Emergency Kit Checklist: What Your Family Should Have Ready
A family emergency kit is water, food that needs no cooking, first aid and medications, light and batteries, a way to charge a phone and hear alerts, copies of key documents, cash, hygiene items and warm clothing — plus whatever your children, pets and health needs require. Build it in two parts: a larger supply you shelter in place with at home, and a smaller portable bag you can carry if you have to leave.
Two kits, not one
Most households only ever build one pile of supplies, and it is usually the wrong shape for the emergency they get. Split it:
- Home emergency supplies — the larger stock you live off when you stay put: extra water, pantry food, lighting, sanitation, warmth. It can live in several places.
- Portable 72-hour kit — one bag per person you can lift and carry to a car or shelter. Detailed in the 72-hour survival kit checklist.
Emergency kit checklist by category
Water
- Stored drinking water in sealed, food-grade containers
- A way to treat water — purification tablets, an unscented household bleach plan, or a filter
- Containers you could fill quickly if a warning is issued
Quantities depend on household size, climate and health. See emergency water storage for how the official recommendations are expressed and what changes them.
Food
- Several days of food that needs no cooking or refrigeration
- A manual can opener
- Foods your family will actually eat, including comfort items for children
- Infant formula, baby food or specialty dietary items where needed
More on planning and rotation in emergency food and water.
First aid and medications
- A stocked first aid kit, with supplies you know how to use
- Prescription medications and a written list of names, dosages and prescribers
- Over-the-counter basics your household relies on
- Spare glasses, hearing aid batteries, or other essential medical items
Talk to your pharmacist or physician about keeping any extra supply of prescriptions — rules differ by jurisdiction and by medication.
Lighting
- A flashlight or headlamp per person
- Spare batteries in the correct sizes
- Battery lighting rather than candles, which are a fire risk
Power and communication
- Charged power banks and matching cables; a car charger
- A battery-powered or hand-crank radio for alerts
- A written contact list, since phones die and numbers are rarely memorized
- A household plan for how you will reach each other — see the family emergency plan guide
Documents and information
- Copies of identification, insurance, and property documents
- Medical and prescription information
- Emergency contacts and out-of-area contact
What to gather, and how to keep it secure rather than exposed, is covered in emergency contact and medical information.
Hygiene and sanitation
- Toilet paper, garbage bags and ties, hand sanitizer, soap
- Feminine hygiene supplies, diapers and wipes as needed
- Disinfectant and a plan if water service is interrupted
Clothing and warmth
- A change of clothing and sturdy footwear per person
- Warm layers, hats, gloves, rain protection appropriate to your climate
- Blankets or sleeping bags
Tools and household items
- Multi-tool, duct tape, work gloves, whistle
- The tools needed to shut off utilities in your home, and the knowledge of where the shutoffs are
- Fire extinguisher, and working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Cash
Small bills. Card terminals and ATMs depend on power and network connectivity.
Children
- Formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, and familiar food
- A comfort item, a book or a quiet game
- Current photos and written identifying information in case you are separated
Pets
- Food, water and bowls; medications
- Leash, carrier, waste bags, litter
- Vaccination records and a current photo of you with the pet
Special household needs
Mobility aids and spare parts, powered medical equipment and its backup plan, dietary requirements, and supplies for anyone who needs assistance. Plan these first, not last — they are the hardest to improvise.
Keep your preparedness organized with PanPrep
A checklist tells you what to buy once. PanPrep keeps the record afterwards: your household supply inventory by category and location, expiry tracking on water, food, batteries and medications, separate kits (Shelter-In-Place, Bug-Out Bag, Vehicle, Power Outage), and a readiness score that reflects what you actually have rather than what you meant to buy. Start with the supply inventory guide or see how the app works.
Official guidance
Kit categories above follow published household preparedness guidance from authorities including the Government of Canada's Get Prepared program, the Canadian Red Cross, FEMA and Ready.gov. Follow your local emergency management authority for instructions specific to your area and hazard.
Common Questions
What should be in a family emergency kit?
Water, food that needs no cooking, a first aid kit and medications, flashlights and batteries, a battery or hand-crank radio, phone charging, copies of key documents, cash, hygiene supplies, warm clothing, basic tools, and anything specific to your children, pets or household health needs.
How is a home emergency kit different from a 72-hour kit?
A home kit is the larger supply you shelter in place with and can be stored across cupboards and closets. A 72-hour kit is a portable bag you can pick up and carry if you have to leave quickly.
How often should an emergency kit be checked?
Review it at least twice a year and after you use anything from it. Check expiry dates on water, food, medications and batteries, and update clothing sizes as children grow.
Where should the kit be stored?
Somewhere every adult in the household can reach in the dark, ideally near an exit. Keep the portable go bag separate from the bulk home supply so it stays grab-and-go.