When disaster strikes, the difference between calm and chaos often comes down to one thing: preparation. A well-stocked emergency kit keeps your family safe during storms, power outages, medical emergencies and evacuations. This complete checklist walks you through exactly what to pack — and where to get it.
Why every household needs an emergency kit
Experts recommend being ready to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Emergency services can be stretched thin during a widespread crisis, so having your own emergency & first-aid supplies on hand is essential. Build one kit for your home, a compact one for your car, and a portable one for travel.
The core emergency kit checklist
1. First aid
Start with a comprehensive set of first-aid kits: adhesive bandages, gauze, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, scissors and an emergency blanket. Add any personal prescription medications.
2. Water and food
Store one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, plus non-perishable, ready-to-eat food. Rotate stock every six months.
3. Light, power and tools
Pack a flashlight, extra batteries, a power bank, a multi-tool and a hand-crank or battery radio so you can stay informed if the grid goes down.
4. Health and protection
Include hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and masks from our PPE & sanitizers selection, plus a thermometer and other medical devices for monitoring health during an emergency.
5. Documents and essentials
Keep copies of IDs, insurance cards and emergency contacts in a waterproof bag, along with some cash and spare keys.
Home, car and travel kits
Your home kit should be the most comprehensive. A vehicle kit adds road-safety items like flares and a tire repair kit, while a travel kit focuses on compact first-aid and medication essentials. Shop ready-made options on our emergency kits page to skip the guesswork.
Keep it current
An emergency kit is only useful if it works when you need it. Check it every six months: replace expired medications and food, test batteries and update documents. Set a recurring reminder so it never falls out of date.
Be ready before you need it
Preparation is the simplest form of protection. Browse curated, top-rated emergency and first-aid kits and build your readiness today — because the best time to prepare is before the emergency.