Why is Emergency Cash important for emergency preparedness?

Credit cards and digital payments require working infrastructure

How should I store Emergency Cash in my emergency kit?

Keep a mix of small bills ($1, $5, $10, $20)

Which organizations recommend Emergency Cash?

Emergency Cash is recommended by CDC, Red Cross, USA.gov, Germany, Sweden as part of a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan.

How much does Emergency Cash cost?

Emergency Cash typically costs between $5-50 depending on quality and quantity. It's a cost-effective investment in emergency preparedness.

Emergency Cash

During emergencies, electronic payment systems, ATMs, and banks may be unavailable. Physical cash becomes the only reliable form of payment for essential goods and services.

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Why this item matters

Recommended by

CDC, American Red Cross, USA.gov, Germany, Sweden

Key reasons

Credit cards and digital payments require working infrastructure
ATMs may be without power or out of cash during emergencies
Small bills are more useful for transactions during disasters
May be needed for emergency transportation or services

Where to buy

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Other items in Essential items

Related essentials

About this item

Emergency Cash in your emergency kit

During emergencies, electronic payment systems, ATMs, and banks may be unavailable. Physical cash becomes the only reliable form of payment for essential goods and services. Emergency Cash appears on the recommended-supplies lists published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Red Cross, USA.gov, Germany's Federal Office of Civil Protection, Sweden's Civil Contingencies Agency. It is rated High urgency in our checklist, meaning households in high-risk regions should treat it as a baseline item rather than a "nice to have".

Why you need it

Credit cards and digital payments require working infrastructure
ATMs may be without power or out of cash during emergencies
Small bills are more useful for transactions during disasters
May be needed for emergency transportation or services
Some vendors may only accept cash during crisis situations

Storage and rotation tips

Keep a mix of small bills ($1, $5, $10, $20)
Store cash in waterproof container
Include some coins for vending machines or phone calls
Aim for enough cash to cover 3-7 days of basic expenses

How it fits the 72-hour baseline

The EmergencyKit.app checklist follows CDC and American Red Cross guidance to cover the first 72 hours after a major disaster, the period during which public services such as power, water, and emergency response are most likely to be disrupted. Emergency Cash sits in the Essential items category and should be packed in your stay-at-home kit at minimum, with a smaller portable version in your evacuation go-bag. Review your stock at least once a year, and replace anything past its use-by date.

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.