Get ready

Build an emergency kit

An emergency kit is a bag or bin with what your household needs to get through at least three days without power, running water or a store run. Start with water, food, light, a radio, first aid, medicine and copies of your papers, then add what your family, your pets and your local weather call for. Check things off below; your progress is saved on this device.

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How to put it together

1. Pick a container. Use a sturdy backpack for a grab-and-go bag and a lidded bin for the at-home kit. Keep the go-bag light enough for the person who will carry it.
2. Start with the basics. Work through the checklist below. You don't need to buy it all at once; add a few items every time you shop.
3. Add your family's needs. Add medicine, baby supplies, pet food, mobility gear and anything else someone in your home can't go three days without.
4. Match your weather. Add the extras for the storms where you live: hurricanes, floods, wildfire, winter or heat.
5. Store it where you can grab it. Keep the kit near an exit, a smaller one in each car, and a few basics at work. Tell everyone at home where it is.

Basic kit checklist

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1. Water: 1 gallon per person per day, for at least 3 days
2. Food that doesn't need a fridge or cooking, for at least 3 days
3. Manual can opener and a few utensils
4. Flashlight or headlamp for each person
5. Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio if you can)
6. Extra batteries that fit your flashlight and radio
7. First aid kit
8. Phone chargers and a charged power bank
9. Whistle to signal for help
10. Dust masks, plastic sheeting and duct tape
11. Wet wipes, garbage bags and plastic ties for sanitation
12. Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
13. Local paper map in case phones and GPS are down
14. Some cash in small bills
15. Change of clothes and sturdy shoes for each person
16. Blanket or sleeping bag for each person

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Extras for your household

Medicine

• At least a week of prescription medicine, plus a copy of each prescription
• Over-the-counter pain, allergy and stomach medicine
• Glasses or contacts and solution, hearing aid batteries
• A cooler and ice packs if a medicine must stay cold

Babies and young kids

• Formula, bottles, baby food and water to mix it
• Diapers, wipes and rash cream
• A small toy, book or game to keep kids calm

Pets

• Food and water for at least 3 days, and bowls
• Leash, carrier or crate, and a recent photo of your pet
• Vaccination records and any medicine
• Litter or waste bags

Seniors and people with disabilities

• Spare batteries or a backup charger for power chairs, oxygen and other medical devices
• A list of medical devices with model numbers and how they work
• Extra canes, walkers or mobility aids if you have them
• Written notes on care needs, allergies and how to communicate

Documents

• Copies of IDs, insurance policies, deeds or leases, and bank info in a waterproof bag
• A list of medicines, doctors and emergency contacts on paper
• Photos of your home and belongings for insurance, saved to the cloud too
• A thumb drive or secure cloud folder with scans of everything above

Notes for each type of weather

Winter car kit

Keep a blanket, hat and gloves, ice scraper, small shovel, sand or kitty litter for traction, jumper cables, snacks, water and a phone charger in the car. Keep the gas tank at least half full in cold months. Winter storms

Hurricane

Plan for longer: a week of water, food and medicine is better than three days. Add tarps, a fire extinguisher, extra fuel kept safely outside, and know your evacuation zone before a storm forms. Hurricane kit checklist

Wildfire go-bag

Pack the go-bag so you can leave in minutes: N95 masks for smoke, goggles, long sleeves and cotton or wool clothes, car keys, medicine and papers. Keep it by the door and the car pointed out during fire weather. Wildfire and smoke

Extreme heat

Add more water than you think you need, electrolyte drinks, a battery fan, cooling towels and sunscreen. Know where your nearest cooling center is if the power goes out. Extreme heat

Flood

Keep papers and electronics in waterproof bags, add rubber boots and gloves, and store the kit up high. Never walk or drive through floodwater; a few inches can sweep away a person or car. Flooding

Keeping your kit up to date

• Check the kit twice a year. An easy reminder is when the clocks change.
• Swap out water and food before they expire and eat the old stock.
• Replace batteries, and test the flashlight and radio.
• Update medicine, prescriptions and documents when anything changes.
• Re-think the kit when your family changes: a new baby, a new pet, kids growing out of clothes, or a new medical need.
• Switch the car kit between summer and winter gear.

Get warned early

A kit works best when you have time to grab it. Get free alerts for your ZIP code on our home page, and sign up for the free weekly weather email below. Need help after a storm? See local help.

More: All checklists · Before the storm · After the storm checklist