Assembling Your Kit
An emergency kit should meet your family’s needs for several days. Items such as nonperishable food, water, medications, and other life-saving supplies should be included at the quantities needed based on family size. A basic disaster kit should include the following items (Ready, 2022):
- 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)
- Pet food and extra water for your pet
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Prescription medications (for at least 72 hours)
- Extra batteries
- Whistle (to signal for help)
- Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place)
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
- Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
- Manual can opener (for food)
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup batteries.
Additional emergency supplies may be needed. Visit ready.gov/kit for a list of additional considerations. The Emergency Supply List may be used as a guide to determine what should be included in your disaster kit.
