There are a variety of 72-Hour Emergency Kits available for purchase, or you can buy a basic kit and add to the contents to create your own custom kit as part of your family emergency plan. All emergency-response organizations, such as the Red Cross and FEMA, recommend that every family have one 72-hour kit minimum. This kit is sometimes also known as a bug-out bag, and it holds what your family would need to get by for 72 hours (3 days) in case of an emergency.
Most people are at home, commuting, or at the office when natural disaster occurs. Ideally, each member of your family should have their own kit at home, a kit for anyone who works away from home such as in an office, plus a kit in each vehicle. Start out by buying a basic kit which you can add to later.
72-HOUR EMERGENCY KITS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE:
Kit for 1 Person Kit for 2 People Kit for 4 People
Don’t forget your pets!
Evacuation Kit for Dog Evacuation Kit for Cat
Purchasing one of the kits above is a good start. Once you have your basic kit, open it up and do an inventory of what’s there and what items you want to add. Start with the essential items below, and then add basic and recommended items to your kit as time, space, and your budget allow.
Essential Items for 72-Hour Emergency Kits:
Shelter: If you are forced to leave your home or if your home is damaged, you will need shelter from the rain, cold, wind, and heat. Short-term items might include using a lightweight tent, a tarp or thick plastic, ponchos, emergency/space blankets, or even garbage bags held together with duct tape.
Water: In a disaster, local water supplies could become contaminated, or water may stop being pumped to homes. Water is heavy, weighing 8 lbs per gallon, so carrying enough for 3 days may not be realistic. Carry as much as you can in your bug-out bag without making it too heavy. If in an emergency you have access to water but you’re not sure if it is contaminated, there are several ways to purify it, including using chlorine drops, boiling it, using water purification tablets, or filtering it. It may be a good idea to have a travel-size bottle of chlorine, water purification tablets, and a water filter in your bag.
Fire: This is an important item for light, heat, and cooking. Items to have in your bag should include lighters, waterproof matches, candles, a magnesium fire starter stick, and flashlights/headlamps. Store batteries separately and have some extras along just in case.
Food: Choose foods which are lightweight, calorie-dense, and which provide vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes. Some ideas include freeze-dried meals or MREs (meals-ready-to-eat), calorie bars, trail mix bars, canned tuna and beans, instant soup, and candy. Remember to pack foods that don’t require much if any cooking, unless you plan to pack a portable stove. Don’t forget to pack essential medications and vitamins in case you need to pick up and go quickly.
Basic Items for 72-Hour Emergency Kits:
First Aid: Buy a basic first aid kit that comes with a variety of bandages and antibiotic ointment. Include basic over-the-counter medications such as an anti-diarrheal (Immodium), anti-histamine (Benadryl), and decongestant. Add an electrolyte replacement such as Drip Drop powder in case of dehydration. Include a few women’s Kotex pads, superglue, butterfly bandages, a triangle bandage, and nitrile gloves.
Tools: Include a good quality multi-tool, knife, duct tape, and work gloves at a minimum. You may choose to include more tools in your car kit for possible repairs. For those who live in areas with snow, make sure to carry a shovel in your truck.
Security: Basic security items for a 72-hour bag should include pepper spray and a chain (like the kind used for dogs.) Laws for carrying weapons vary depending on where you live, so check with your local officials about what kinds of weapons you can legally carry on your person or in your vehicle.
Comfort: Items that will help make life easier in an emergency include toilet paper, diapers, an extra pair of underwear and socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer. If you have children, pack a small blanket or stuffed animal.
Recommended Items for 72-Hour Emergency Kits:
Once you’ve got the essentials and basics, add some more helpful items such as N95 masks to filter dust and possibly airborne pathogens, bug spray, rope or para-cord, an emergency radio and walkie-talkies, small ax/hatchet, paper and writing instruments, whistle, aluminum foil, compass, plastic bags and garbage bags, phone card, extra clothes, a book to read, travel games/cards, and extra cash and spare change.
The above items are not all inclusive. Feel free to add or remove items as needed for your unique situation. For example, if you wear high heels to the office, you might want to pack a pair of tennis shoes in your office bag.
For a more detailed explanation of 72 hour emergency kits and what to put in them, sign up for the Survive in Place – Urban Survival Course.
NEXT STEPS…
- Gradually build up your long-term food storage at home in case of an extended crisis or loss of employment.
- Review other helpful resources to get your family prepared.
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