Ready.gov says that after an emergency you may need to get by on your own for several days. Three days is the floor most families can hit in one weekend. Get there first, then build toward two weeks.
Buy four things, gather the rest
Most of this list is already in your kitchen, garage and medicine cabinet. The four pieces worth buying on purpose:
Water storage. A 7-gallon Reliance Aqua-Tainer is seven person-days at a gallon a day: two days for three people. A family of four needs 12 gallons for three days.
A water filter. The Sawyer Squeeze is light enough to put one in every bag.
A radio that doesn’t need the grid. The Midland ER310 gets NOAA weather alerts and AM/FM on battery, solar or crank.
A real first aid kit. The My Medic MyFAK is organized so you can find things fast. Pair it with a first aid class.
Pack it like you mean it
Bag it, then box it. Ready.gov says to seal items in airtight plastic bags and keep the whole kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers, like a plastic bin or a duffel.
Three kits, not one. Home, work and car. Ready.gov says to plan to shelter at work for at least 24 hours, and to keep walking shoes there.
Check it every year. Swap expired food and meds, refresh stored water you bottled yourself every six months, and rethink the list as your family changes.
Bug-out bag vs 72-hour kit
Same list, different container. A bug-out bag is the part you can carry on your back if you have to leave on foot: water filter, a day of water, food, first aid, light, radio, papers and cash. The heavy stuff, like the water jugs, stays in the bin by the door.
The checklist
31 items · tick them off as you pack. Checkmarks are not saved or sent, so print your list before you leave the page.
Our picks for this kit
Image: Reliance Products
Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-Gallon Water Container
Seven gallons, a spigot, and a handle. The boring hero of water storage.
Image credits: Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-Gallon Water Container — Reliance Products · Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System (SP129) — Sawyer · Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather Radio — Midland · My Medic MyFAK Standard First Aid Kit — My Medic.
