What should be in an emergency kit?

An emergency kit should include water (1 gallon per person per day for 3 days), non-perishable food for 3 days, first aid kit, flashlight, battery-powered radio, extra batteries, whistle, dust mask, plastic sheeting, moist towelettes, wrench or pliers, manual can opener, local maps, and cell phone chargers.

How much should an emergency kit weigh?

An emergency kit should weigh no more than 20% of your body weight. This ensures you can carry it if you need to evacuate quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about emergency kits, disaster preparedness, weight limits, and survival supplies, answered using CDC and Red Cross guidance.

About this page

Overview

Common questions about emergency kits, disaster preparedness, weight limits, and survival supplies, answered using CDC and Red Cross guidance.

Frequently asked questions about emergency kits

How big should my emergency kit be?

The baseline emergency kit covers 72 hours for every member of your household, including pets. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, CDC, and American Red Cross all converge on this number because most public services are restored within three days after a major disaster. Households in high-risk regions for hurricanes or wildfires should plan for at least two weeks of water, food, and prescription medication on top of the baseline.

How much should the kit weigh?

For an evacuation kit you carry on foot, target around twenty percent of the carrier's body weight. Above that the bag becomes painful to walk with for any distance. Water alone weighs about 8.3 pounds per gallon, so the weight rule pushes you towards a hybrid plan: a smaller go-bag for evacuation plus a larger stay-at-home kit you do not have to lift.

How often should I rotate supplies?

Rotate water every six months, canned and dehydrated food every twelve months, batteries every year, and any prescription medication according to its expiration date. Mark a recurring calendar reminder so it does not get forgotten.

Does this work for renters or apartment dwellers?

Yes. The checklist works for any household. Apartment dwellers should pay extra attention to evacuation planning because elevators may be unavailable and stairwells can be crowded. Keep your go-bag near the door and know at least two routes out of the building.

About the EmergencyKit.app checklist

How we built it

EmergencyKit.app combines the official emergency-kit recommendations published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Red Cross, USA.gov's Ready.gov campaign, and the German Federal Office of Civil Protection (BBK) and Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB). Each item on the checklist is tagged with the organisations that recommend it so you can see at a glance how well-supported it is.

The 20% body-weight rule

A go-bag should weigh no more than roughly 20% of the carrier's body weight. Above that threshold, evacuating on foot becomes painful, slow, and risky for older or smaller adults and for children. The weight checker on the homepage estimates your kit's total weight from the items you select and warns you when you cross the limit, so you can swap heavier items for lighter alternatives before you actually need to leave.

Three days, then more

The baseline kit covers a 72-hour window because that is how long it typically takes public services to restore basic supplies after a major disaster. Households in high-risk regions for hurricanes, wildfires, or earthquakes should plan for at least two weeks of food, water, and prescription medication on top of the baseline kit.