How to Build an Emergency Kit According to Ready.gov

Updated

Ready.gov's guidance is to build a kit that covers your household's basic survival needs for several days, then store it where you can grab it quickly and refresh it on a regular schedule. The site points you to its Emergency Supply List as the starting point, and it also flags two things people often skip: planning for family members with special needs (medication, pet supplies, infant supplies) and checking the kit periodically so nothing inside has expired. The steps below follow that structure.

Start With the Core Supply List

Ready.gov's Emergency Supply List is the backbone of the kit. The categories below reflect what the site tells you to stock, grouped so you can shop and pack in one pass.

Category What to include Why it matters
Water One gallon per person per day for several days Drinking and sanitation
Food Several days of non-perishable food You may not be able to cook or shop
Light and power Flashlight, batteries, alternative phone charging method Ready.gov specifically calls out having alternative charging methods for your phone during power outages
First aid A first aid kit Treat minor injuries when help is delayed
Communication Battery or hand-crank radio, family communication plan Stay informed if cell networks fail
Sanitation Moist towelettes, garbage bags, plastic ties Personal sanitation when plumbing is out
Documents Copies of important papers in a waterproof container Identity and insurance records

Ready.gov also lists a whistle to signal for help, dust masks, and a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities. Treat the list as a checklist rather than a menu — the point is coverage, not brand.

Add for Your Household's Specific Needs

The generic list assumes an average adult. Ready.gov's guidance is to adjust for who actually lives with you, which is where most kits fall short.

  • Medication: Include prescription medications and any medical items family members rely on. Plan for how you'd refill if pharmacies are closed.
  • Infants: Formula, bottles, diapers, and wipes.
  • Pets: Food, water, and supplies for each animal, plus a way to transport them.
  • Older adults or people with disabilities: Any equipment, batteries, or supplies their daily routine depends on.
  • Cash: Small bills, since card readers and ATMs may be down.

If you're not sure what a specific household member needs, the test is simple: could they get through several days without leaving the house and without a working power grid?

Store It Where You Can Actually Reach It

A kit you can't reach in the dark is not a kit. Ready.gov's framing is that you should know where to go and how your family will get there — the same logic applies to your supplies.

  • Keep the kit in a fixed, easy-to-reach spot you can find without lights.
  • Consider a smaller go-bag version if you might need to evacuate quickly rather than shelter in place.
  • Tell every adult in the household where it is.

Check and Refresh on a Schedule

Supplies expire, batteries leak, and water goes stale. Ready.gov's guidance is to check your kit periodically and replace anything past its date. A practical routine:

  1. Pick a recurring date — the start of a season works well.
  2. Check food and medication expiration dates and swap out anything close to expiring.
  3. Test flashlights and the radio; replace batteries.
  4. Confirm clothing still fits growing children.
  5. Restock anything you borrowed from the kit during the year.

Pair the Kit With a Plan

A kit covers supplies; it doesn't cover coordination. Ready.gov pairs the supply list with a family communication plan, and it offers a fillable Make a Plan Form you can complete online to set one up quickly. The site also points to the FEMA mobile app for real-time weather and emergency alerts, and notes that wireless emergency alerts push life-saving information from officials to your phone. Building the kit and writing the plan together is what makes either one useful.

Common Sticking Points

  • Buying everything at once: You don't have to. Add a few items per shopping trip until the list is covered.
  • Forgetting the "alternative charging" item: Ready.gov calls this out under power outages specifically — a dead phone cuts off both alerts and your plan.
  • Storing the kit somewhere convenient but inaccessible: A basement shelf behind boxes fails the reach test.
  • Never checking it: An expired kit is the most common failure. The refresh step is not optional.

Start with water, food, light, and first aid, layer in your household's specific needs, put it somewhere reachable, and set a reminder to check it. That sequence matches how Ready.gov frames preparedness: know your risks, plan ahead, and keep the supplies current.