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Emergency prep

One list, packed once. Your home emergency kit, sized to your family.

The Ready.gov kit list with quantities for your household, for 3 days or two weeks. Tick it off as you pack, then print it for the cupboard door.
Build my checklistGear we would start with

List checked against Ready.gov and CDC.

2. Kit length
3. Your household has

72-hour home emergency kit for 2 people

0 of 28 packed. Ticks stay on this page only; nothing is saved or sent.

Basic kit (Ready.gov)

Also consider (Ready.gov)

From the Ready.gov Build a Kit list. Water at 1 gallon per person per day (CDC). Replace expired items and rethink the kit every year. sparkpowered.com/emergency-kit-checklist

Before you buy anything

Most of this list is already in your home. FEMA suggests using the canned goods and staples on your shelves and rotating them, first in, first out. Buy only what is missing.

Work out the big items properly: how much water, how many calories of food and how much backup power your household needs.

Gear we would start with

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Frequently asked questions

What should be in a 72-hour emergency kit?

Ready.gov's basic kit has 14 items: water (1 gallon per person per day), non-perishable food, a battery or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, a flashlight, a first aid kit, extra batteries, a whistle, a dust mask, plastic sheeting with scissors and duct tape, moist towelettes with garbage bags and plastic ties, a wrench or pliers for utilities, a manual can opener, local maps, and a phone with chargers and a backup battery.

How is a 2-week kit different from a 72-hour kit?

Mostly more water and food. CDC sets 3 days of water as the minimum and asks you to try for a 2-week supply; FEMA suggests two weeks of food as well. For a family of four, water goes from 12 gallons to 56 gallons. The rest of the list stays the same.

How many days does Ready.gov say a kit should last?

Ready.gov does not give a fixed number; it says to have water and food for several days. We use CDC's 3-day minimum and 2-week goal for water so you can choose.

How often should I check my emergency kit?

Ready.gov says to replace expired items as needed and rethink your needs every year as your family changes. Replace water you bottled yourself every 6 months (CDC).

Where should I keep my emergency kit?

Ready.gov says to keep the home kit in a set place, ready to grab if you have to leave quickly. It also suggests a kit at work, enough to shelter there for at least 24 hours, and one in the car in case you are stranded.

General information for home emergency planning. Follow instructions from local emergency officials. Brand links are suggestions to start from, not tested picks. See our disclaimer.

Sources

  1. Ready.gov, Build a Kit — basic kit and additional supplies; home, work and car kits; replace expired items; rethink needs yearly
  2. CDC, Creating and Storing an Emergency Water Supply — 1 gallon per person per day; 3-day minimum, 2-week goal; replace every 6 months
  3. FEMA, Food and Water in an Emergency (PDF) — two-week food supply; use pantry staples, first in, first out
  4. Midland WR120 NOAA Weather and Emergency Alert Radio product page — checked October 26, 2026

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Photo: Devon MacKay on Unsplash (Unsplash License).