72 Hour Kit, Bug Out Bag, Checklists, Emergency Preparedness, Family Preparedness

72-Hour Emergency Kit Checklist (2026): FEMA, UK Be Ready and EU Lists in One

Flat lay of a 72-hour emergency kit: backpack, red first aid pouch, squeeze water filter, headlamp, radio, emergency blanket, food and a bag of documents and cash

Mountain Ready |

Quick answer: A 72-hour emergency kit holds what one person needs to get through three days without power, running water or stores: 3 gallons of water plus a way to treat more, 3 days of no-cook or just-add-water food (about 6,000 calories), a light, a battery or crank radio, a charged power bank, a first aid kit, prescription medicine, warmth, sanitation supplies, cash and copies of key documents. Build one per person and keep it where you can grab it in two minutes.

Seventy-two hours is the number almost every government uses, because that is how long it can take for emergency services to reach everyone after a major disaster. In October 2026 the UK told every household to be ready for three days without essential services, joining the EU's 72-hour recommendation and long-standing US advice from Ready.gov. This checklist combines them into one list you can shop from today.

In this guide

What Governments Actually Recommend

Authority How long Headline advice
FEMA / Ready.gov (US) Several days Water (1 gallon a person a day), food, radio, flashlight, first aid, batteries, whistle, local maps, phone charger
UK Be Ready (Oct 2026) 3 days Water, food that needs no cooking or fridge, torch, radio, power bank, medicines, cash
European Commission At least 72 hours Water, food, medicine, flashlight, power bank, radio, cash, documents
Canada At least 72 hours Water, food, crank or battery radio, flashlight, first aid, cash
Sweden At least 1 week Water, food, heat, communication, money
Germany Up to 10 days Drinking water and food stocks, medicine, light and radio

The lists agree on the essentials. Where they differ is how long, not what. Start at 72 hours, then extend toward a week or a month with our 30-day supply plan.

The Complete 72-Hour Kit Checklist

Quantities are per person. Products are examples from our range; anything equivalent works.

Water

Food

  • About 6,000 calories of food you can eat with little or no cooking.
  • The ReadyWise 72 Hour Emergency Food Supply packs 6,780 calories (over 2,200 a day) into one stackable box with up to a 25-year shelf life. Pouches need hot water.
  • Add no-cook food: nut butter, crackers, protein bars, dried fruit, canned meals with pull-tab lids.
  • A way to heat water if you rely on freeze-dried food, plus a spoon and a cup.

Light, power and communication

  • A headlamp, so your hands stay free: the Dark Energy Oracle (900 lumens, up to 50 hours, IP66).
  • A charged power bank: the Dark Energy Poseidon Pro (10,200 mAh) holds its charge for years thanks to low idle drain, and is IP68 waterproof.
  • A radio for news when phones and internet are down: the ETON Elite Traveler (AM/FM/LW/SW, runs on 4 AA batteries).
  • Spare batteries for anything that is not rechargeable, and charging cables.
  • A whistle to signal for help.

First aid and health

  • A real first aid kit: the My Medic MyFAK Sidekick for a bag, or the MyFAK for the home.
  • Severe bleeding control: a tourniquet and pressure dressing, as in the NAR RED Kit.
  • At least 3 days of prescription medicine (7 is better), glasses, hearing-aid batteries.
  • Masks, hand sanitizer, wet wipes.

Warmth and shelter

Sanitation

  • Toilet paper, heavy trash bags and ties, feminine supplies, a small towel, toothbrush and toothpaste.

Documents, money and tools

  • Copies of IDs, insurance policies, prescriptions and a contact list on paper, in a waterproof bag such as the SLNT Waterproof Faraday Phone Bag.
  • Cash in small bills.
  • A multi-tool, duct tape, a local paper map and spare keys.

Mother packing family emergency backpacks by the front door with a pet carrier, a child's backpack, a first aid pouch and water bottles

Extras for Babies, Older Adults and Pets

Who Add to the kit
Infants Ready-to-feed formula (no water needed), bottles, diapers, wipes, rash cream, a change of clothes
Children Comfort item, games, snacks they like, a family photo and contact card in their pocket
Older adults 7 days of medicine, a medication list, mobility aids, spare glasses, hearing-aid batteries
People on medical devices A backup power plan for CPAP, oxygen or refrigerated medicine; see our grid outage guide
Pets 3 days of food and water, a leash or carrier, vaccination records and a photo (Ready.gov pets)

Home Kit vs Go Bag vs Car Kit

Kit Where it lives Focus
Home kit A closet or garage shelf Shelter in place: more water, more food, power for appliances
Go bag By the door, one per person Evacuation: light, filter instead of stored water, documents, 72 hours of food
Car kit In the trunk Getting home: water, snacks, blanket, flashlight, jumper cables, first aid

For go bags, see our complete bug out bag checklist; for sheltering at home, our bug-in guide; for storms, our 72-hour hurricane checklist.

Build It or Buy It?

Building your own kit lets you pick better individual items. A ready-made kit gets you covered today. A good middle path is a ready-made core plus your own water, medicine and documents.

How to Pack It

  • Heavy items low and close to your back: water and food against the spine, near the hip belt.
  • Things you need fast on top or outside: headlamp, first aid, rain gear, water filter.
  • Group by use in labeled bags: a water bag, a food bag, a first aid bag, a documents bag. You can find anything in the dark.
  • Waterproof the critical items: documents, medicine and electronics in dry bags. A SLNT Waterproof Faraday Dry Bag does both jobs.
  • Keep weight sensible: an adult go bag should usually be under about 20–25 pounds. If it is heavier, swap stored water for a filter.
  • Use a bag you can actually carry: padded straps and a hip belt matter more than a tactical look.

Keep It Ready: A Six-Month Routine

  1. Twice a year (when the clocks change), check expiration dates on food, water, medicine and batteries.
  2. Recharge power banks and lights, even though good ones hold a charge for a long time.
  3. Update clothing for the season and children's sizes.
  4. Refresh cash, documents and contact lists.
  5. Practice: can everyone in the house find the kits in the dark?

Common Questions

What is a 72-hour kit?

A set of supplies that lets one person get through three days without outside help: water, food, light, communication, first aid, warmth, sanitation and documents.

How much water goes in a 72-hour kit?

Three gallons per person for a home kit (one gallon a day). A go bag usually carries 1–2 liters plus a water filter, because 3 gallons weighs about 25 pounds.

How many calories should a 72-hour kit have?

Around 2,000 calories a person a day, so about 6,000 for three days. The ReadyWise 72-hour box provides 6,780.

Do I need a separate kit for each person?

Yes. Quantities scale per person, and everyone should be able to grab their own bag.

Where should I keep my 72-hour kit?

Somewhere cool, dry and easy to reach on the way out: a hall closet near the main exit is ideal. Keep a smaller kit in each car.

Is 72 hours enough?

It is the minimum. Sweden recommends at least a week and Germany up to 10 days. Use our 30-day plan to build beyond it.

Sources

Leave a comment

Please note: comments must be approved before they are published.

Shipping delay on this item

By adding this item to your cart, you understand and agree that your order will not ship until this item is ready.