Emergency essentials: Putting together a survival kit

Date Updated: 05/13/2023

Emergency essentials kits can help you respond to natural disasters or other serious situations. Prepare for the unexpected by putting together a survival kit that could be useful if you needed to evacuate your home. Pack enough supplies to last three days, and keep your emergency essentials handy. Make sure your family members know where to find the kit. Consider keeping basic emergency essentials in your car as well.

A basic emergency essentials kit includes:

Small, waterproof flashlight or headlamp and extra batteries
Waterproof matches
Water, 1 gallon a person for each day
Food that won't spoil, including baby food if needed
Manual can opener for food
Pet food and supplies, such as a leash, if needed
Small notepad and waterproof writing instrument
Blanket
Cellphone with solar charger
Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio and a weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
Insect repellent
Whistle
First-aid kit
Dust mask
Plastic sheeting and duct tape for improvised shelter
Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
Medicine, a week's supply
Extra medical supplies or equipment, as needed
Soap, toothbrush, feminine supplies and other personal care items
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Emergency health information for you and your family
Phone numbers for professional emergency contacts, such as your family doctor and pediatrician
Phone numbers for a personal emergency contact, such as a friend or a family member you've asked to serve in this role
Copy of insurance cards
Cash or traveler's checks and change
Maps of the area
An extra set of car keys and house keys