What Goes in a Home Emergency Kit? | Core Supplies + Smart Additions

Building a home emergency kit comes down to one principle: cover the basics for at least three days, then tailor everything else to the people and pets who live with you. Official guidance from FEMA on home emergency kit contents is straightforward, and most of the supplies are probably already scattered around your house.

The Baseline: What FEMA Says Every Kit Needs

FEMA’s official guidance for building a kit centers on a three-day minimum of water and food, plus the tools you need to stay informed, stay clean, and treat minor injuries. The core list applies to every household:

• Water — 1 gallon per person per day for at least 3 days, for drinking and sanitation.
• Food — at least a 3-day supply of nonperishable items that need no cooking.
• Light and power — flashlight, extra batteries, and a cell phone with chargers plus a backup battery.
• Information — battery-powered or hand-crank radio, plus a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.
• First aid and hygiene — first aid kit, moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties.
• Tools and extras — whistle, dust mask, plastic sheeting, duct tape, manual can opener, and local maps.

That list is the floor, not the ceiling. FEMA’s own guidance stresses that a kit only works if it fits your household, which means prescriptions, infants, pets, and mobility needs all change what belongs inside.

Household-Specific Additions That Actually Matter

The most common failure in emergency prep is building one generic kit and calling it done. A kit for a family with a toddler looks different from one for a household with a senior on daily medication. Beyond the baseline, FEMA recommends adding:

• Medications — prescription and nonprescription, plus eyeglasses or contact lens solution.
• For infants — formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream.
• For pets — food, extra water, and any regular medications.
• Documents — important paperwork stored in waterproof containers, kept with the kit.
• Comfort and warmth — sleeping bag or warm blanket, change of clothing, sturdy shoes.
• Cash — small bills and coins, since ATMs and card readers may be down.
• Sanitation extras — soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, feminine supplies, and personal hygiene items.
• Household tools — fire extinguisher, matches in a waterproof container, paper, and pen.
• For kids — books or games to pass the time during a long outage.

Cloth face coverings for everyone ages 2 and above round out the list for respiratory protection when you need to be around others. The key is to review the list against your actual household once a year and swap out anything that no longer fits.

Storage, Water Rotation, and the 3-Day vs. 2-Week Question

How you store the kit matters as much as what goes in it. FEMA’s guidance is simple: keep supplies in airtight plastic bags, put everything in one or two easy-to-carry containers like plastic bins or a duffel bag, and store the kit in a convenient place every family member knows about. Keep a smaller version in the car trunk for emergencies away from home.

Maintenance is where most kits quietly fail. FEMA advises rotating stored food every six months, changing stored water every six months, and rethinking the whole kit at least once a year. Set a calendar reminder tied to daylight saving time changes to make the habit stick.

On the time horizon, the standard FEMA baseline is a 3-day minimum. The Red Cross checklist takes a stricter view: a 3-day supply for evacuation and a 2-week supply if you’re sheltering at home. If you have the storage space, building toward the two-week home supply is the stronger position.

Before you buy anything, check what you already own. A kit built from items around the house beats an expensive pre-built box that doesn’t fit your family. For those who prefer a tested, ready-made option, our roundup of the best emergency kit for home use breaks down the top pre-assembled choices with the supplies each one actually includes.

If you do buy a ready-made kit, read the contents list carefully before ordering. The American Red Cross Emergency Response Pack, for example, lists at $32.50 on the Red Cross store, but product contents and prices change, so check the current listing before you buy.

FAQs

How often should I replace the water in my emergency kit?
FEMA recommends changing stored water every six months. Write the date on each container when you fill it, and swap it out when daylight saving time starts or ends. Stored food should rotate on the same six-month schedule.

Should I buy a pre-made kit or build my own?
Building your own usually fits your household better and costs less, since you already own many items. Pre-made kits work well as a starting point, but read the contents list to confirm it covers your prescriptions, pet needs, and family size before buying.