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The safest earthquake kit is not one box. Build three layers: a portable Go-Kit for at least 72 hours, a Stay-at-Home Kit with at least two weeks of supplies, and a bedside Bed-Kit that protects you while you get out of bed. The largest requirement is water: plan for at least 1 gallon per person per day for two weeks. Add food that needs no cooking or refrigeration, light and communication tools, first aid and medicines, sturdy shoes, dust protection, a whistle, utility-shutoff tools, and supplies tailored to children, pets, disabilities, medical equipment, and dietary needs.
This layered approach follows American Red Cross guidance. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and FEMA emphasize that supplies must remain usable when electricity, water service, roads, and mobile networks are unreliable. Assemble kits for places where you actually spend time—home, work, and your car—then maintain them so expired food, drained batteries, and outdated medicines do not undermine the plan.
Start with the three-kit system
An earthquake can trap you at home, leave you commuting, or send you outside during aftershocks. Separating supplies by location and purpose avoids the common mistake of storing one large container that is inaccessible or too heavy to move.
1. Portable Go-Kit: at least 72 hours
Keep a backpack, duffel, or wheeled container that one person can move without help. It should support evacuation, sheltering elsewhere, or a short interruption to utilities. Put copies of essential information, water, ready-to-eat food, light, first aid, medicines, charging equipment, and basic hygiene items inside. A backpack with multiple compartments makes personal medications and documents easier to retrieve quickly.
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2. Stay-at-Home Kit: at least two weeks
Store bulk water, food, sanitation supplies, tools, spare batteries, and medical equipment in a place that is protected from falling objects but easy to reach. A garage may be damaged or blocked, so distribute critical items between a secure indoor closet and another accessible location. Use several smaller water containers rather than one enormous vessel that nobody can lift.
3. Bed-Kit: beside or attached to the bed
Shaking can break windows and scatter glass. Keep sturdy shoes, a flashlight, spare glasses, a dust mask, and a whistle within arm’s reach. Put the shoes and light in a bag attached to the bed frame or on a nearby surface that will not be buried by a fallen lamp or shelf. Do not rely on a phone flashlight; the phone may be lost, damaged, or needed for emergency calls.
Calculate water before buying anything else
USGS guidance calls for at least 1 gallon (3.8 liters) per person per day for at least two weeks. That is a planning minimum for drinking and basic needs, not a guarantee that it will cover bathing, extensive cooking, or unusual medical requirements.
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|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3 gallons | 14 gallons |
| 2 people | 6 gallons | 28 gallons |
| 3 people | 9 gallons | 42 gallons |
| 4 people | 12 gallons | 56 gallons |
| 5 people | 15 gallons | 70 gallons |
Increase the amount for pregnancy, hot climates, strenuous work, children, older adults, or anyone whose medical treatment requires extra water. Ask a clinician how much is needed for feeding tubes, dialysis-related contingencies, medication administration, or other equipment. Keep some water in portable containers for the Go-Kit and car; the two-week reserve can use larger food-contact-rated containers.
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Choose and store containers safely
- Select containers labeled for potable or food contact. Do not reuse containers that held chemicals, detergents, or fuel.
- Prioritize leak resistance, handles, and a size that household members can carry. Several 3- to 5-gallon containers are easier to distribute than one 50-gallon barrel.
- Store water away from direct sun, petroleum products, pesticides, and extreme heat. Place containers on a surface that will not be damaged by a small leak.
- Date containers and follow the manufacturer’s replacement instructions. Commercially bottled water should be rotated according to its label; treated tap water should be replaced on a regular schedule recommended by local emergency-management authorities.
Plan an alternate source
Keep water-purification tablets or unscented household chlorine bleach suitable for disinfection of water, and follow the product label or local health authority’s dosage instructions. Never improvise a bleach mixture or use scented, splashless, or additive-containing bleach unless the label specifically says it is appropriate for drinking-water treatment. Purification does not remove every chemical contaminant, so do not collect water from a source contaminated by fuel, industrial chemicals, or sewage.
Stock food that works without power
FEMA’s earthquake checklist recommends at least 72 hours of nonperishable food and preferably two weeks. Choose items that need no refrigeration, cooking, water, or special preparation. A meal that requires a stove, a can of fuel, and two cups of water is not an immediately usable emergency meal when utilities are shut off.
Build a practical food mix
- Ready-to-eat canned meals, vegetables, fruit, beans, fish, meat, and soups.
- High-calorie shelf-stable foods such as nut or seed butter, energy bars, crackers, dried fruit, and whole-grain cereal.
- Infant formula and complementary foods for babies, plus foods for allergies, diabetes, low-sodium diets, or other medical needs.
- A manual can opener, disposable utensils, cups, and a small amount of waterless cleaning supplies.
Prefer familiar foods that household members will actually eat. Mark expiration dates on the outside of opaque bins. Rotate items into normal meals before they expire and replace them immediately. Avoid relying on a refrigerator, freezer, microwave, or camping stove for the first meals.
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Post-quake hazards include darkness, broken glass, dust, fires, and conflicting information. Each household should have multiple flashlights with spare batteries, not just one flashlight in a shared drawer. Headlamps leave both hands free for clearing a path or treating an injury.
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Radio and phone power
USGS specifically lists a portable radio with extra batteries. A radio that accepts ordinary replaceable batteries is easiest to keep ready; hand-crank, USB, or solar input can provide additional options but should not replace spare batteries. When comparing models, check power options, battery type and availability, weather-band or alert capability, readable controls, volume, and whether every household member can operate it in darkness.
Keep a charged backup battery or another way to charge essential phones and medical devices. Store the correct cables and adapters with it. Test the radio, flashlight, and power bank on the same maintenance schedule; an untested device can fail when its battery has been sitting for years.
Protect information
Place a printed contact list, household meeting locations, medication list, allergies, insurance information, and copies of identification in a waterproof pouch. Include an out-of-area contact because local calling and text traffic may be congested. Do not depend exclusively on cloud storage or a phone that may have no signal or power.
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Every kit needs a first-aid kit and a first-aid handbook, but commercial kits are only a starting point. Check contents against the injuries your household is most likely to manage and leave room for personal supplies.
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Medications and vision
Maintain a one-month supply of prescription and essential over-the-counter medicines when your prescriber and pharmacy rules allow it. Keep medicines in original labeled containers, note expiration dates, and ask the pharmacy about emergency refills. Include spare eyeglasses, contact-lens supplies if appropriate, hearing-aid batteries, and written instructions for devices.
Medical equipment and accessibility
List every device that needs electricity, water, batteries, oxygen, refrigeration, or a caregiver. Store backup batteries, manual alternatives, charging cables, and manufacturer instructions. Design the kit so a person using a wheelchair, walker, cane, or service animal can reach it; a heavy tote placed on a high shelf is not accessible. Add communication cards or a small whiteboard for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, have speech disabilities, or may be unable to use a phone.
Children, infants, pets, and dietary needs
- Pack diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, comfort items, and age-appropriate food for infants and young children.
- Include pet food, water, medication, a leash or carrier, waste bags, and a copy of vaccination records. Identify shelters or hotels that accept animals before an earthquake.
- Provide safe alternatives for allergies, religious diets, diabetes, and other restrictions. Label each person’s food and medication clearly.
Add tools and protection for common hazards
USGS and Red Cross lists include tools that help you shut off utilities, move safely, and control minor problems while waiting for assistance.
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- Utility tools: Keep a crescent wrench and a pipe wrench sized for your home’s gas and water shutoff valves. Learn the locations and practice only under safe conditions; never turn a gas valve back on yourself after a suspected leak—contact the utility or emergency officials.
- Fire protection: A properly rated fire extinguisher should be mounted where it can be reached without crossing a fire. Check its gauge and service date.
- Personal protection: Sturdy closed-toe shoes, work gloves, a dust mask, safety glasses, and a whistle protect against glass, dust, and blocked exits. A whistle can signal rescuers when shouting is exhausting or unsafe.
- Sanitation: Heavy-duty plastic waste bags, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, soap, disinfecting wipes, menstrual products, and a small trowel or portable toilet option help when sewer service is interrupted.
- Basic repair: Add duct tape, rope or cord, a multipurpose tool, a wrench or pliers, scissors, tarps, and spare batteries. Keep tools in a clearly marked pouch so they are not buried among food.
Place kits where an earthquake can find you
At home
Keep the Bed-Kit beside every sleeping area. Put the main kit near an exit or in a protected interior location, never behind a door that could be blocked. Anchor bookcases, televisions, mirrors, pictures, refrigerators, and water heaters; secure cabinet doors and heavy objects on low shelves. A kit cannot compensate for unsecured furniture falling across a hallway.
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At work or school
Keep a compact Go-Kit at your desk, locker, or another location approved by the building manager. Include walking shoes, water, food bars, a light, personal medicines, a dust mask, and a contact card. Learn the building’s evacuation routes and assembly areas. Do not assume you can drive home immediately after a major earthquake.
In the car
Keep a vehicle kit because an earthquake may occur during a commute or leave roads blocked. Include water, shelf-stable food, a flashlight, spare batteries, phone charging equipment, a first-aid kit, blanket or extra clothing, sturdy footwear, a whistle, dust mask, basic tools, sanitation supplies, and a paper map. In hot climates, protect water, medicines, batteries, and food from damaging heat; inspect the kit after extreme temperature exposure. Never store fuel or oxygen cylinders in a way that creates a fire hazard.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use this assembly sequence
- Count people and locations. Record household members, pets, workplaces, school schedules, medical equipment, allergies, and dietary restrictions. Calculate the two-week water total and identify who carries each container.
- Secure the environment. Anchor furniture and appliances, identify gas, water, and electrical shutoffs, and choose outdoor meeting places away from buildings, trees, power lines, and bridges.
- Fill the Bed-Kits. Put shoes, flashlight, glasses, dust mask, and whistle beside each bed before assembling larger containers.
- Build the Go-Kits. Add three days of water and ready-to-eat food, medications, first aid, light, radio or charging, documents, hygiene supplies, and weather-appropriate clothing.
- Build the home reserve. Add the full two-week water supply, food, sanitation, tools, fire extinguisher, medical equipment, pet supplies, and spare batteries. Divide weight among containers.
- Duplicate essential items. Place compact kits at work and in the car, adjusting water and food for the number of people who use each location.
- Label and test. Mark each container, test every light and radio, confirm that adults and older children can open it, and practice carrying it through the planned exit.
Practice what to do during and after shaking
The Red Cross recommends practicing Drop, Cover, and Hold On: drop to hands and knees, cover your head and neck under sturdy furniture if possible, and hold on until shaking stops. If no shelter is nearby, stay away from windows and cover your head and neck with your arms. Do not run outside during the shaking; falling glass, masonry, and power lines can make the exterior more dangerous.
Afterward, expect aftershocks. Check for injuries, fires, gas odors, damaged wiring, and structural hazards. Use flashlights rather than candles until gas leaks are ruled out. If you smell gas, leave immediately, avoid switches and flames, and call emergency services or the utility from a safe location. Shut off utilities only when you know the procedure and can do so safely. Follow official alerts, avoid damaged roads and buildings, and account for every household member at the designated meeting point.
USGS summarizes preparedness in four actions: “Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items. Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency. Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations. Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property, and considering insurance.”
Maintain the kit so it remains dependable
Set a recurring calendar check at least twice a year and whenever the clocks change. Replace expired food, damaged packaging, depleted batteries, and water according to container instructions. Refill medicines before the emergency supply is used. Test radios, flashlights, power banks, fire extinguishers, and water containers. Update contact information, child sizes, pet needs, insurance documents, and evacuation routes after a move, new diagnosis, birth, or change of workplace.
Rotate supplies rather than discarding usable items: bring older food and water into normal use, then replace them with newly dated stock. Keep a written inventory on the container lid and a digital copy accessible offline. Rehearse Drop, Cover, and Hold On, utility shutoff locations, communication plans, and the route to each kit. Practice exposes problems—an inaccessible container, a missing cable, or a medicine that cannot be refilled—before an earthquake does.
Quick Recap
How to choose key kit products
| Product | What to compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency radio | Battery, hand-crank, USB, or solar power; replaceable battery type; weather-band or alert capability; readable controls and simple operation | Power and information may be unavailable, and every household member must be able to operate it. |
| Water container | Capacity, portability, food-contact rating, leak resistance, handles, and whether purification is included | The two-week minimum is heavy; safe, movable containers are easier to distribute and rotate. |
| First-aid kit | Contents, refillability, household size, waterproof case, and room for personal medicines | A sealed kit with no space for prescriptions will not meet a household’s actual needs. |
| Water purification | Tablet or liquid product, treatment volume, expiration date, and clear dosing instructions | Alternate sources require precise treatment; purification products do not make chemically contaminated water safe. |
| Utility wrenches | Correct size and grip for your gas and water valves | A wrench is useful only if it fits the installed valve and users know when not to operate it. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying only a three-day bag and having no two-week home reserve.
- Storing all supplies in a garage, basement, or shed that may be inaccessible after structural damage.
- Counting frozen food, a gas stove, or a microwave as emergency food.
- Keeping water in unsafe containers or failing to plan its weight and rotation.
- Putting one flashlight in a shared location instead of a light in each Bed-Kit and key living area.
- Forgetting medicines, glasses, hearing-aid batteries, infant supplies, pet needs, or accessibility equipment.
- Using candles before checking for gas leaks.
- Buying a radio or power bank without testing its batteries, cables, controls, and charging method.
- Assuming a kit replaces hazard reduction, insurance, a communication plan, or practice.
A quick final checklist
- Three-day Go-Kit packed and portable.
- Two-week home water supply calculated at 1 gallon per person per day.
- Two weeks of no-cook, no-refrigeration food, plus a manual can opener.
- Bed-Kit at every bed with shoes, flashlight, glasses, dust mask, and whistle.
- Flashlights, spare batteries, radio, and phone-charging method tested.
- First aid, one-month medication target, glasses, medical equipment, and personal instructions included.
- Crescent wrench, pipe wrench, extinguisher, gloves, sanitation supplies, and heavy-duty waste bags available.
- Work and car kits prepared, with heat-sensitive contents protected.
- Children, pets, disabilities, allergies, and dietary requirements covered.
- Furniture and appliances secured; Drop, Cover, and Hold On practiced.
- Inventory, dates, contacts, and maintenance reminders current.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
