a pharmacy were inaccessible.
Additional supplies worth including
Sanitation: Hand sanitizer, moist towelettes, toilet paper, heavy-duty garbage bags, and a small container of unscented liquid chlorine bleach. Bleach has two separate uses in an emergency: surface and sanitation use at full or diluted strength, and water treatment at a very specific dosage covered earlier in this post. Do not use bleach for water treatment without following the exact measurements. When in doubt, boiling is the safer option for making water drinkable.
Note: Bleach should only be used for water treatment in a genuine emergency and only at the correct dosage. Improper use can be hazardous. Always follow current guidelines from the CDC or your local health authority for emergency water disinfection.
Tools and supplies: A multi-tool or basic utility knife, duct tape, a whistle for signaling, and work gloves. A local map printed on paper covers navigation if phone service is unavailable.
Warmth: An emergency mylar blanket per person takes up almost no space and provides significant warmth retention in cold conditions. A change of clothes and sturdy shoes stored with the kit covers the situation where an emergency requires leaving the house quickly.
Cash: A small amount of cash in small bills. Card payment systems may be down during extended power outages and ATMs may be inaccessible.
Pet supplies: If the household has pets, include three days of pet food, water, any medications, a leash or carrier, and copies of vaccination records.
How to store the kit
Keep the kit in one designated location that every adult in the household knows. A large waterproof bin, a duffel bag, or a backpack depending on whether the kit needs to be portable all work. Label it clearly.
Store it somewhere accessible rather than in the back of an attic or deep storage. A kit that takes twenty minutes to locate in an emergency is less useful than one that can be grabbed in two minutes.
A garage shelf, a hallway closet, or under a bed on the ground floor are all practical locations. Avoid storing in areas with extreme temperature variation since heat degrades food, batteries, and medications faster.
Maintaining the kit
Check the kit twice a year, spring and fall work naturally since they align with the seasonal cleaning routine. Replace expired food and water, recharge the power bank, test the flashlights, and check medication expiration dates.
A kit that hasn’t been reviewed in three years has likely expired food, dead batteries, and medications past their date. The maintenance is quick once the kit is set up correctly. Set a recurring calendar reminder so it doesn’t get skipped.
