Emergency Kit Checklist for Home and Evacuation
Build a portable evacuation kit and a larger home supply around water, nonperishable food, communication, light, first aid, medicine, sanitation, documents and each household member's needs.
Timeline
- Build the kit: Start with three days of portable basics, then add local hazards and household medical, mobility, infant and pet needs.
- Every six months: Check dates, batteries, seasonal clothing, contact information, medications and the fit of children's supplies.
- When an alert arrives: Follow local instructions, take the portable kit if evacuating and do not delay departure to collect optional items.
An emergency kit should support the household when power, water, stores and communications are disrupted. FEMA's basic list starts with at least three days of supplies, including one gallon of water per person per day and nonperishable food. The American Red Cross recommends a portable three-day evacuation supply and, where space allows, a larger two-week supply for home. Local emergency guidance can call for different amounts. [1][2][3]
Pack light and information together: flashlights or lanterns, extra batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, a NOAA Weather Radio where useful, phone charging options, a whistle, local maps, and paper contact information. Include a first-aid kit, manual can opener, multi-purpose tool, work gloves, masks, sanitation items, garbage bags and sturdy shoes. Avoid relying on a single phone or power source. [1][2]
Customize the kit for every person rather than buying a generic bag and stopping there. Add prescription medicines and copies of prescriptions, medical devices, spare glasses, hearing-aid batteries, mobility supplies, infant formula and diapers, menstrual products and food that meets dietary needs. Pack pet food, water, medicines, identification, leash or harness and a carrier. Ask a clinician or equipment supplier about backup power for essential devices. [1][2][4]
Keep copies of identification, insurance information, medical details, emergency contacts and other critical records in a waterproof portable container, with protected digital copies when appropriate. Add small bills because card networks and ATMs may fail. Include spare keys and a written meeting and communication plan. Protect sensitive documents from unauthorized access and do not put the only original of an irreplaceable record in a bag that can be lost. [2][3]
Home supplies and evacuation bags serve different jobs. Store the go-bag where it is easy to grab and light enough for the intended person to carry. Keep home water and bulk food in a cool, accessible place. Smaller kits can be kept at work and in vehicles, adjusted for climate and travel risks. Never let assembling supplies delay compliance with an evacuation order or entry into a safe shelter. [1][2][3]
Review supplies about every six months and after any use. Replace expired food, medicine and batteries; recharge power banks; update documents and phone numbers; rotate water according to its container guidance; and change seasonal clothing. Test flashlights and radios rather than assuming they work. Children grow and medical needs change, so confirm clothing sizes, doses, device accessories and emergency instructions at every review. [2][3][4]
A checklist is the starting point, not a promise that one bag fits every emergency. Wildfire evacuation, earthquakes, winter storms, extreme heat, flooding and shelter-in-place orders create different needs. Learn the hazards and alert systems where you live, practice the household plan and follow current local instructions for water, evacuation routes, medicines and public shelters. Build gradually if cost or storage makes a complete kit difficult at once. [1][2][3]
Sources
- Ready.gov — Basic Emergency Supply Kit Checklist
- American Red Cross — Emergency Supply Kit Checklist
- American Red Cross — Survival Kit Supplies
- American Red Cross — Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults