72-Hour Emergency Kit Guide

A complete 72-hour emergency kit with Survival Tabs, water, first aid supplies, lighting, radio, food, and essential gear.

A 72-hour emergency kit is a portable collection of supplies designed to help you manage the first three days of an emergency. It should support basic needs while utilities are interrupted, stores are closed, roads are blocked, or you are waiting for assistance.

A kit is not a substitute for an evacuation plan, local alerts, medical advice, or official instructions. It is one part of a broader household preparedness plan.

72-Hour Emergency Kit Checklist

For each person, plan for:

• Water

• Nonperishable food

• Essential medications and first-aid supplies

• Flashlight and backup power

• Emergency radio

• Phone charging

• Sanitation and hygiene

• Weather-appropriate clothing and bedding

• Copies of important documents

• Cash and contact information

• Supplies for children, older adults, disabilities, and pets

How much water should you store?

Current CDC and American Red Cross guidance recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day. For a 72-hour kit, that equals three gallons per person. Water is needed for drinking, food preparation, brushing teeth, and basic hygiene.

Store more when possible for hot climates, pregnancy, illness, pets, or people with greater medical needs. Commercially bottled water is generally the safest and most reliable emergency option. When filling your own containers, use food-grade containers, label them with the storage date, keep them cool and away from sunlight or chemicals, and replace the water every six months.

Emergency Food for Three Days

Choose food that is shelf-stable, familiar, easy to open, and simple to prepare. A three-day food supply may include:

• Canned beans, meat, fish, fruit, or vegetables

• Nut or seed butter, where allergies are not a concern

• Crackers, tortillas, cereal, or shelf-stable bread

• Dried fruit, nuts, seeds, or trail mix

• Shelf-stable milk or alternatives

• Ready-to-eat meals

• Compact emergency nutrition for situations where storage space or preparation is limited

• Foods for infants, medical diets, allergies, or religious needs

Avoid building a kit entirely around foods that need large amounts of water, fuel, or cooking. Include a manual can opener when the kit contains canned food.

Where Survival Tabs fit: The Survival Tabs can fit into a broader emergency food plan as a compact, shelf-stable option. They should not be presented as a complete replacement for water, varied meals, medical nutrition, or a balanced long-term food supply.

First Aid and Medications

Include a basic first-aid kit and any personal medical supplies that may be difficult to replace during an emergency. Depending on household needs, this may include:

• Prescription medications

• Copies of prescriptions and medication lists

• Glasses, contact-lens supplies, hearing-aid batteries, or mobility supplies

• Thermometer

• Bandages, gauze, tape, gloves, and antiseptic supplies

• Emergency contact and medical information

Medication storage, quantity, and replacement schedules should be discussed with a pharmacist or clinician. Do not store medication in extreme heat or cold unless the manufacturer says it is safe.

Light, Communication, and Power

Include at least one dependable flashlight and spare batteries. A battery-powered or hand-crank radio can help you receive official instructions when cellular service or internet access is unreliable. A NOAA Weather Radio is useful in the United States.

Also consider:

• Fully charged power banks

• Charging cables for each device

• Car charger

• Written emergency contacts

• Local paper maps

• Whistle

• Two-way radios for household communication

Test radios, flashlights, and power banks on a regular schedule.

Sanitation and Hygiene

A basic sanitation section may include:

• Soap or hand sanitizer

• Toilet paper and tissues

• Toothbrushes and toothpaste

• Menstrual products

• Diapers and wipes

• Trash bags and ties

• Moist towelettes

• Face coverings where dust, smoke, or illness is a concern

• Small towel

Keep sanitation items separate from food and drinking water.

Documents, Contacts, and Cash

Store copies of essential information in a waterproof pouch. Include only what you may need during evacuation or recovery:

• Identification copies

• Insurance information

• Medication and allergy list

• Emergency contacts

• Proof of address

• Household meeting locations

• Pet vaccination records

• Local evacuation routes

• Small bills in cash

Protect sensitive information. Consider keeping encrypted digital copies as a backup.

Clothing and Shelter

Pack for the season and the conditions in your area. Useful items may include:

• Change of clothing

• Sturdy shoes

• Rain protection

• Warm layer

• Hat and work gloves

• Emergency blanket or sleeping bag

• Sunscreen and insect repellent

Review seasonal supplies before summer, winter, storm, and wildfire seasons.

Customize the Kit for Your Household

A generic checklist is only a starting point. Add supplies for:

Children

Include formula or food, bottles, diapers, comfort items, activities, identification, and age-appropriate clothing.

Older Adults and People With Disabilities

Include mobility aids, backup batteries, communication cards, caregiver contacts, medical equipment, and a written assistance plan.

Pets

Include water, food, bowls, leash, carrier, waste supplies, medication, identification, and veterinary records.

Workplace and Vehicle Kits

A workplace kit should help you shelter temporarily or travel home safely. A vehicle kit should account for weather, breakdowns, roadside visibility, and the possibility of being stranded. Do not leave heat-sensitive food, water containers, batteries, or medications in a vehicle unless they are suitable for that environment.

How to Pack the Kit

Use a backpack, rolling bag, or divided storage bin that can be moved by the person responsible for it. Put frequently needed items near the top. Separate water, food, medical supplies, hygiene products, and documents into labeled sections.

Do not make one bag so heavy that no household member can carry it. For larger households, divide supplies across multiple bags.

Where to Store It

Keep the main kit in a cool, dry, accessible location near an exit. Household members should know where it is. Consider smaller versions at work and in vehicles.

Avoid attics, damp basements, and locations exposed to extreme heat, freezing, pests, or chemicals.

Maintenance Schedule

Review the kit at least twice a year and after every use.

Check:

• Food expiration and rotation dates

• Water dates and container condition

• Medication and medical supplies

• Battery corrosion and charge levels

• Clothing sizes and seasonal suitability

• Contact information and documents

• Pet supplies

• Family needs that have changed

Use a simple checklist and write the next review date on the outside of the kit.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Packing food without enough water

• Depending on food that requires cooking

• Forgetting a manual can opener

• Storing medication or batteries in extreme temperatures

• Making the kit too heavy to carry

• Failing to plan for pets, infants, allergies, or disabilities

• Keeping all supplies in one location

• Never testing radios, lights, or chargers

• Treating a kit as a substitute for a family emergency plan

A Practical 72-Hour Plan

Step \1: List every person and animal the kit must support.

Step \1: Store three days of water and easy-to-prepare food.

Step \1: Add medical, hygiene, lighting, communication, and charging supplies.

Step \1: Add documents, contacts, cash, clothing, and household-specific items.

Step \1: Pack the supplies so they can be carried safely.

Step \1: Record a review date and practice locating and moving the kit.

Final Takeaway

The best 72-hour emergency kit is not the largest or most expensive. It is the kit your household can access, carry, understand, and maintain. Start with water, food, medical needs, communication, and sanitation, then customize it for the people, climate, and hazards in your area.