72-hour kit checklist
Built for a family of four. Covers the first three days of any emergency — the window when help is usually slowest to arrive. Print it, tape it inside a kitchen cabinet, and tick items off as you go.
Heads up: Product links in this checklist may be affiliate links. We earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no cost to you. Full disclosure →
Water (first 24 hours is critical)
- 12 gallons of stored water (1 gal × 4 people × 3 days)
- At least one food-grade storage container (see picks)
- Backup: personal water filter straw (Sawyer or LifeStraw)
- Unscented household bleach for emergency treatment (2 drops/gal)
- Eyedropper for measuring bleach
Food
- 12 cans of hearty soup or chili (3 cans per person)
- 4 cans of tuna or chicken + condiment packets
- 1 jar peanut butter + box of crackers
- 2 boxes shelf-stable milk
- 1 box granola bars (12+ count)
- 1 bag of trail mix or dried fruit
- Manual can opener (the secret no one remembers)
- Paper plates, cups, and plastic utensils
Power & light
- Headlamp for each family member (not handheld flashlights)
- Box of AA and AAA batteries
- 20,000+ mAh USB battery bank (charged)
- USB-C and Lightning cables
- Upgrade path: portable power station (see picks)
First aid & meds
- 200-piece household first-aid kit
- Nitrile gloves (box)
- Acetaminophen + ibuprofen (adult + children's)
- Antihistamine (Benadryl-style)
- Loperamide + oral rehydration salts
- Any prescription meds (14 days extra where possible)
- Printed list of household medications and dosages
Communication
- Hand-crank or battery-powered NOAA weather radio
- Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled on all phones
- Printed family check-in plan + out-of-state contact
- Optional: pair of FRS walkie-talkies
Shelter & warmth
- One mylar emergency blanket per person
- Wool or fleece blanket per person
- Rain ponchos
- Work gloves (2 pairs)
- Duct tape (one roll)
- Heavy-duty trash bags (serve as rain cover, flooring, sanitation)
Documents & money
- Copies of IDs, insurance, and deed/lease in a waterproof pouch
- $100–$200 in small bills (ATMs and card readers fail in outages)
- Printed emergency contact list
- USB drive with digital backups of key documents
Sanitation
- Toilet paper (4+ rolls)
- Wet wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Feminine hygiene supplies
- Heavy-duty garbage bags for waste
Tools & misc.
- Multi-tool (Leatherman-style)
- Utility knife
- Whistle (per person)
- N95 dust masks
- Change of clothes + sturdy shoes per person
- A book or two for the kids (no battery required)
Once you're done
Label the bag with the date. Set a calendar reminder twice a year (daylight saving time works) to rotate water, check medication expiry dates, and top up batteries. Then move on to the family-of-four checklist if you want to expand past 72 hours.