What to put in a 72-hour emergency kit (checklist)
A 72-hour kit, sometimes called a go-bag, covers the first three days of an emergency: the window where you may have to leave fast, or where help and services have not caught up yet. The goal is simple. Everything you would need to get by for three days, packed and ready to grab.
Water and food
- Water: three days' worth, about one gallon per person per day, or a smaller supply plus a filter or purification tablets if weight is a concern.
- Food: three days of no-cook, ready-to-eat food. Energy bars, nut butter, canned goods with a manual can opener, dried fruit, anything that needs no heat or refrigeration.
Light and power
- Flashlight or headlamp, plus spare batteries.
- A charged power bank and the right charging cables.
- A battery or hand-crank radio so you can still get information if the network is down.
First aid and medications
- A basic first aid kit.
- At least three days of any prescription medications, plus copies of the prescriptions.
- Spare glasses or contacts, and anything for a specific medical need.
Warmth, shelter, and clothing
- An emergency blanket or two, and a rain poncho.
- One change of clothes per person, picked for the season.
Tools and sanitation
- A multi-tool, duct tape, and a lighter or waterproof matches.
- Hand sanitizer, wet wipes, toilet paper, and a few heavy-duty garbage bags.
- A whistle to signal for help.
Documents and cash
- Copies of IDs, insurance cards, and key documents in a waterproof bag.
- A small amount of cash in small bills, since card readers may be down.
Do not forget
Build the kit around who actually lives in your home: supplies for children, pets, or anyone with specific needs. A perfect generic kit that ignores your real household is the wrong kit.
The part that fails: keeping it current
A go-bag is not a one-time project. The water, food, medications, and batteries inside all expire, and a kit you packed two years ago can be full of dead and lapsed supplies right when you need it. Check it on a schedule, and rotate anything with a date before it lapses.
Quick checklist
- Three days of water and no-cook food, plus a manual can opener.
- Light, power bank, and a battery or crank radio.
- First aid kit and three days of medications.
- Emergency blanket, poncho, and a change of clothes.
- Multi-tool, sanitation supplies, whistle.
- Document copies and a little cash.
- Extras for kids and pets, then check and rotate it regularly.