Emergency Kit Checklist: What to Keep at Home, in Your Car, and Ready to Grab

• A useful emergency kit covers water, shelf-stable food, lighting, communications, first aid, sanitation, medications, documents, and household-specific needs.
• Keep one larger kit at home, a lighter grab-and-go bag, and a smaller vehicle kit so you are prepared whether you shelter in place or evacuate.
• The United States and Canada use slightly different water guidance, but both recommend preparing for at least 72 hours and tailoring supplies to your household.

What belongs in an emergency kit?

The best emergency kit is not a giant pile of survival gear. It is an organized set of ordinary supplies that helps your household manage without power, tap water, phone service, or a quick trip to the store.

For most households, start with enough supplies for at least 72 hours. Build one main kit for the home, then add a portable grab-and-go bag and a smaller kit for each vehicle. FEMA says a basic kit should include water, food, lighting, communications, first aid, sanitation supplies, tools, and items for the specific needs of family members and pets.

The main distinction to remember is this: a shelter-in-place kit can be larger and more comfortable, while an evacuation bag must be light enough to carry quickly. You need both.

Start with water, food, and a way to prepare them

Water is the first item to calculate because it is heavy, easy to underestimate, and difficult to replace during an outage or evacuation.

In the United States, FEMA guidance commonly uses at least one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. In Canada, the federal emergency kit checklist recommends two litres per person per day for drinking, cooking, and hygiene, while also advising households to add more when possible. Children, nursing parents, older adults, people who are ill, pets, and anyone living in hot conditions may need additional water.

For a three-day minimum, a two-person U.S. household would plan for at least six gallons. In Canada, the checklist baseline is 12 litres for two people. These figures are starting points, not limits.

• Commercially bottled or properly stored drinking water
• Non-perishable food that requires little or no cooking
• A manual can opener
• Baby formula, baby food, or specialized foods if needed
• Pet food and extra water for each pet
• Paper plates, cups, utensils, and resealable bags
• A camping stove only if it can be used safely outdoors

Choose foods your household already eats: canned meals, nut butter, crackers, shelf-stable milk, energy bars, dried fruit, and ready-to-eat items are easier to use than supplies nobody wants to touch. Rotate older food into normal meals and replace it before it expires.

Power outage essentials: light, charging, and information

When the lights go out, three problems usually appear together: you need to see, charge essential devices, and receive reliable information.

• Flashlights or headlamps for each household member
• Extra batteries stored separately from devices
• Battery packs and charging cables for phones
• A battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• Whistles for signaling
• Battery backups for medical equipment or assistive devices
• Power-saving settings enabled on phones and tablets

Headlamps are particularly useful because they leave both hands free for stairs, repairs, carrying water, or helping children. Keep at least one flashlight where it can be reached without searching in the dark.

In the United States, a NOAA Weather Radio can provide alerts when cellular service or internet access is unavailable. In Canada, the WeatherCAN app and local broadcast media can provide weather alerts, but a radio is still useful when internet and mobile networks are unreliable.

First aid, medications, sanitation, and personal needs

A basic first aid kit should handle minor cuts, scrapes, blisters, burns, and common discomforts. It is not a substitute for emergency medical care, but it can help when roads are blocked or clinics are overwhelmed.

• Adhesive bandages, gauze, medical tape, and antiseptic wound cleanser
• Disposable gloves and basic pain or fever medicine
• Prescription medications and a current medication list
• Extra eyeglasses, contact lens supplies, or hearing-aid batteries
• Toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, and moist wipes
• Hand sanitizer and heavy-duty garbage bags
• Menstrual products, diapers, incontinence supplies, and personal toiletries
• Soap, disinfectant, and a small supply of cleaning materials

Ask a pharmacist or healthcare professional how to plan for medicines that require refrigeration, regular monitoring, or uninterrupted access. People who use oxygen, powered mobility equipment, communication devices, or other essential technology should keep backup power and a written plan.

Do not forget household members who are easy to overlook during routine shopping. Include comfort items for children, mobility aids, spare batteries, service-animal supplies, and food that meets allergies or medical diets.

Documents, money, tools, and household safety supplies

During a disaster, the items that prove who you are, where you live, and what you own can be as useful as food and batteries. Store copies in a waterproof container and, if appropriate, in a secure digital location that household members can access.

• Identification, passports, birth certificates, and immigration or citizenship documents
• Insurance information and copies of important policies
• Medication lists, medical contacts, and health-card or insurance details
• Emergency contacts and an out-of-area contact
• Cash in smaller bills and coins
• Spare house and vehicle keys
• Local maps, a pen, and paper
• Work gloves, duct tape, scissors, a multi-tool, and basic hand tools
• Plastic sheeting, sturdy bags, and waterproof matches or a lighter

Only include tools your household knows how to use. For example, a wrench may help shut off a utility, but only if you know which valve or switch is safe to operate. Never use a generator, grill, camping stove, or fuel-burning heater indoors, in a garage, or in another enclosed space because of carbon monoxide poisoning risk.

Home kit, car kit, and evacuation bag: what is different?

One container rarely works for every emergency. Separate your supplies according to how you are likely to use them.

Your car kit should match the climate and roads where you drive. Winter conditions may require warm layers, gloves, traction aids, and a shovel. Hot regions may require extra drinking water, sun protection, and cooling supplies. Do not leave medications, pressurized containers, or temperature-sensitive items in a vehicle for long periods without considering the local temperature.

How to tailor the checklist to your household

A generic checklist is only the starting point. Walk through a normal day at home and ask what would become difficult if the power, water, internet, or roads were unavailable.

• Children: Add formula, diapers, wipes, comfort items, easy foods, and quiet activities.
• Older adults: Plan for mobility, hearing, vision, transportation, and medication needs.
• Pets and service animals: Include food, water, medication, carriers, leashes, waste bags, and vaccination records.
• Medical needs: Add backup batteries, cooling supplies for medicines, device instructions, and provider contact details.
• Accessibility: Keep supplies where everyone can reach them, and make sure bags are light enough to carry or roll.
• Remote or rural households: Consider storing more than 72 hours of supplies because roads, fuel, and deliveries may be disrupted longer.

Canada’s federal checklist advises reviewing supplies at least once a year and using the spring and fall time changes as reminders. That is also a practical schedule for replacing expired food, batteries, water, medications, documents, seasonal clothing, and pet supplies.

A simple emergency kit setup plan

You do not need to buy everything at once. Build the kit in stages so it is affordable and easy to maintain.

1. Put water, ready-to-eat food, flashlights, a radio, first aid supplies, and medications in one clearly marked location.
2. Add sanitation supplies, chargers, batteries, cash, documents, pet supplies, and seasonal clothing.
3. Pack a lightweight grab-and-go bag for each person who can carry one.
4. Place a small vehicle kit in each regularly used car.
5. Write down where the kit is stored and show every household member how to find it.
6. Review the kit twice a year and after major changes such as a new baby, a move, a new pet, or a change in medical needs.

Also complete a household emergency plan before a crisis happens. Decide where to meet, how to contact one another, who can collect children, and where pets will go. Keep a printed copy with the kit in case phones or internet service are unavailable.

What to do when evacuation is possible

If local officials tell you to evacuate, take the instruction seriously and leave early when possible. Grab the portable bag, medications, identification, chargers, water, food, pet supplies, and a way to receive updates. Wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.

Do not wait until roads are crowded to start gathering supplies. Know at least two routes away from home, keep your vehicle fueled or charged, and make arrangements for anyone who cannot use stairs or travel independently. If there is time and it is safe, follow official instructions for shutting off utilities. Never put yourself at risk to collect belongings.

In the United States, use official local emergency alerts, Ready.gov resources, FEMA alerts, and National Weather Service warnings. In Canada, rely on local and provincial or territorial authorities, Alert Ready messages, WeatherCAN, and official emergency-management updates. Social media can help distribute information, but it should not replace instructions from emergency authorities.

Helpful Links

• FEMA emergency supply kit checklist – Download the United States checklist for basic supplies and household-specific additions.
• Ready.gov emergency kit guidance – Review FEMA guidance for building and maintaining a basic emergency supply kit.
• Canada emergency kit checklist – Use the Government of Canada checklist for a portable 72-hour household kit.
• Canada power outage preparation – Review official advice for outages, generators, medical equipment, food safety, and evacuation.
• National Weather Service active alerts – Check current United States watches, warnings, and advisories by location.
• Canada emergency plan form – Create, review, and print a household emergency plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much water should I store for an emergency?

A. For the United States, FEMA commonly recommends at least one gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation. Canada’s federal checklist uses two litres per person per day for drinking, cooking, and hygiene. Add more for pets, medical needs, hot weather, children, and longer disruptions.

Q. Should I keep emergency supplies in one large container?

A. Not usually. Keep a larger home supply, lightweight grab-and-go bags, and smaller vehicle kits. Separating them makes it easier to shelter at home, leave quickly, or manage an unexpected roadside delay.

Q. How often should an emergency kit be checked?

A. Review it at least once a year, and twice a year is better. Replace expired food, water, medications, batteries, documents, and seasonal items. Recheck the kit after household changes such as a move, new baby, new pet, or new medical equipment.

Q. Can I use a camping stove or generator during a power outage?

A. Fuel-burning stoves, grills, heaters, and generators must be used outdoors and away from doors, windows, and air intakes. Never use them inside a home, garage, basement, shed, tent, or other enclosed space because carbon monoxide can build up quickly. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and local safety guidance.