A Household Emergency Checklist You Can Actually Finish

The core kit (Ready.gov basic supplies)

Ready.gov's basic disaster supplies kit includes the items below. Store items in airtight plastic bags and keep the kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag.

• Water: one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food: at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food, plus a manual can opener
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask, plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape (to shelter in place)
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Add what your household specifically needs

Ready.gov lists additional items to consider based on individual needs. This is where most generic kits fall short, because the right list depends on who lives in the home.

• Prescription medications, plus non-prescription medicines such as pain relievers and antacids
• Prescription glasses and contact lens solution
• Infant formula, bottles, diapers and wipes
• Pet food and extra water for pets
• Cash
• Copies of important documents (insurance, identification, bank records) saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container
• A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person and a change of clothing and sturdy shoes
• Fire extinguisher and matches in a waterproof container
• Soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and feminine and personal hygiene items
• Paper and pencil, and activities for children

Safety equipment in the home

Supplies are only half of readiness. CPSC recommends working carbon monoxide and smoke alarms (battery-operated or with battery backup) on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas, with smoke alarms inside each bedroom, tested monthly. The CDC adds that CO detectors should be replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions or every 5 years, and recommends checking batteries when you change your clocks in spring and fall.

What about a 30-day emergency kit?

Official guidance sets a floor, not a ceiling. Ready.gov recommends supplies for several days; the CDC recommends at least 3 days of water and a 2-week supply if possible. A 30-day kit goes beyond those recommendations, and whether it makes sense depends on your risks and circumstances (for example, a rural home far from services, or a household with medical needs).

If you choose to plan for 30 days, scale the consumables rather than buying more gadgets. Water is the largest item by volume: at the CDC's 1 gallon per person per day, a family of four needs 120 gallons for 30 days, before extras for pets or hot weather. Store it according to CDC guidance and rotate self-stored water every 6 months. Food should be non-perishable foods your household already eats, stored in a cool, dry place (Ready.gov). For medications, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what is possible, since refill rules vary.

• Water: people × 30 days × 1 gallon, plus extra for pets, illness, pregnancy or heat (CDC)
• Food: non-perishable items you rotate into normal meals so nothing expires unused
• Medications: a plan agreed with your doctor or pharmacist
• Sanitation: more garbage bags, ties and wipes than you think (Ready.gov lists these for personal sanitation)
• Lighting and power: enough batteries or charging capacity for the duration
• Information: a weather radio so you are not dependent on cell service

A ten-minute readiness check

If you only have a few minutes, these questions cover the gaps that matter most in common emergencies like multi-day power outages. Each one maps to official guidance cited on this page.

• Water: do you have at least 3 days at 1 gallon per person per day, and ideally 2 weeks? (CDC)
• Food: could you eat for several days without a working refrigerator? (Ready.gov) Do you know the CDC timelines: about 4 hours for a refrigerator, about 48 hours for a full freezer?
• Light and power: is there a flashlight for every person and a way to charge phones? (Ready.gov)
• Information: do you have a battery or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio? (Ready.gov)
• Medical: is there a written plan for powered medical devices and refrigerated medicines? (Ready.gov)
• Safety: are CO and smoke alarms working on every level? (CPSC)
• Plan: does everyone know the meeting place, the out-of-area contact and where the kit is kept? (Ready.gov)

Plan, practice and maintain

Ready.gov's planning steps are to meet with your household, assess your specific needs, document the plan and practice it. Key questions include how you will receive alerts, your shelter plan, your evacuation route and your communication plan.

• Keep canned food in a cool, dry place and boxed food in tightly closed containers (Ready.gov).
• Replace expired items and re-think your needs every year (Ready.gov).
• Prepare kits for home, work and car; Ready.gov suggests being prepared to shelter at work for at least 24 hours.
• Make sure everyone knows where the home kit is kept (Ready.gov).