Emergency supply kit for your home

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region.

An emergency supply kit gets you through the hours or days after a disaster when services are disrupted. Water might be unavailable. Electricity fails. Stores are closed. The supplies you have on hand keep you alive and functional until help arrives or services resume.

A basic kit is inexpensive, easy to assemble, and genuinely useful. Every household should have one.

Water

Water is the priority. Humans can’t survive long without it. Plan one gallon per person per day for at least three days. For a family of four, that’s twelve gallons minimum.

Store water in food-grade containers. Don’t reuse milk jugs or other containers (they can harbor bacteria). Bottled water is easiest but expensive for large quantities.

Rotate water every six months to ensure freshness.

Have purification methods backup: water purification tablets (cheap, long shelf-life), a portable water filter, or the ability to boil water.

Food

Non-perishable food that requires no cooking is ideal (in case electricity and gas are out). Canned goods, granola bars, crackers, peanut butter, dried fruit, nuts.

Include items people actually like. If your family won’t eat something, having it in the kit helps no one.

Include comfort foods. During stressful situations, familiar food helps psychologically.

Rotate food every six to twelve months. Use old food and replace with fresh.

Don’t rely on food needing cooking if utilities might be down. Have options that don’t.

Light and Communication

Flashlights (multiple, since batteries fail) are essential. Headlamps are useful because they leave your hands free.

Batteries in multiple sizes. Flashlights are useless without working batteries.

A battery-powered or hand-crank radio for emergency information and weather.

A cell phone charger (battery or hand-crank) or power bank for emergency calls.

First Aid and Medications

A comprehensive first aid kit for treating injuries (bandages, antiseptic, pain reliever, gauze, tape).

Medications with at least a week’s supply for anyone taking regular medications. Rotate them periodically to maintain freshness.

Over-the-counter medications for common problems (pain relief, diarrhea relief, antihistamine).

Documents and Valuables

Copies of important documents in waterproof, portable containers: insurance policies, property deeds, medication lists, emergency contacts.

Photographs of property for insurance documentation after damage.

Not cash (hard to protect and track), but credit cards or access information if you need to make purchases after services resume.

Miscellaneous but Important Items

Sturdy shoes and work gloves. Broken glass and debris are everywhere after disasters.

Dust masks. Debris and dust in the air after disasters can damage lungs.

Plastic sheeting and duct tape for emergency repairs.

A multi-tool or basic tool kit for minor repairs.

Matches or a lighter in a waterproof container.

Personal hygiene items: toilet paper, feminine products, soap, hand sanitizer, toothpaste.

Comfort items: entertainment (cards, books), comfort objects for children.

Organization

Store everything in a portable container (backpack, plastic tote, plastic bin) that’s easily accessible. During an actual emergency, you don’t want to search for supplies.

Label it clearly and make sure everyone in the house knows where it is.

Keep smaller kits in your car and workplace too.

Maintenance

Check the kit every six months. Rotate food and water. Replace expired medications. Check that batteries work. Replace items you’ve used.

This takes an hour per year and keeps the kit functional.

Cost

A basic kit for a family of four costs $75 to $150 to assemble initially and little to maintain. It’s cheap insurance.

An emergency supply kit is simple to assemble, inexpensive, and potentially lifesaving. Spend an evening putting one together and an hour per year maintaining it. Most households will never need it, but if disaster strikes, you’ll be grateful to have it.

© The Whole Home Guide