72-Hour Emergency Kit Checklist

A 72-hour emergency kit holds what your household needs to manage for three days without outside help: water, food that needs no cooking, a battery or hand-crank radio, light, first aid, medication and basic hygiene supplies. For water, the usual figure is one gallon (about 4 litres) per person per day, so three gallons (about 11 litres) each.

The checklist below is drawn from the kit lists in our book, which follow Ready.gov and the American Red Cross. It is general information, not official advice; instructions from your local authorities always come first.

Why 72 hours?

Since 2024 the EU and several European governments have asked households to be able to cope alone at the start of a crisis. The UK's Be Ready campaign has "the advice to be prepared for three days of disruption" at its heart, and its checklist includes "Bottled water for 3 days" and "Non-perishable food for 3 days". The European Commission asks authorities to "promote at least 72 hours of self-sufficiency as a minimum baseline".

These are all-hazards campaigns, not nuclear warnings. The quotes and links are in why governments say stockpile for 72 hours.

The 72-hour kit checklist

Water and food

Water, 3 gallons (about 11 litres) per person. For a family of four, 12 gallons (about 45 litres)
Extra water for pets
Three days of non-perishable food that needs no cooking and little water, such as canned meat, fish, beans and soup, peanut butter, crackers, dried fruit, nuts and energy bars
A manual can opener
Infant formula, baby food and pet food if needed

Information, light and power

A battery-powered or hand-crank radio
A torch or lantern, with spare batteries
Phone chargers and a charged power bank
A paper list of important phone numbers, and paper local maps

Health and hygiene

A first aid kit with plenty of bandages and gauze
Three days of prescription medication, and copies of prescriptions
Everyday non-prescription medicines, such as pain relievers
Glasses and hearing-aid batteries if you use them
Moist towelettes, soap, toilet paper and personal hygiene items
Rubbish bags and plastic ties

Tools and safety

A wrench or pliers to turn off gas and water
A whistle to signal for help
Dust masks
Plastic sheeting and duct tape
Matches in a waterproof container

Warmth, money and documents

A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
Clothing for the season, and sturdy shoes
Cash in small notes
Copies of ID, insurance and medical information in a waterproof bag

How do I store and maintain it?

Keep food in a cool, dry place. Put boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.
Every 6 months, replace water you stored yourself, recharge power banks, and check the torch and radio. For commercially bottled water, follow the date on the label.
Once a year, review the whole kit and replace expired food, medication and batteries.

Should I also keep a kit in the car or at work?

Yes, a small one. The book's go-bag holds water, energy bars, a mask, a spare set of clothes in a sealed bag, wet wipes, a small first aid kit, three days of essential medication, a torch, a power bank, a small radio, family contacts on paper and some cash.

Is 72 hours enough?

It is a starting point, and some official advice goes further. Germany's federal civil-protection office suggests ideally ten days. Sweden and Norway both advise at least a week. The American Red Cross recommends two weeks of supplies at home, with three days in an evacuation kit.

Our book uses 14 days as the home target, because power, water and shops can stay disrupted long after the first days. If you want to extend a three-day kit, the fuller list is in the nuclear survival kit list.

What would I add for a nuclear emergency?

Very little. The book's fallout-specific additions are a full change of clothes per person stored indoors, heavy-duty rubbish bags for contaminated clothing, and soap and shampoo. The dust masks, plastic sheeting, tape and wipes are already on the list above.

What matters more is knowing what to do; see how to survive a nuclear attack.

Sources

Questions

What should be in a 72-hour emergency kit?

Three days of water and non-perishable food, a manual can opener, a battery or hand-crank radio, a torch with spare batteries, a power bank, a first aid kit, three days of prescription medication, hygiene supplies, warm bedding, cash and copies of important documents. Add infant and pet supplies if you need them.

How much water do I need for 72 hours?

Ready.gov and the American Red Cross use one gallon, about 4 litres, per person per day for drinking and basic hygiene. For 72 hours that is three gallons, or about 11 litres, per person, and 12 gallons, or about 45 litres, for a family of four.

How often should I replace the items in my emergency kit?

Replace water you stored yourself every six months, and follow the label date on commercially bottled water. Once a year, replace expired food, medication and batteries.

Is a 72-hour kit enough for a nuclear emergency?

It covers the minimum shelter period, since official guidance is to stay inside for at least 24 hours. Power, water and shops may be disrupted for much longer, which is why the American Red Cross recommends two weeks of supplies at home and our book uses a 14-day home target.