Emergency Kits & Supplies

An emergency kit gathers the basic supplies you'd need in a disaster into one place that's easy to grab, organize, and restock. Emergencies come in many forms — earthquakes, hurricanes, winter storms, power outages — and having supplies ready ahead of time is what separates a manageable disruption from a crisis. Hurricane Katrina alone caused an estimated $125 billion in damage and displaced over a million people, a reminder of how quickly a disaster can outpace unprepared households.

Core Supplies, Per Ready.gov

• Water — one gallon per person, per day, for several days
• Non-perishable food for several days
• Battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio, plus extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust masks, plastic sheeting, and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for sanitation
• A non-sparking wrench or pliers to shut off utilities
• Local maps and a manual can opener

See Ready.gov's full Build a Kit checklist for additional household-specific items like medications, pet supplies, and important documents.

Shop Emergency Kits

Browse our 72-hour kit guide and full range of emergency preparedness kits.