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Build one home kit that can support every household member for at least three days, then add portable kits where people spend time. Start with one gallon of water per person per day, three days of nonperishable food, light, a battery or hand-crank radio, first aid, sanitation supplies and basic tools. Customize those supplies for medications, pets, children, disabilities and local flood risks.
A kit buys time; it does not make evacuation unnecessary or make floodwater safe. Leave when local officials direct you to, never walk or drive through floodwater, and use generators, grills and camp stoves only outdoors.
What the kit must accomplish
A hurricane can create two different emergencies at once: rising water can make roads and rooms unsafe, while a power outage can remove lighting, refrigeration, communications and normal access to stores or pharmacies. Your kit should therefore cover four jobs:
- Stay hydrated and fed: store water and food for at least three days.
- Receive warnings and communicate: keep a radio, spare batteries and a way to charge a phone.
- Move and treat injuries safely: provide light, first aid and a whistle.
- Maintain basic sanitation and protect essentials: include hygiene items, waste supplies, utility tools and protected documents.
FEMA and Ready.gov describe their checklist as a starting point rather than a universal inventory. A household with infants, older adults, pets, medical equipment or mobility limitations needs more than the baseline. Keep the home kit together, and make smaller portable kits for work, vehicles and other places family members regularly spend time.
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Use the three-day baseline
The official basic checklist specifies one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days. That amount is for drinking and sanitation. It is a planning minimum, not a promise that every household will have enough for every circumstance. Add more when local conditions, health needs or pets require it, and store water where everyone can reach it without entering a flooded area.
| Need | Baseline item | How to adapt it |
|---|---|---|
| Water | One gallon per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation | Add supplies for pets, medical needs and anyone who needs more fluids; divide heavy containers so they can be moved safely. |
| Food | At least a three-day supply of nonperishable food | Choose foods household members will actually eat and account for allergies, infant feeding and special diets. |
| Warnings and news | Battery-powered or hand-crank radio, including a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, plus extra batteries | Keep the radio usable without grid power and store it where alerts can be heard while sleeping. |
| Light | Flashlight and extra batteries | Provide enough light for each sleeping area and keep one easy to carry during evacuation. |
| First aid | First-aid kit | Add prescribed medicines and supplies specific to household conditions. |
| Signaling and breathing protection | Whistle and dust mask | Store them where they can be reached quickly after structural damage or heavy dust. |
| Shelter and repairs | Plastic sheeting and duct tape | Use for temporary covering or separation only; do not treat it as protection from a dangerous building. |
| Sanitation | Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties | Increase quantities for children, older adults, pets and anyone who needs frequent changes. |
| Utilities | Non-sparking wrench or pliers | Use only if you know the household shutoffs and can do so without entering danger. |
| Food access | Can opener when the food includes cans | Test it before an emergency; an electric opener will not help during an outage. |
| Navigation | Local maps | Mark evacuation routes, shelters and higher ground using current local information. |
| Phone power | Extra cell-phone battery or charger | Keep charging equipment with the phone cables your household actually uses. |
Assemble the home kit step by step
1. Count people, animals and critical needs
Write down every person who may rely on the kit, including visitors who could be sheltering with you. Note medications, medical devices, allergies, mobility or hearing needs, communication requirements and dietary restrictions. List pets separately so their food, water and handling equipment do not get overlooked.
Decide where everyone would go if officials order evacuation and identify who may need transportation assistance. The kit supports that plan; it cannot replace an evacuation route or a place to stay.
2. Set aside water and food first
Measure the three-day water minimum before buying convenience items. Store containers in a cool, dry location away from chemicals and potential floodwater. Divide the supply among stable containers so one damaged package does not remove all of it.
Select nonperishable food that can be eaten with little or no cooking. Include the can opener if any item is canned. Rotate foods before their quality declines, and keep a written inventory on the outside of the container so you do not need to unpack everything to check it.
3. Build a power-free communications set
Place the radio, NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, spare batteries and phone charger together in a waterproofed pouch or container. A hand-crank radio can provide an alternative when batteries run out, but it still needs to be tested periodically. Keep a paper list of family contacts, the local emergency-management office, utilities and out-of-area contacts; a phone may be unavailable or its stored information inaccessible.
Use text messages when networks are congested if service is available, and conserve phone power by lowering screen brightness and closing unnecessary apps. Do not rely on a single device for official instructions.
4. Prepare lighting and first aid
Pack the flashlight and extra batteries where they can be found without turning on room lights. Check the switch and battery compartment during routine inspections. Put the first-aid kit in the same container, then add household-specific medicines and medical supplies in their original labeled packaging. Maintain a separate medication plan so a short emergency kit does not become the only supply for a long disruption.
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A whistle can signal rescuers if a person is trapped or cannot safely move. Keep one with the main kit and consider one for each person who may evacuate separately.
5. Add sanitation and protective supplies
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties provide a basic way to clean hands and contain waste when plumbing or water service is disrupted. Add the dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape from the baseline checklist. Plastic sheeting can reduce exposure to dust or create a temporary barrier, but it is not a substitute for leaving a damaged or flooded structure.
Pack extra personal hygiene items required by household members. Keep waste bags separate from food and medical supplies so contamination is less likely if a bag leaks.
6. Include safe utility tools
Store a non-sparking wrench or pliers with instructions for your home’s utility shutoffs. Only an adult who understands the system should attempt a shutoff, and only when it can be done without approaching water, exposed wiring, fire or structural damage. Do not improvise with a tool that could create a spark near a gas leak.
7. Protect documents and information
Put identification, insurance information, medical records, prescriptions and other essential documents in a dry, safe container described by FEMA guidance as fireproof and waterproof. Create password-protected digital copies and keep them accessible without depending on a single device. A protected USB drive or secure account can supplement, not replace, the physical originals you may need.
8. Pack for carrying and evacuation
Use containers that can be lifted by the person expected to carry them. Put the most time-critical items—water, medicines, phone power, flashlight, radio and documents—where they can be removed first. Label each container and keep a small portable version in each vehicle or at work rather than assuming everyone will be home when a warning arrives.
Make the kit flood-aware
Understand what floodwater can contain
Ready.gov warns that floodwater may contain downed power lines, sewage, bacteria, chemicals, sharp objects and animals. Even water that looks shallow or clear can hide hazards. Waterproof your kit’s outer container, elevate it above likely water levels and avoid storing it in a basement or ground-level room known to flood.
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Plan where the kit goes if water rises
Choose a location that is accessible before flooding, above expected water and away from windows that could break. If evacuation is possible, move the kit early; waiting until water is at the door can make carrying it dangerous. Keep local maps and route information in the kit because familiar roads may be blocked or rerouted.
Separate clean supplies from contaminated areas
Keep sealed water, food, medicines and documents in inner bags or containers that can be wiped down. Do not place clean items directly on a wet floor. If floodwater touches food, medicine packaging or electrical charging equipment, treat those items as potentially contaminated or unsafe rather than attempting to rinse and reuse them.
Prepare specifically for a power outage
Keep information and light available
Put the radio and flashlight where they can be reached in darkness. Keep spare batteries in their original packaging or a protected compartment, and inspect for corrosion. Charge the phone and portable charger before severe weather arrives, but assume charging opportunities may disappear.
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Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed during an outage whenever possible, as Ready.gov’s outage guidance advises. The length of time food remains safe depends on appliance, contents, temperature and other conditions; do not rely on an unverified duration. When in doubt, follow current food-safety guidance from local authorities rather than tasting questionable food.
Do not bring combustion indoors
FEMA/Ready.gov’s hurricane hazard sheet (FEMA V-1006, March 2024) states: Use a generator, grill or camp stove ONLY outdoors and at least 20 feet away from any building openings like windows, doors or garages to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Keep the equipment outside, maintain that separation from openings and never use a garage, porch or enclosed room as a workaround. Carbon monoxide can build up without an obvious smell.
Customize the checklist for your household
Medications and medical equipment
Pack a current medication list, prescriptions and the supplies needed to operate essential equipment during a power loss. Ask clinicians or pharmacies how to handle medicines that require refrigeration or special storage. Include backup communication methods for people who use hearing, speech, vision or mobility assistance, and plan how equipment will be transported during evacuation.
Children and older adults
Add age-appropriate food, feeding supplies, comfort items and hygiene products. Older adults may need additional lighting, mobility support or a clearly written contact plan. Put frequently used items in containers that can be opened without fine finger control if dexterity is limited.
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Pets and service animals
Store food, water, medications, waste bags, leashes, carriers and identification information for each animal. Never assume a public shelter will accept every pet; identify pet-friendly evacuation options in advance. Service-animal equipment and records should travel with the person who depends on them.
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Disability and access needs
Check whether the kit can be reached, opened and carried by everyone who may use it. Include backup batteries or charging options for assistive devices when applicable, and arrange a buddy who knows how to help without separating essential equipment from its owner.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Preassembled kit or individual supplies?
A preassembled emergency kit can save time, but it is only a starting container. Compare it against the official checklist and audit every item before storing it. Individual purchases take more planning but make it easier to match quantities, medications, pet supplies, food preferences and local conditions.
| Approach | Strength | Risk to check | Best practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preassembled kit | Many baseline categories arrive together and are easy to store. | Water, food, batteries, medications, pet items or household-specific equipment may be missing or insufficient. | Use the official checklist as an audit, then add and replace items individually. |
| Assemble supplies individually | Quantities and contents can match the household precisely. | It is easier to forget a basic category such as a can opener, radio batteries or sanitation supplies. | Build from the baseline table and check each category off before sealing the container. |
| Hybrid | Combines a ready container with customized medicines, documents, food and pet supplies. | Duplicate items can create a false sense of completeness while a critical category remains absent. | Keep one master inventory showing what is in every container. |
Store, inspect and refresh the kit
- Choose an accessible location: keep the main kit above likely flood levels and close to an exit, not buried behind heavy furniture.
- Label containers: mark water, food, medicines, documents, communications and sanitation so a person under stress can find them.
- Check before hurricane season: test the radio, NOAA tone alert, flashlights, charger, whistle and can opener; inspect batteries, packaging and documents.
- Rotate consumables: replace food, water and medicines according to their labels and your clinician’s advice. Repack anything used during minor outages.
- Practice the plan: rehearse turning off utilities only if safe, locating evacuation routes, carrying the kit and contacting household members.
- Refresh after every warning: recharge devices, refill water and food, replace opened sanitation items and return portable kits to vehicles or workplaces.
What to do when flooding or an outage begins
If officials issue an evacuation order
Leave using the designated route and take the portable kit, medications, documents, pets and phone chargers. Do not delay to collect a container stored in a dangerous location. Tell an out-of-area contact where you are going if communications work.
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If you remain temporarily at home
Move to the safest available level, monitor official alerts on the radio and phone, conserve power and keep away from floodwater. Do not enter a room with standing water near outlets, appliances or downed lines. Keep the kit dry and accessible while avoiding unnecessary movement through the building.
If a road or walkway is flooded
Stop, turn around and find an approved alternative. Six inches of fast-moving water can knock down a person, and one foot can move a vehicle, according to the March 2024 FEMA/Ready.gov hurricane sheet. No emergency kit changes those physical hazards.
If fuel-burning equipment is needed
Use only outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and garages, as FEMA/Ready.gov specifies. If anyone develops headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea or confusion around a generator or stove, move to fresh air and call emergency services.
Common mistakes that make a kit fail
- Counting on a shopping trip after the warning: stores, roads and payment systems may be inaccessible.
- Storing everything in a flood-prone basement: supplies can be unreachable exactly when needed.
- Buying food without a can opener: include a manual opener when cans are part of the menu.
- Forgetting the phone-charging path: a phone is not useful for alerts if its battery cannot be replenished.
- Leaving out household-specific items: a generic kit does not cover prescriptions, pet care, infant feeding or accessibility needs.
- Using a generator, grill or camp stove indoors: this creates a carbon-monoxide hazard even when a door is partly open.
- Treating the kit as permission to cross water: floodwater can hide electrical, biological, chemical and physical dangers.
- Never inspecting the container: corroded batteries, expired food, missing cables and unreadable documents are discovered too late.
Final readiness check
Your kit is ready when every household member can answer these questions without searching:
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- Where are the radio, NOAA tone-alert receiver, batteries, flashlight and phone charger?
- Who needs medication, medical equipment, pet supplies or accessibility assistance?
- Where are the protected documents and password-protected digital copies?
- Which routes lead away from flood-prone areas, and where will you go if ordered to evacuate?
- Can the kit be carried without entering floodwater or a damaged part of the building?
- Is every generator, grill or camp stove kept outdoors and at least 20 feet from openings?
Confirm current FEMA, Ready.gov and local emergency-management instructions before each hurricane threat because checklists, routes and shelter information can change. The practical goal is not a perfect box of gear; it is a maintained, household-specific supply system that keeps people informed, hydrated, medically supported and ready to move away from danger.
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