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Build one household kit around three days of water, food, light, communication, first aid, sanitation and basic tools, then add supplies for your medications, infants, disabilities, pets and local hazards. For a U.S. household, FEMA’s baseline is one gallon of water per person per day for three days and at least three days of non-perishable food. Flood planning also requires waterproof document storage and evacuation supplies; outage planning requires safe lighting, phone charging, food-temperature monitoring and a plan for medical equipment.
Start with a three-day household baseline
FEMA’s Ready Responder toolkit describes a starting point of “one gallon of water per person per day, for three days.” Store additional water for pets, formula preparation, medication needs and hot weather when practical. Keep the supply where you can reach it without entering a flooded area.
Choose at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food that needs little or no preparation, cooking, refrigeration or added water. Canned meals, shelf-stable protein, ready-to-eat grains, nutrition bars and infant foods can work if they match your household’s diets. Include a manual can opener whenever any item requires one.
| Kit area | Minimum starting point | Useful additions |
|---|---|---|
| Water | One gallon per person per day for three days | Extra for pets, infants, medications and heat |
| Food | At least three days of non-perishable food | Ready-to-eat choices, special diets and a manual can opener |
| Lighting | Flashlight and spare batteries | Battery lanterns and headlamps for hands-free work |
| Communications | Battery-powered or hand-crank radio with NOAA Weather Radio tone alerts and spare batteries | Phone power bank, charging cables and a vehicle charging option |
| First aid | First-aid kit | Prescription medicines, glasses and copies of prescriptions |
| Sanitation | Moist towelettes, garbage bags and ties | Soap, toilet supplies, disinfectant and menstrual products |
| Tools and protection | Whistle, dust mask, plastic sheeting, duct tape, non-sparking wrench or pliers and local maps | Work gloves, boots and weather-appropriate clothing |
Lighting, alerts and charging
Use more than one light source
Pack a flashlight for each household member who may need to move independently, plus spare batteries stored in their original packaging or a protected container. A battery lantern can illuminate a room without occupying a hand, while a headlamp helps with stairs, repairs and evacuating at night. Test switches and batteries at least twice a year.
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Receive official warnings without the internet
Choose a battery-powered or hand-crank radio that receives NOAA Weather Radio tone alerts. Keep spare batteries even if the radio has a crank, because batteries provide faster operation when you need an immediate warning. Learn the local station or alert channel before an emergency and keep the radio where it can be heard from sleeping areas.
Keep phones usable
Add a charged power bank, the correct cables for household phones and a wall or vehicle charging adapter. Determine how many full phone charges the battery can provide and recharge it on a schedule. During a prolonged outage, reserve phone power for emergency calls, official alerts and navigation rather than continuous streaming.
First aid, sanitation and basic tools
A commercial first-aid kit is a starting point, not a substitute for your household’s medical supplies. Add prescription medicines, spare glasses or contact-lens supplies, hearing-aid batteries and copies of prescriptions. Keep medicines in original labeled containers when possible.
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- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
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Sanitation supplies become critical when water service or toilets are unavailable. Pack moist towelettes, garbage bags with ties, hand soap or sanitizer, toilet paper, menstrual products, diapers and cleaning materials. Separate clean supplies from tools and fuel so a leak cannot contaminate them.
Include a whistle to signal rescuers, a dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape for temporary barriers, and a non-sparking wrench or pliers for utility shutoffs if your household knows how to use them. Add local maps in case mobile networks or navigation apps fail. Heavy work gloves, sturdy boots and protective clothing belong in a flood-response or cleanup container, even if they are not carried in a small go-bag.
Customize the kit for people, pets and documents
Medical, infant and access needs
- Ask a doctor or pharmacist how to maintain powered medical devices during an outage and what to do if refrigerated medicine warms.
- Store formula, bottles, diapers and wipes for infants; include food textures and utensils needed by older adults or people with disabilities.
- Plan for mobility equipment, communication cards, service-animal supplies and extra batteries or chargers.
- Keep a written contact list and essential health information in case a caregiver or phone is unavailable.
Pets
Pack several days of pet food and water, medications, a leash or carrier, waste bags and vaccination or ownership records. Identify shelters, hotels or relatives that accept animals; many evacuation sites do not take pets unless they are service animals.
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Protect paper and digital records
Put identification, insurance, medical, financial and property documents in a portable waterproof container. Create password-protected digital copies and store them where you can access them without relying on a device that may lose power. Do not put the only copy in a basement, garage or other flood-prone location.
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Flood-specific preparation and behavior
Prepare before water rises
Keep the kit above expected flood levels and know two evacuation routes. Follow local evacuation orders promptly, take pets and medications, and bring the waterproof document container. A battery-backed sump pump can be useful for some flood-prone homes, but it is a household flood-mitigation device, not a universal portable-kit item; verify that it is compatible with your backup power plan.
Never enter moving or unknown water
Ready.gov’s rule is “turn around, don’t drown!” Do not drive around barricades, and avoid driving except in an emergency. Floodwater can hide open drains, debris and contaminated material, and it may be electrically charged by downed or underground power lines. Do not wade through it, touch wet electrical equipment or handle equipment while standing in water.
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If evacuation is ordered
- Take the portable kit, medications, documents, phones, chargers and pet supplies.
- Shut off utilities only if authorities instruct you and you can do so without entering water.
- Use the designated route; never substitute a flooded shortcut.
- Tell an out-of-area contact where you are going, if communications work.
Power-outage preparation and safe operation
Set priorities for limited backup power
List devices by consequence: powered medical equipment, refrigeration for essential medicine, phones and radios, then comfort items. Record each device’s wattage and connector before an outage so you can select a battery or generator that can actually run it. Test the plan while the grid is operating.
Keep food cold safely
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. FEMA’s 2025 outage information sheet says an unopened refrigerator stays cold for about four hours and a full freezer for about 48 hours. Use an appliance thermometer rather than smell or appearance to judge safety. Discard refrigerated food that has been at 40°F or higher for more than four hours. For refrigerated medicines, follow the medication label and ask a clinician or pharmacist whether a warmed product can be used or replaced.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match| Equipment | FEMA time guidance | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | About four hours when kept closed | Limit opening; monitor temperature and discard food exposed to 40°F or higher for more than four hours |
| Full freezer | About 48 hours when kept closed | Keep the door shut; check temperature and food condition before refreezing or cooking |
Prevent carbon-monoxide poisoning and fires
Never heat a home with a gas stove, oven, grill or clothes dryer. Run generators, camp stoves and charcoal grills outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors, vents and garages. Never run a vehicle in an enclosed garage, even with the door open. Position generators so exhaust cannot drift toward building openings, and install working carbon-monoxide alarms according to their instructions.
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Store fuel only in approved containers, away from ignition sources and living areas, and follow local rules. Let hot equipment cool before refueling. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and connect only the devices your generator or battery system is rated to supply.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Medical devices and refrigerated medicine
People who rely on oxygen concentrators, powered beds, suction equipment, refrigeration or other electricity-dependent care need an individualized plan before storm season. Ask the prescribing clinician about backup duration, battery specifications, safe manual alternatives and when to seek a facility with emergency power. Ask the pharmacist how long each refrigerated medicine can remain at room temperature and whether replacement stock is available. Put emergency contacts and device instructions in the kit, not only in an online portal.
What to do during a combined flood and outage
- Check official alerts on the NOAA-capable radio or phone and follow evacuation instructions.
- Use flashlights or lanterns; avoid candles near stored fuel, curtains and oxygen equipment.
- Stay out of floodwater and away from downed lines, wet electrical equipment and damaged buildings.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed, and note the time the outage began.
- Use backup power only outdoors and maintain the 20-foot distance from openings.
- Conserve phone battery while sending essential status updates and calling for help.
Flood cleanup and returning home
Wait for officials to say the area is safe and utilities are properly shut off before entering a damaged building. Wear protective clothing, heavy work gloves, boots and an appropriate face covering when handling debris or mold. Do not let children participate in disaster cleanup. People with asthma, other lung conditions or immune suppression should avoid buildings with visible or strong-smelling mold or water leaks.
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Assume floodwater and soaked materials are contaminated. Photograph damage for insurance before discarding items when it is safe, separate wet materials to limit mold growth, and use professionals for electrical, structural, fuel or extensive mold hazards.
Store, test and maintain the kit
- Keep a main kit at home and smaller portable kits in vehicles or workplaces.
- Label expiration dates and rotate water, food, batteries, medicines and pet supplies.
- Test radios, flashlights, power banks, carbon-monoxide alarms and generator startup at least twice a year and after replacement batteries are installed.
- Review evacuation routes, meeting places, contacts and pet arrangements with every household member.
- Recalculate quantities after a move, a new family member, a new prescription or a change in mobility needs.
The FEMA checklist is deliberately a starting point. Local flood risk, climate, building type, household size, medical needs and evacuation options determine what “enough” means for your home.
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