What should be in a 72-hour emergency kit?

72-hour emergency kit essentials for a family of 4: Water — 12 gallons (1 gallon/person/day × 3 days); Food — 36 servings of shelf-stable food (12 per day); First aid — commercial first aid kit with added tourniquet and moleskin; Medications — 7-day supply of prescription meds + OTC pain reliever, antidiarrheal, antacid; Documents — copies of birth certificates, passports, insurance cards, cash ($200+); Communications — battery/crank weather radio, charged battery bank; Lighting — 2 flashlights + extra batteries, headlamp; Tools — multi-tool, wrench to shut off utilities, duct tape, whistle; Hygiene — toilet paper, hand sanitizer, feminine products, diapers if needed; Baby/pet supplies if applicable; Warmth — emergency blankets (one per person), extra clothes. Store in a waterproof container near the exit. Check and rotate every 6 months (coincide with daylight saving time changes).

How do I create a family emergency communication plan?

Family emergency communication plan steps: (1) Choose a meeting spot — two locations: one near home (neighbor's house if you can't return home); one outside neighborhood if you can't return to the area; (2) Out-of-area contact — designate one person (family friend or relative 100+ miles away) as a message relay; it's often easier to call out-of-state than local numbers after a disaster; (3) Document contact numbers on paper — don't rely on phones; each family member carries a laminated card with: local emergency contacts, out-of-area contact, school emergency numbers; (4) Practice: run a family emergency drill twice a year; (5) Text first in a disaster — texts require less network bandwidth than calls and are more likely to go through; (6) Know your local emergency alert system (sign up for Wireless Emergency Alerts and county notification systems); (7) Plan for separated family members — what if kids are at school? Know school lockdown and reunion procedures.

What supplies do I need for hurricane preparedness?

Hurricane preparedness supply list: Pre-storm (weeks before): board up windows (plywood, hurricane shutters), trim trees, anchor outdoor furniture, fill sandbags if available, fuel vehicles and generator, fill prescriptions; Water — 1 gallon/person/day × 2 weeks minimum; non-electric water reserve (bathtub bladders like WaterBOB, 100 gallons); Food — 2-week shelf-stable supply; generator fuel with Sta-Bil stabilizer (store 30-50 gallons); Portable cooler with ice for refrigerated medications; First aid — enhanced kit with trauma supplies; Cash — ATMs may be offline for days/weeks; Communication — NOAA weather radio, charged devices and battery banks; Documents — in a waterproof bag including home photos for insurance; Chainsaw for post-storm debris; Blue tarps for roof damage. Never evacuate late — leave when told to. Hurricane Katrina showed that staying behind when ordered to evacuate is often fatal.

The Complete 72-Hour Emergency Kit Checklist for 2026

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A 72-hour kit (also called a bug-out bag or go-bag) contains everything you need to survive for three days without outside help. Whether you're evacuating from a wildfire, sheltering during a hurricane, or facing any emergency, this kit is your lifeline.

FEMA's research shows the first 72 hours after a major disaster are the most critical, and often the time when professional help is least available. Roads may be blocked, emergency services overwhelmed, and infrastructure damaged. Your 72-hour kit bridges the gap.

Pro Tip: Build One Per Person

Each adult should have their own kit. Children over 8 can carry a lighter version. This distributes weight and ensures everyone has essentials if separated.

Priority Legend

ESSENTIALLife-threatening without these
IMPORTANTSignificant impact on survival/comfort
RECOMMENDEDNice to have, improves situation

💧 Water & Hydration

Water is your highest priority. You can survive weeks without food but only days without water. Plan for 1 gallon per person per day minimum.

Water bottles (3 liters minimum per person)ESSENTIAL
Water purification tablets (50+ tablets)ESSENTIAL
Portable water filter (Sawyer Mini or LifeStraw)IMPORTANT
Collapsible water container (1-2 gallon)IMPORTANT
Metal water bottle (can boil water if needed)RECOMMENDED

🍎 Food & Nutrition

Pack 2,000+ calories per person per day. Choose foods that don't require cooking, water, or refrigeration.

Energy bars (6-9 bars per person)ESSENTIAL
Peanut butter (individual packets or small jar)ESSENTIAL
Dried fruit and nuts (trail mix)ESSENTIAL
Crackers or hardtackIMPORTANT
Beef jerky or meat sticksIMPORTANT
Electrolyte powder packetsIMPORTANT
Hard candy or glucose tabletsRECOMMENDED
Instant coffee/tea packetsRECOMMENDED

🔦 Light & Tools

When the power goes out, you need reliable light sources and basic tools.

Headlamp with extra batteriesESSENTIAL
Backup flashlightESSENTIAL
Multi-tool or knifeESSENTIAL
Duct tape (small roll or flat-wrapped)IMPORTANT
Lighter and waterproof matchesIMPORTANT
Fire starter (cotton balls with vaseline)IMPORTANT
Can opener (if not on multi-tool)IMPORTANT
Glow sticks (3-4)RECOMMENDED
Small sewing kitRECOMMENDED

📱 Communication & Navigation

Staying informed and being able to communicate can save your life during emergencies.

Cell phone with chargerESSENTIAL
Portable power bank (10,000+ mAh)ESSENTIAL
Emergency weather radio (hand-crank/battery)ESSENTIAL
Local area maps (paper)IMPORTANT
CompassIMPORTANT
Whistle (for signaling)IMPORTANT
Emergency contact list (laminated)IMPORTANT
Small notepad and pencilRECOMMENDED
Two-way radios (if traveling with group)RECOMMENDED

👶 Special Needs

Customize your kit for family members with specific needs.

Infants: Formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, pacifierESSENTIAL
Children: Comfort item, snacks they'll eat, activitiesIMPORTANT
Elderly: Extra medications, mobility aids, hearing aid batteriesESSENTIAL
Pets: Food, water bowl, leash, carrier, medicationsESSENTIAL
Medical: CPAP battery, insulin cooler, extra suppliesESSENTIAL
Glasses/contacts and backup pairIMPORTANT

A kit only helps if the family can find each other to use it. Pair it with a family emergency communication plan (phone tree, group chat and contact cards), and keep a smaller car emergency kit in every vehicle, since many emergencies start on the road.

Weight Guidelines

Your 72-hour kit should weigh no more than:

Healthy adults: 15-20% of body weight (25-35 lbs typical)
Older adults: 10-15% of body weight
Children 8-12: 10% of body weight

Use our Bug-Out Bag Weight Calculator to optimize your pack.

Where to Store Your Kit

Primary kit: Near main exit door, in a closet or garage
Secondary kit: In your vehicle's trunk
Work kit: Smaller version at your workplace

Check and rotate contents every 6 months. Replace expired food, water, and medications.

Build Your Personalized Kit

Use our Emergency Kit Calculator to get a customized list based on your family size, location, and specific needs.

Related Resources

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The Complete 72-Hour Emergency Kit Checklist

Recommended Emergency Gear

Pro Tip: Build One Per Person

Priority Legend

💧 Water & Hydration

🍎 Food & Nutrition

🩹 First Aid & Medical

🏕️ Shelter & Warmth

🔦 Light & Tools

📱 Communication & Navigation

📄 Important Documents

🧼 Hygiene & Sanitation

👶 Special Needs

Weight Guidelines

Where to Store Your Kit

Build Your Personalized Kit

Related Resources

Emergency Kit Calculator

Bag Weight Calculator

First-Time Prepper Guide

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Car Emergency Kit Checklist

The Complete Survival Guide for America 2026