What Should Be in a Survival Kit? | Emergency Essentials

When an emergency hits, you won’t have time to gather supplies. The difference between a stressful situation and a manageable one often comes down to what you’ve prepared ahead of time. A well-stocked survival kit for your household should sustain you for at least 72 hours, whether you’re sheltering in place or evacuating. Here’s exactly what the experts say you need.

Water and Food: The Foundation

Your kit’s first priority is keeping everyone hydrated and fed. FEMA recommends one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days—that’s 3 gallons per person minimum. The Red Cross suggests the same daily amount, with a 3-day supply for evacuation and a 2-week supply if you’re staying home.

For food, pack a three-day supply of non-perishable items that need no refrigeration and little to no preparation. Think canned goods, protein bars, dried fruit, and peanut butter. Don’t forget a manual can opener—a common oversight that renders all those canned goods useless.

Communication and Lighting

When the power goes out, your phone won’t last long. FEMA’s list includes a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, plus a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert for receiving official warnings. You’ll also want a flashlight and extra batteries for both.

Your cell phone is a lifeline, so pack chargers and a backup battery. A solar charger or car charger ensures you can power up even during extended outages. These items are easy to overlook when you’re focused on food and water, but staying informed is just as critical.

First Aid, Sanitation, and Tools

A comprehensive first aid kit is non-negotiable. The Red Cross’s family kit list for a household of four includes 2 absorbent compress dressings, 25 adhesive bandages, 1 emergency blanket, and 2 pairs of nonlatex gloves—plus prescription and over-the-counter medications your family uses. Adjust quantities based on your household size.

Sanitation supplies often get forgotten. Pack moist towelettes, garbage bags with plastic ties, and personal hygiene items. For sheltering in place, FEMA also recommends a dust mask, plastic sheeting, and duct tape to seal off a room from contaminated air—though these don’t replace evacuation planning.

Finally, add practical tools: a multi-purpose tool, scissors, tweezers, a wrench or pliers to shut off utilities, and local paper maps in case GPS fails. Copies of important documents, family contact information, extra cash, spare keys, and insurance details round out the kit.

Maintaining Your Kit

Building a kit isn’t a one-time task. The Red Cross advises rotating supplies on a schedule: replace water every six months, food yearly, and medications before they expire. Also consider special items for babies, pets, older adults, and disabled household members—everyone’s needs are different, and a one-size-fits-all kit falls short.

If you spend time on the road, a dedicated vehicle kit adds booster cables, a tire repair kit and pump, flares, and a shovel, plus seasonal items for winter or summer travel.

One of the most common mistakes is packing only food and water while skipping communication, sanitation, or first aid. The official lists from FEMA and the Red Cross include all of these as core components—not optional extras. If you’re looking to outfit your vehicle for emergencies, our tested truck survival kit recommendations cover the gear worth buying. Every household’s situation is different, but the fundamentals remain the same: water, food, information, medical care, and basic sanitation give you the best chance to ride out any emergency.