Emergency kit checklist builder

Tell it who lives in your home and the hazards where you live, and it builds an emergency kit checklist with quantities: water, food, medicine, documents and the extras each person, pet and hazard needs. Every item comes from Ready.gov (FEMA), the British Red Cross or WHO guidance, named beside it. Tick items off as you pack them, and print the list.

Who is in your household?

Adults

Children

Babies and infants

Older people

Pets

People who take daily medicineCounted among the people above

How many days to prepare for?

3 days 7 days 14 days

Which hazards apply where you live?

Earthquake Flood Hurricane / cyclone / typhoon Wildfire Winter storm / extreme cold Extreme heat

Emergency kit checklist

Example checklist

For 2 adults, 2 children, 1 pet, 3 days. 32 items. Water: 48 litres (about 12 US gallons).

Water and food

Drinking water: 48 litres (about 12 US gallons): 4 litres a person a day for 4 people for 3 days, for drinking and sanitation. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Water
Non-perishable, ready-to-eat food: meals for 4 people for 3 days (12 person-days). Choose food that needs no cooking and little water. Source: British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit
Manual tin (can) opener. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
Cups, plates, cutlery and paper towels. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit

Medicine and hygiene

Prescription medicine: at least a 3-day supply for each of the 1 person who takes daily medicine, and copies of the prescriptions. Medicines can be hard to refill in an emergency. Source: British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit
First aid kit. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
Non-prescription medicines: pain relievers, anti-diarrhoea medicine, antacids and laxatives. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
Soap, hand sanitiser, wet wipes and disinfecting wipes. Source: British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit
Bin bags and plastic ties, for sanitation. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
Sanitary products and personal hygiene items. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
Spare glasses or contact lenses and lens solution. Source: British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit

Light, power and information

Torch (flashlight) and spare batteries. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
Battery-powered or wind-up radio, to follow official warnings when the power or internet is down. Source: British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit
Phone charger and a charged power bank. Source: British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit
Whistle, to signal for help. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
Paper maps of your area. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit

Documents and money

Copies of ID, insurance policies and bank records, in a waterproof bag or saved electronically. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
A paper list of important phone numbers, including your local emergency number and family contacts. Source: British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit
Cash, in case card payments stop working. Source: British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit
Spare house and car keys. Source: British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit
Pen and paper. Source: British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit

Shelter and clothing

A blanket or sleeping bag for each person (4). Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
A change of weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes for each person (4). Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
Dust masks. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
Plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape, for sheltering in place. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
Wrench or pliers, to turn off utilities. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
Matches in a waterproof container. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
Fire extinguisher. Source: Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit

For the people and animals in your home

Children's medicines. Source: British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit
Comfort items and activities for 2 children: a favourite toy or blanket, books, games. Source: British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit
Pet food and extra drinking water for 1 pet, enough for 3 days (on top of the people's water). Source: British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit
Leads, harnesses or carriers, pet medicine, bedding, and waste bags or litter. Source: British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit

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How the quantities are worked out

Water: 4 litres per person per day. Ready.gov (FEMA) says to store at least one gallon (3.8 litres) per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation, and that in very hot temperatures water needs can double. Children, nursing mothers and sick people may need more. For comparison, WHO puts the bare survival need for drinking and food at 2.5 to 3 litres a person a day, and 7.5 to 15 litres once basic hygiene and cooking are included.
Food: non-perishable food for everyone for the number of days you choose. The British Red Cross asks for at least three days; Ready.gov says several days.
Medicine: a supply for the same number of days for each person who takes daily medicine, with copies of the prescriptions.
Babies, children, older people and pets: the extras the British Red Cross and Ready.gov list for them, enough for the days you choose. Ask a doctor, pharmacist or vet about exact amounts.

Store water in clean, sealed containers and replace stored water and food before they expire. Keep a smaller bag with the most important items ready to take if you have to leave in a hurry.

Safety guides for each hazard

Earthquake
Flood
Hurricane / cyclone / typhoon
Wildfire
Winter storm / extreme cold
Extreme heat
All safety guides

Sources

Ready.gov (FEMA): Build a Kit
Ready.gov (FEMA): Water
British Red Cross: Prepare an emergency kit
WHO / WEDC Technical Note 9: How much water is needed in emergencies (2013)
Ready.gov (FEMA): Earthquakes
Ready.gov (FEMA): Hurricanes
Ready.gov (FEMA): Wildfires
Ready.gov (FEMA): Winter Weather
Ready.gov (FEMA): Extreme Heat

This list is a starting point built from published guidance. It is not official advice for your country: your national or local emergency agency knows the risks where you live, so follow its advice first.

Questions

How much water should I store for an emergency?

Ready.gov (FEMA) says at least one gallon (about 4 litres) per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation, and that in very hot weather water needs can double. The British Red Cross asks for three days of drinking water at least. Children, nursing mothers and sick people may need more.

Should I prepare for 3 days or 2 weeks?

The British Red Cross asks for at least three days of water and food; Ready.gov says several days. Help can take longer to arrive after a large disaster or in remote places, so many households keep more at home and a smaller three-day bag ready to take if they have to leave.

Does this list replace advice from my local authorities?

No. It is built from Ready.gov, British Red Cross and WHO guidance and is a starting point. Your national or local emergency agency knows the risks where you live; follow its advice first.

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