Why 72 hours specifically?

FEMA and disaster response agencies recommend that individuals be prepared to shelter-in-place or survive independently for at least 72 hours. This covers most common emergency scenarios and allows time for aid to reach you.

How much water do I really need?

Standard guidance is 1 gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation (basic hygiene). For 72 hours, that's 3 gallons per person. For active or hot environments, increase to 1.5 gallons per person per day.

Should I store food in my kit or rotate it?

Both. Store shelf-stable, high-calorie items (bars, nuts, canned goods) with long expiration dates. Rotate items every 6-12 months. Check water storage yearly and replace if it becomes contaminated or cloudy.

Where should I store my emergency kit?

Keep your main kit at home in a cool, dry place. Consider a portable backup kit (smaller, grab-and-go) in your car. For cold climates, add insulation. For humid climates, add desiccants to prevent mold.

72-Hour Emergency Kit Calculator

Enter your household composition and climate. Get an itemized checklist with calculated quantities for water, food, first aid, warmth, and shelter—scaled to your needs. Print or copy for shopping.

What Should Be in a 72-Hour Emergency Kit?

A 72-hour emergency kit is the bare minimum every household should have on hand—whether you face hurricanes, earthquakes, extended power outages, or other disasters. The standard recommendation: be prepared to shelter in place or survive independently for three days without outside help.

The kit scales to your household size and climate. A family of four in a cold climate needs different shelter supplies than a single person in the desert. This calculator generates personalized quantities.

Core Categories

Category	Baseline Item	Why It Matters	Storage Notes
Water	1 gallon/person/day × 3 days	Drinking, cooking, basic hygiene. No shelf life if stored properly.	Rotate every 6 months in hot climates. Store in cool, dark place.
High-Calorie Food	9,000 calories/family for 72 hours (1,200–1,500/person/day)	Sustains energy; shelf-stable. Skip perishables.	Energy/protein bars, nuts, canned goods. Check expiration dates every year.
First Aid & Medications	Bandages, gauze, antibiotic ointment, pain relievers, prescription meds	Minor injuries are common. Prevent infection. Have a week's medication buffer.	Store in waterproof container. Check and refresh medications every 6 months.
Warmth & Shelter	Blankets, tents, emergency bivvy (climate-dependent)	Hypothermia can occur even in mild climates. Shelter = survival.	Cold climates: sleeping bags (rated for expected low). Hot/humid: tarps, shade cloth.
Light & Communication	Flashlights, batteries, phone charger, radio	Darkness without power. Stay informed. Reach out for help.	LED flashlights outlast incandescent. Hand-crank radios need no batteries.
Tools & Sanitation	Multi-tool, duct tape, plastic bags, soap, toilet paper	Repairs. Human waste disposal. Hygiene prevents disease.	5-gallon bucket + bags = DIY toilet. Essential if water-treatment plants fail.

Planning by Climate

Cold/Winter: Add insulation, sleeping bags rated for expected low, extra blankets, hand warmers. Prioritize warmth—hypothermia kills faster than hunger.

Temperate: Standard items. Include shade (tarp) for sun exposure. Ensure water storage is cool.

Hot/Desert/Humid: Increase water (up to 1.5 gal/person/day in active heat). Add electrolyte packets. Include shade cloth and cooling packs. In humid climates, add desiccants to prevent mold on stored items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use bottled water from the store?

Yes. Bottled water has a long shelf life (1–2 years) and is convenient. Rotate it into consumption and replace. For larger quantities (4+ people, 72 hours), bottled water gets expensive; consider food-grade water storage containers filled from the tap with no additives.

What about water purification tablets or filters?

Include both if possible. Purification tablets (iodine or chlorine dioxide) are lightweight, cheap, and don't expire. Water filters (like LifeStraw) are good for longer-term scenarios. For 72 hours, clean tap water (if available) + purification tablets covers most cases.

My kids won't eat energy bars. What else?

Include familiar, shelf-stable foods your family actually likes: canned soup, peanut butter, crackers, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate. Emergency kit food doesn't need to be "emergency food"—it's just non-perishable food you'd eat anyway. Rotate items into your regular diet every 6 months.

Do I need a generator?

For a 72-hour kit, no—generators need fuel, maintenance, and aren't portable. Focus on LED flashlights, hand-crank radios, and solar phone chargers. If you own a generator for longer outages, safe outdoor placement (exhaust away from windows) and fuel storage are critical.

Should I include cash?

Yes. Include $200–500 in small bills ($1, $5, $10s). ATMs and card readers may not work during outages. Cash is also useful for gas, supplies, or tolls if you need to evacuate.

What about my medications?

Essential. Maintain a one-week buffer of all prescriptions and over-the-counter medications you rely on. Store in a waterproof container. If you have inhalers, insulin, or other critical meds, keep duplicates.

Go Deeper into Preparedness

This calculator covers the 72-hour essentials. For long-term planning and sourcing cost-effective supplies: