A 72-hour emergency kit — sometimes called a go-bag, bug-out bag, or disaster supply kit — contains everything you need to sustain yourself and your family for three days without any external assistance. No running water, no electricity, no grocery stores, no gas stations. Just what you packed and what you know.
This is not about doomsday prepping or paranoia. It is about basic risk management. Natural disasters, severe weather, extended power outages, and infrastructure failures are increasingly common. Having a kit packed and ready means you can focus on getting your family to safety instead of scrambling to gather supplies in a crisis.
Water and Water Purification
Water is the most critical item in your emergency kit. You can survive weeks without food but only three days without water. In an emergency, municipal water supplies may be contaminated, disrupted, or completely unavailable.
- Store one gallon per person per day for three days — that is three gallons per person minimum, covering drinking and basic hygiene
- Use commercially sealed water bottles or dedicated water storage containers — do not store water in repurposed milk jugs or thin plastic containers that degrade
- Include a portable water filter like the Sawyer Mini or LifeStraw — these remove 99.99 percent of bacteria and protozoa from questionable water sources
- Pack water purification tablets as a backup — they are lightweight, inexpensive, and effective against most waterborne pathogens
- If you have space, include a collapsible water container for refilling from found sources once initial supplies are consumed
- Replace stored water every six months to ensure freshness and container integrity
Food and Nutrition
Emergency food needs to be calorie-dense, shelf-stable, lightweight, and ready to eat without cooking. You are aiming for 2,000 calories per person per day minimum. Prioritize nutrition density over variety — this is fuel, not fine dining.
- High-calorie energy bars: products like Clif Bars, Datrex rations, or SOS Food Labs bars provide 400 or more calories in a compact package
- Peanut butter or almond butter packets: extremely calorie-dense, good protein and fat ratio, no preparation required
- Dried fruit and nuts: trail mix provides quick energy and stores well for 6 to 12 months
- Canned goods with pull-top lids: tuna, chicken, beans, and soup — include a manual can opener as backup
- Electrolyte powder packets: dehydration during physical stress depletes electrolytes faster than water alone can replenish
- Account for dietary restrictions and allergies in your household — an emergency is not the time to discover your child cannot eat the only food you packed
Shelter and Warmth
Exposure kills more people in disasters than almost any other factor. Even in moderate climates, wet and windy conditions can cause hypothermia in hours. Your kit needs to keep you warm and dry whether you are sheltering in place or displaced.
- Emergency Mylar blankets: weigh almost nothing, reflect up to 90 percent of body heat, and can also serve as a makeshift shelter or ground cover
- A quality rain poncho for each person: keeps you dry, can double as an improvised tarp shelter, and costs less than five dollars
- Hand and body warmers: chemical warmers provide 8 to 12 hours of heat and weigh almost nothing
- A tightly rolled compact sleeping bag or bivvy sack if your kit budget allows it
- Paracord or strong cordage: 50 feet is enough to rig a tarp shelter, secure gear, or handle dozens of improvised tasks
- A complete change of weather-appropriate clothes packed in a waterproof bag: socks, underwear, base layer, and insulating layer at minimum
First Aid, Tools, and Documents
Beyond survival basics, your kit should include medical supplies, essential tools, and copies of critical documents. In a real emergency, you may not have access to your home, your phone, or the internet for days.
- Compact first aid kit: adhesive bandages, gauze, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, any prescription medications for 3 days, tweezers, and trauma shears
- Flashlight and headlamp with extra batteries: LED models last much longer and are dramatically brighter than older technology
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio: NOAA weather radio capability lets you receive emergency broadcasts when cell towers are down
- Multi-tool or quality knife: choose a reputable brand like Leatherman or Victorinox that will not fail when you need it
- Waterproof copies of critical documents: identification, insurance policies, bank account information, emergency contacts, medical information and medication lists, and proof of residence
- Cash in small bills: ATMs and card readers do not work during power outages — 200 to 300 dollars in fives, tens, and twenties covers most emergency needs
- USB battery pack fully charged: even if cell networks are overloaded, your phone contains maps, contacts, and documentation you may need
Maintaining and Using Your Kit
A kit that sits in your closet for three years with expired food and dead batteries is not actually a kit — it is a collection of garbage in a bag. Schedule a check every six months: rotate food and water, test batteries and electronics, update documents, and adjust for any changes in your family's needs. Many people set calendar reminders for daylight saving time changes.
Store your kit somewhere accessible — not buried in the back of a storage closet. You may need to grab it and leave in under five minutes. Make sure every member of your household old enough to carry a bag knows where the kit is and what the plan is. Preparedness without a plan is just equipment.