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A useful emergency kit is more than a box of supplies. Keep several days of water and shelf-stable food, backup light and communications, first-aid and sanitation items, personal medicines and medical equipment, and the documents and pet or infant supplies your household actually needs. Pair the kit with heat, flood, and outage plans: leave when authorities order evacuation, stay out of floodwater, and never run fuel-burning equipment indoors.
Build one baseline kit, then tailor it to your household
Use a home kit as a starting point rather than a universal formula. FEMA’s checklist covers several days of water and non-perishable food, a phone battery or charger, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio that receives NOAA Weather Radio alerts, a flashlight and spare batteries, first aid, sanitation, tools, and local maps. CDC guidance adds the needs that often determine whether a household can safely manage an emergency: prescription medicines, medical devices, assistive technology, glasses, specialty food, and pet supplies.
Keep the main kit in a location that is easy to reach without power. Add smaller portable kits for vehicles, workplaces, or other places family members spend time. Store supplies where flooding will not damage them, and use a waterproof container for critical papers.
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| Category | What to include | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Stored drinking water; additional water for pets and basic sanitation | Water systems can be interrupted or declared unsafe after floods or infrastructure failures. |
| Food | Several days of non-perishable food, plus a manual can opener if any food is canned | Choose food that household members can eat without normal cooking or refrigeration. |
| Communication | Battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio, spare batteries, power bank, charging cables and adapters | Alerts and charging may be unavailable when cellular or electrical service is disrupted. |
| Light | Flashlight, headlamp or battery lantern, and compatible spare batteries | Hands-free light helps with medication, repairs and evacuation after dark. |
| First aid | First-aid kit and regularly used over-the-counter supplies | Minor injuries can be difficult to treat when stores and clinics are closed. |
| Sanitation | Soap, hand sanitizer, moist wipes, toilet paper, garbage bags, and other hygiene supplies | Outages and floods can limit running water and waste services. |
| Tools and protection | Whistle, dust mask, plastic sheeting, duct tape, wrench or pliers, sturdy footwear and waterproof gloves | These can help with signaling, debris protection and basic shutoffs or cleanup. They are not permission to enter floodwater. |
| Documents and navigation | Local maps and copies of important family documents in a waterproof container | Paper information remains available when phones, internet and payment systems fail. |
Personal and household add-ons
- Prescription medicines, a medication list, glasses, contact-lens supplies and other daily health items.
- Home-use medical devices, assistive technology, replacement parts and a documented backup-power plan.
- Infant formula, diapers and wipes; food for allergies, dietary restrictions or medical conditions.
- Pet food, water, medications, leash or carrier, identification information and waste bags.
- Extra clothing, blankets and footwear appropriate to the season and likely evacuation conditions.
- Cash and spare keys if normal payment systems or access controls are unavailable.
Check the kit periodically. Replace expired food, depleted batteries and medicines according to their labels and your clinician’s instructions. Refit clothing, infant supplies and mobility equipment as household needs change.
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Water and food: calculate capacity before an emergency
Water for flood watches and warnings
For preparation during a flood watch or warning, CDC recommends at least one gallon of water per day for each person and each pet for at least three days. Calculate the minimum as:
Number of people and pets × 1 gallon × 3 days.
For example, two adults, one child and one dog require at least 12 gallons for three days. That is a minimum drinking-water planning figure, not a promise that all household, cooking and hygiene needs can be met with that amount. Store water in containers that household members can lift safely, and divide a large reserve into smaller containers if portability matters. Follow local health-department instructions if officials issue a drinking-water advisory.
Food that works without electricity
Choose shelf-stable foods that require little or no cooking: canned or pouched proteins, ready-to-eat grains, nut or seed products, dried fruit, shelf-stable milk, crackers and other foods your household already tolerates. Include specialty foods for infants, allergies, dietary restrictions and medical conditions. A manual can opener is essential when cans are part of the plan. Rotate items by using older stock first and replacing it before expiration.
Do not assume that a flood or outage makes every stored food safe. Water that may contain sewage, chemicals or other contaminants must not be used for drinking or food preparation unless local officials say it has been treated appropriately.
Prepare communications, light and charging
Use more than one way to receive alerts
Keep a battery-powered or hand-crank radio that receives NOAA Weather Radio tone alerts. Store it where everyone can find it and write down how to change batteries or use the hand crank. A phone is useful but should not be the only alert path: an outage can prevent charging, and disasters can disrupt cellular service or internet access.
Store a power bank with the correct cables and adapters for essential phones and medical equipment. Keep spare batteries in their original packaging or another way that prevents terminals from touching metal. Add a flashlight, headlamp or battery lantern so a person can move safely while keeping both hands free.
Make a contact and meeting plan
- Write down local emergency-management, utility, medical-provider and family contact numbers on paper.
- Choose an out-of-area contact whom relatives can call or text if local networks are congested.
- Identify two meeting places: one nearby and one outside the immediate neighborhood.
- Record evacuation routes and shelter locations, including accessible transportation options.
- Tell trusted neighbors which household members may need assistance, while protecting private medical information.
Review the plan with children and anyone who may be separated from the household when a warning arrives. Identify who will collect medicines, pets, mobility equipment and documents if evacuation is ordered.
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Heat-wave preparation, especially during an outage
Heat planning must address both cooling and electricity-dependent health needs. Older adults, infants and young children, pregnant people, people with heart disease or asthma, and people working or exercising outdoors may need extra precautions. If a medicine normally requires refrigeration or a device requires electricity, ask a doctor or pharmacist in advance what to do during an outage. Do not stop or change medicines without medical advice.
Set up cooling options before the heat peaks
- Identify an air-conditioned location you can reach if home cooling fails, such as a relative’s home or a community cooling center announced by local authorities.
- Keep lightweight, loose, light-colored clothing available.
- Plan cool showers or baths, wet cloths and shade for periods when air conditioning is unavailable.
- Store drinking fluids and make a schedule for checking on older adults, children, neighbors and pets.
- Avoid high-energy activity during the hottest part of the day when possible.
CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health states: “Seek a place with air conditioning, drink plenty of fluids, and take a cool bath or use a wet cloth to stay cool.”
Recognize escalating heat illness
For heat cramps or heat exhaustion, move the person to a cooler place, loosen clothing, provide appropriate fluids if they are awake and able to drink, and cool the body. Suspected heat stroke is an emergency: call 911 or get the person to a hospital immediately. Do not delay emergency care while trying to manage severe symptoms at home.
Protect temperature-sensitive equipment and medicines
Write down which medical devices need continuous power, their battery specifications and the clinician or supplier to call. Arrange backup power before a heat event rather than improvising with unsafe equipment. Ask a pharmacist how long each refrigerated medicine can remain outside its required temperature range and what to do if the refrigerator loses power.
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Plan evacuation before a warning
Know your community’s warning signals, evacuation routes and shelter locations. Include accessible routes for people with disabilities, transportation for anyone who cannot drive, and a plan for pets because many shelters have different animal policies. Keep the portable portion of the kit packed so leaving does not depend on finding items during rising water.
During a flood watch or warning, verify the household’s water reserve, charge devices, move critical documents and medicines above expected water levels, and monitor official instructions. A kit is not a reason to remain in a location where authorities order evacuation.
Use protective gear only for safe tasks
Sturdy shoes or boots and waterproof gloves can protect feet and hands during preparation or necessary cleanup in areas declared safe. They do not make floodwater safe. Floodwater may contain sewage, chemicals, germs, sharp debris and downed power lines. Stay out of it, keep children and pets away, and follow instructions about evacuation and drinking water.
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CDC’s warning is direct: “Never drive in flooded areas—turn around, don’t drown!” Do not drive or walk across a flooded road, even when the water looks shallow or still. Moving water can sweep away a person or vehicle, while hidden holes, debris and electrical hazards remain after the surface appears calm.
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Power-outage preparation and response
Set up safe backup power
Include power banks, chargers, adapters, common-size batteries, a NOAA radio and backup smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms. People who depend on home-use medical devices should identify backup power with their care team and know how long each battery or alternate source can operate.
CDC reports that people experience about four hours of power loss per year on average, but that annual average is context, not a prediction for any particular outage. A large-scale disaster can produce a much longer interruption and can be life-threatening for someone dependent on powered medical equipment.
Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other fuel-burning device indoors, in a garage, or near doors and windows. Operate a generator outdoors at least 20 feet from the home, following the manufacturer’s instructions, and keep carbon-monoxide alarms working.
Protect refrigerated and frozen food
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. CDC says an unopened refrigerator keeps food safe for up to four hours and a full freezer for 48 hours. Use appliance thermometers so you can judge conditions rather than relying on appearance. After about four hours without power, discard perishable refrigerator food according to CDC food-safety guidance; discard thawed freezer food when the guidance says it is no longer safe. Do not taste questionable food to test it.
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Use bottled, boiled or appropriately treated water when needed, and follow local health-department instructions. Use battery lighting rather than candles where possible, especially near children, oxygen equipment, bedding or oxygen-enriched environments. Keep exits and stairways clear, and use a headlamp when hands are needed for mobility aids or repairs.
Pack a home kit and a portable go-bag
A home kit can hold heavy water reserves, bulk food, sanitation supplies and tools. A portable go-bag should contain only what must leave quickly and be light enough for the person carrying it.
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| Home kit | Portable go-bag |
|---|---|
| Several days of water and food; large sanitation reserve; tools; spare batteries; documents; backup medical supplies; pet and infant stock. | Water bottles, ready-to-eat food, essential medicines, glasses, phone charger or power bank, flashlight, radio, documents, keys, basic first aid and contact information. |
| Stored in a cool, accessible, flood-protected place. | Kept packed near an exit and updated when routes, medications or household members change. |
| Supports sheltering at home when authorities say it is safe. | Supports evacuation, commuting home or moving to a shelter; it does not replace a complete household reserve. |
Choose supplies by function, not by marketing
When comparing radios, confirm that the model receives NOAA Weather Radio tone alerts, then choose the power method your household can maintain. A battery model is simple if you keep the correct spare batteries; a hand-crank model offers another charging option but still needs to be tested. Some households reasonably keep both. For lighting, compare a hands-free headlamp with a lantern that illuminates a room, and match batteries across devices when practical to reduce the number of spares.
Compare water storage by capacity, portability and flood protection. A large container may be efficient for a home reserve but impossible for one person to move during evacuation. Smaller sealed containers are easier to divide among people, vehicles and go-bags. Whatever the format, label the date stored, inspect for leaks and keep the reserve above likely flood levels.
Likewise, decide whether an item belongs in the home kit, the go-bag or both. Essential medicines, glasses, contact information and a charging method belong in a portable bag; bulk sanitation supplies and extra food can remain at home. The right choice depends on household size, medical needs, pets, mobility and the hazards identified by local emergency managers—not on a single universal shopping list.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Maintain the kit with a simple review cycle
- Monthly: Check radio, flashlights, lanterns, alarms and power banks; replace or recharge batteries as needed.
- Seasonally: Replace expired food and water, rotate clothing, confirm pet and infant sizes, and inspect containers for leaks.
- Before heat or flood season: Recheck cooling locations, evacuation routes, shelter information, medication instructions and medical-device backup power.
- After every use: Refill the exact items consumed, dry and inspect protective gear, and replace damaged documents or containers.
- When household needs change: Update prescriptions, mobility equipment, dietary supplies, contact lists and responsibilities.
Keep local emergency-management instructions ahead of any generic checklist. U.S. guidance from FEMA and CDC is a useful foundation, but local authorities determine evacuation orders, shelter operations and water-safety instructions for a particular event.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I put in an emergency kit first?
Start with water, several days of non-perishable food, a NOAA-capable battery or hand-crank radio, flashlight and spare batteries, a way to charge phones, first-aid and sanitation supplies, a manual can opener, local maps and waterproof copies of important documents. Add medicines, glasses, medical equipment, infant supplies, specialty food and pet supplies for your household.
How much water should I store for an emergency?
For a flood watch or warning, CDC recommends at least one gallon per day for each person and pet for at least three days. Multiply the number of people and pets by three gallons, then consider additional water for cooking, hygiene and mobility needs.
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What do I need if the power goes out?
Keep battery lighting, common-size spare batteries, power banks, chargers and adapters, a NOAA radio, backup smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms, and refrigerator and freezer thermometers. Arrange a specific backup-power plan with a care team if anyone uses a powered medical device.
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How long will food last without power?
An unopened refrigerator keeps food safe for up to four hours, and a full freezer for up to 48 hours, according to CDC guidance. Keep doors closed, use appliance thermometers and discard food that has exceeded safe limits rather than tasting it.
What should I do during a flood?
Follow evacuation orders, monitor official warnings, stay out of floodwater and never drive or walk across a flooded road. CDC’s wording is: “Never drive in flooded areas—turn around, don’t drown!” Protective boots and waterproof gloves are for safe preparation or cleanup, not for wading.
How can I stay cool during a heat-related outage?
Seek an air-conditioned location, drink plenty of fluids, wear loose light-colored clothing, use a cool bath or wet cloth, seek shade and avoid strenuous midday activity. Plan ahead for refrigerated medicines and electronic medical devices, and never change medicines without medical advice.
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How should I prepare for a pet or a person with disabilities?
Include pet food, water, medicines, identification, a leash or carrier and waste bags. For people with disabilities, include assistive technology, replacement parts, accessible transportation information, extra medical supplies and a backup-power plan. Practice who will provide help and where accessible shelters are located.
Where should I keep an emergency kit?
Keep the home kit accessible without electricity and above likely flood levels. Store a lighter go-bag near an exit, and keep smaller kits in vehicles or workplaces. Review the location with everyone who may need to retrieve medicines, documents, pets or mobility equipment.
The Bottom Line
Build the kit around your household, not a generic list: store at least three days of water and food, maintain backup alerts, light and charging, plan for medicines and medical devices, and keep a portable bag ready. During heat, floods or outages, official instructions come first—evacuate when ordered, stay out of floodwater and use generators only outdoors at least 20 feet from the home.
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