72-Hour Emergency Kit Checklist
A 72-hour emergency kit checklist starts with three things: water at 1 gallon per person per day, food that needs no refrigeration, and a way to keep a phone, radio and light running. Ready.gov asks for "several days" without a number; the Red Cross says 3 days for evacuation and 2 weeks for home. Read 2026-11-02.
How many days to plan for
The two main sources do not agree on a single number, and the guide does not pretend they do.
| Source | Water and food duration |
|---|---|
| Ready.gov | "Several days" for both; no day count given |
| Red Cross | 3-day supply for an evacuation kit; 2-week supply for the home; medications, 7 days |
| CDC (water only) | At least 3 days; a 2-week supply if possible |
A reasonable reading: build the 3-day kit first, since it is the smaller job and travels, then grow the home supply toward 2 weeks. The tables below work quantities for one person over 3 days and over 14 days, so multiply by the number in your household. This is arithmetic on the agencies' per-day figures.
Water
| Item | 3 days, per person | 14 days, per person | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drinking and sanitation water | 3 gallons | 14 gallons | Ready.gov and the Red Cross: 1 gallon per person per day |
| Extra for children, nursing mothers, sick people | more | more | Ready.gov; CDC also names pregnant women and pets |
| Extra in very hot weather | more | more | Ready.gov: needs can double |
CDC advises food-grade containers, storing between 50 and 70 F, and replacing stored tap water about every 6 months. Containers, rotation and what to do when it runs out are in emergency water storage. For a second source, the survival water filter hub reads the filters, the Sawyer Squeeze review covers one of them, and tablets, bleach and boiling gives the public-health methods.
Food
| Item | Quantity | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Non-perishable food that needs little or no cooking | 3 days; 14 days for home | Red Cross durations; Ready.gov says "at least a several-day supply" |
| Manual can opener and utensils | 1 set | Ready.gov |
| Foods your household will eat, including special diets | as needed | Ready.gov |
Links: links to company websites on this page go straight to each company’s own site, and this site is not paid when you click them. How we link.
Ready.gov's examples are canned meat, fruit and vegetables, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal or granola, peanut butter and dried fruit. A boxed kit is another route; the survival food kits hub explains the five checks, the My Patriot Supply review reads one company's 72-hour, 4-week and 1-year kits, and freeze-dried food shelf life explains what a stated year means. The 72-hour kit on My Patriot Supply's site was $34.99 on 2026-11-02, with the company stating it feeds one person for 72 hours.
Power and light
| Item | Quantity | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Battery-powered or hand-crank radio, and a NOAA Weather Radio | 1 | Ready.gov; Red Cross lists a battery or hand-crank radio |
| Flashlight | 1 per person, with extra batteries | Ready.gov; Red Cross |
| Phone with chargers and a backup battery | 1 per person | Ready.gov |
| Whistle | 1 | Ready.gov |
Ready.gov's power outage page says to plan batteries or a portable charger for essential devices. It does not name battery power stations, and no agency page we read does, so there is no agency guidance on them to cite here. If you want a larger battery, our best solar generator hub explains sizing and what a solar generator can run shows the watt-hour math for a phone, a router and a fridge. The Jackery Explorer 300 page covers the smallest class.
Generators are different from batteries. CDC and Ready.gov say to keep a generator outdoors at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, and CPSC says never to run one indoors, in a garage, basement or shed. Fridge and freezer timing, from FoodSafety.gov: about 4 hours for an unopened refrigerator, up to 48 hours for a full freezer and 24 hours for a half-full one, with the doors closed.
Documents, cash and contacts
- Copies of important documents: Ready.gov says to save family documents electronically or in a waterproof container. The Red Cross lists copies of documents.
- Cash: both agencies list cash or traveler's checks.
- Family and emergency contacts: the Red Cross lists them.
- Local maps: both agencies list them.
First aid and medicines
Both agencies list a first aid kit; Ready.gov also lists prescription and non-prescription medicines, eyeglasses and contact solution. The Red Cross says a 7-day supply of medications. This site does not cover first aid or medical choices, so ask your clinician about medicines and any electric medical device. Ready.gov suggests talking to your medical provider about an outage plan for electric medical devices and refrigerated medicines.
Other items the agencies list
Ready.gov: dust mask, plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape, moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties, wrench or pliers, a sleeping bag or blanket, a change of clothes and sturdy shoes, a fire extinguisher, waterproof matches, hygiene items, and infant and pet supplies. The Red Cross adds a multi-purpose tool, work gloves, rain gear, an emergency blanket, two-way radios, spare keys and N95 or surgical masks.
What to leave out
- Duplicates. One radio and one light per person is on both lists; five is not.
- Anything you cannot lift. Neither agency gives a weight for a go kit, so we do not invent one: pack the bag, then weigh it.
- Food you will not eat. Ready.gov asks for foods your household will eat.
- A generator or a large battery in the evacuation bag. They belong in the home kit.
For the carry-on-foot version, see the bug out bag list.
What this checklist does not cover
Pets beyond Ready.gov's mention of pet food and extra water, with no quantity given. Medical care. Home safety such as carbon monoxide alarms, which Ready.gov says to have with battery backup on every level. Neither it nor any other page here is a guarantee of safety.
FAQ
How much water do I need per person?
Ready.gov and the Red Cross both give 1 gallon per person per day. For 3 days that is 3 gallons, and for 14 days it is 14 gallons (our arithmetic). CDC says to store at least 3 days and try for 2 weeks.
Is a 72-hour kit enough?
Ready.gov gives no number of days. The Red Cross treats 3 days as the evacuation kit and 2 weeks as the home supply.
Where do I put the kit?
The Red Cross says the kit can stay at home or be taken with you. Ready.gov says to keep it where you can leave quickly.
Do I need a power station?
Neither agency names one. Ready.gov asks for a way to charge essential devices, and a phone power bank covers the phone. Larger needs are covered in the power hub.