Emergency Supply Kit
A disaster Supply kit is a collection of basic items for your household during and after an emergency situation.
Try to assemble the kit well in advance of an emergency. This will give you time to review the items and plan for what you and your family will really need. Building the kit early also helps avoid problems if trying to shop for items that may be in demand in the immediate period just before or just after an event has occurred.
Click through the tabs below to learn about what items you will need for your kit. Remember, plan for each member of your family and plan for a minimum of 3 days.
Click on the Emergency Supply Checklist to open a printable version to help you build your kit.
Try to assemble the kit well in advance of an emergency. This will give you time to review the items and plan for what you and your family will really need. Building the kit early also helps avoid problems if trying to shop for items that may be in demand in the immediate period just before or just after an event has occurred.
Click through the tabs below to learn about what items you will need for your kit. Remember, plan for each member of your family and plan for a minimum of 3 days.
Click on the Emergency Supply Checklist to open a printable version to help you build your kit.
Emergency Supply Checklist
Build Your Kit
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation.
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener for food
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
Once you have gathered the supplies for a basic emergency kit, you may want to consider adding the following items:
- Prescription medications and glasses
- Infant formula and diapers
- Pet food and extra water for your pet
- Cash or traveler's checks and change
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container. You can use the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit - EFFAK (PDF - 977Kb) developed by Operation Hope, FEMA and Citizen Corps to help you organize your information.
- Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or free information from this web site. (See Publications)
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
- Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
- Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted, nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
- Fire extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
- Paper and pencil
- Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
In any emergency a family member or you yourself may suffer an injury. If you have these basic first aid supplies you are better prepared to help your loved ones when they are hurt. Knowing how to treat minor injuries can make a difference in an emergency. Consider taking a first aid class.
- Two pairs of Latex or other sterile gloves if you are allergic to Latex
- Sterile dressings to stop bleeding
- Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes
- Antibiotic ointment
- Burn ointment
- Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes
- Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant
- Thermometer
- Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers. You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates.
- Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies
- Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Antacid
- Laxative
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
Remember the unique needs of your family members, including growing children, elderly or family members with special medical or functional needs when making your emergency supply kit and family emergency plan.
For Baby:
For Adults:
If you live in a cold climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that you will not have heat. Think about your clothing and bedding supplies. Be sure to include one complete change of clothing and shoes per person, including:
For Baby:
- Formula
- Diapers
- Bottles
- Powdered milk
- Medications
- Moist towelettes
- Diaper rash ointment
For Adults:
- Denture needs
- Contact lenses and supplies
- Extra eye glasses
If you live in a cold climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that you will not have heat. Think about your clothing and bedding supplies. Be sure to include one complete change of clothing and shoes per person, including:
- Jacket or coat
- Long pants
- Long sleeve shirt
Maintaining Your Kit
Now that you have built you kit you want to make sure it stays ready and in good condition. Here are a few tips:
- Store in a cool, dry place
- Store in a tightly closed plastic or metal container
- Check every six months
- Remove canned food replace with new
- Keep the boxes a manageable size, and easy to carry.
Learn more about Emergency Kit Planning, Food Preparedness, Water Needs, and Water Safety at Ready.gov: Build a Kit
Car Safety
You should also plan for safety should an emergency occur while you are driving. Vehicle maintenance and safety are key to survival during and after an event. Remember, only drive during an emergency situation if you have to. Here are some additional tips:
- Keep your gas tank full
- Do not drive through a flooded area - Six inches of water can cause a vehicle to lose control and possibly stall. A foot of water will float many cars.
- Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded - Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car.
- If a power line falls on your car you are at risk of electrical shock, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire.
- Check Antifreeze levels
- Check Battery and ignition system
- Check Brakes
- Check Exhaust system
- Check Fuel and air filters
- Heater and defroster - ensure they work properly
- Lights and flashing hazard lights
- Oil - check for level and weight.
- Ensure Thermostat works properly
- Windshield wiper equipment
Make an Emergency Kit for you Car
Keep these items in a kit for you car should become stranded:
- Jumper cables: might want to include flares or reflective triangle
- Flashlights: with extra batteries
- First Aid Kit
- Food: non-perishable food such as canned food, and protein rich foods like nuts and energy bars
- Manual can opener
- Water: at least 1 gallon of water per person a day for at least 3 days
- Basic toolkit: pliers, wrench, screwdriver
- Pet supplies: food and water
- Radio: battery or hand cranked
- Cat litter or sand: for better tire traction
- Shovel
- Ice scraper
- Clothes: warm clothes, gloves, hat, sturdy boots, jacket and an extra change of clothes for the cold
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Charged Cell Phone: and car charger or solar charger