01Stay-put supplies versus the go-bag
Most emergencies mean staying home without utilities. Some mean leaving fast. These need different kits — one big and heavy, one small and portable — and trying to make one box do both usually means it does neither well.
Stay-at-home kit
- Stored in one closet or set of bins
- Water for several days to two weeks
- Shelf-stable food and a way to heat it
- Lights and battery power
- Sanitation and cleaning supplies
- Full first aid and medications
Go-bag
- One backpack per person
- Water and snacks for a day or two
- Change of clothes and sturdy shoes
- Copies of IDs, insurance, and contacts
- Phone charger and power bank
- A few days of medications
02Water and food — the foundation
Water is the first thing to run out and the hardest to improvise. Plan on about one gallon per person per day for drinking and basic hygiene, and more for hot weather, nursing mothers, sick family members, and pets.
| Household | 3 days of water | 2 weeks of water |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3 gallons | 14 gallons |
| 2 people | 6 gallons | 28 gallons |
| 4 people | 12 gallons | 56 gallons |
| 4 people + a dog | About 13–14 gallons | About 60–65 gallons |
- Store some, plan to make more
Sealed commercial water is the easiest to store. A barrel adds bulk capacity, and a tub liner lets you fill a bathtub with clean water right before a storm.
- Add a filter as backup
A personal filter can make questionable water safer to drink if stored water runs out. Boiling, when you can, remains the standard for killing germs.
- Choose food you'll actually eat
Canned goods, peanut butter, crackers, and dried fruit work. Freeze-dried meals last a very long time and just need hot water.
- Don't forget a can opener and a heat source
A manual can opener and a small camp stove — used outdoors or with good ventilation — make your food supply far more usable.
Water and food storage
WaterBOB Emergency Water Storage
A bathtub liner you fill just before a storm, keeping a large volume of clean water sealed and easy to pump out.
Check price on AmazonAugason Farms 55-Gallon Water Barrel
A large food-grade barrel for long-term water storage in a garage or basement.
Check price on AmazonLifeStraw Personal Water Filter
A lightweight personal filter for go-bags, to drink from water sources you wouldn't otherwise trust.
Check price on AmazonMountain House 72-Hour Emergency Food Kit
Freeze-dried meals that store for years and need only hot water, sized for a few days of eating.
Check price on Amazon03The rest of the stay-at-home kit
Beyond water and food, a home kit covers light, information, first aid, sanitation, and staying warm or cool. Group items by job so you can find them in the dark.
Light and power
LED flashlights or headlamps for each person, spare batteries, a lantern, and power banks for phones.
Information
A battery or hand-crank radio with NOAA weather alerts, plus a printed list of phone numbers.
First aid
A well-stocked kit, a week or more of prescriptions where possible, and any glasses, hearing-aid batteries, or medical supplies.
Sanitation
Garbage bags, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and a bucket with a lid if plumbing is out.
Tools
A multi-tool, duct tape, work gloves, and a wrench or pliers to shut off utilities if you need to.
Air protection
N95 respirators for wildfire smoke, dust from cleanup, or mold after a flood.
Kit essentials
Midland ER310 Emergency Weather Radio
Receives NOAA weather alerts and can be recharged by hand crank or solar, with a built-in flashlight.
Check price on AmazonEVERLIT 250 Pieces First Aid Kit
A broad first aid kit with bandages and basic supplies, compact enough to grab on the way out.
Check price on Amazon3M Aura N95 Particulate Respirator
A NIOSH-approved N95 respirator for smoke, dust, and post-flood cleanup work.
Check price on AmazonColeman Classic 1-Burner Butane Stove
A simple tabletop stove for heating water and canned food — use it outdoors or with plenty of ventilation.
Check price on Amazon04Pack the go-bag and protect your paperwork
If you have to leave, the hardest things to replace are documents, medications, and information. A go-bag is mostly about those — not survival gear.
- Copies of IDs, passports, and insurance policies in a waterproof bag
- A USB drive or secure cloud folder with scans of the same documents
- Photos or video of every room for insurance claims
- Several days of prescriptions plus a written list of doses
- Spare glasses, chargers, and a full power bank
- Some cash in small bills
- Comfort items and snacks for kids
- Pet food, leash, carrier, and vaccination records
Food and storage for the long haul
Backup power guide →Augason Farms 2-Week Emergency Food Supply (1 Person)
A bucket of long-shelf-life meals for one person, useful for stretching home supplies past the first few days.
Check price on AmazonCorrugated Storage Boxes 18x14x12 (10-Pack)
Simple boxes for organizing supplies by category and labeling them so you can find things in the dark.
Check price on AmazonAnker 737 Power Bank (24,000mAh)
A high-capacity power bank for the go-bag, enough to keep a phone going through an evacuation.
Check price on Amazon05Keep the kit current with a twice-a-year routine
Kits fail quietly — batteries leak, water gets used for a camping trip, medications expire, kids outgrow the clothes. Pair a kit check with a date you already remember.
- SpringFull inventory.
Check expiration dates on food, water, medications, and first aid supplies. Swap out anything within a few months of expiring.
- Before your seasonFill the gaps.
Ahead of hurricane, wildfire, or winter season, restock what you used and add anything specific to that hazard.
- FallSecond check.
Test flashlights and the radio, recharge power banks, and update clothing sizes and the contact list.
- After any useRestock right away.
The week after an outage is when you'll remember what ran out. Make the shopping list then, not next spring.
Free download
The emergency kit checklist
A printable packing list for the home kit and each go-bag, with a water calculator and a twice-a-year review log.
- Stay-at-home kit packing list
- Go-bag list per person and pet
- Household water and food calculator
- Document copy checklist
- Twice-a-year rotation log
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