Build a practical 72-hour emergency kit for your family: what each person needs, how much to pack, where to store it and when to refresh it.
- Plan 3 days of water, food, warmth and light for every person.
- Store the kit where everyone can find it, and check it twice a year.
- Build in stages; start with water and food.
Official guidance in both Canada and the US is to be ready to look after yourselves for at least 72 hours. A 72-hour kit is a bag or bin you can grab fast, holding the basics for each person. This guide shows how to build one for a whole family without overbuying.
Want a checklist to tick off as you go? Use our free 72-hour checklist and print it.
Start with the basics, per person
Plan for each person separately, then add shared items. For three days, each person needs:
- Water: 2 litres (about half a gallon) a day for drinking is a common minimum, so 6 litres (1.5 gallons) per person for three days. Government guidance suggests more for hot weather, illness and hygiene. See how much water to store.
- Food: ready-to-eat items that need no cooking, such as canned goods, crackers, nut butters and bars. Include a manual can opener.
- Clothing: one change of warm clothes, socks and a rain layer. Add hats and gloves in cold climates.
- Warmth: a blanket or sleeping bag, ideally a compact emergency blanket as a backup.
- Personal items: toothbrush, soap, hand sanitizer, toilet paper and any needed medications.
Add shared family supplies
Some gear is shared, so you only need one set:
- Flashlights or headlamps and spare batteries (see lighting options)
- A battery or hand-crank radio (see emergency radios)
- A first aid kit and a basic tool set, including a whistle
- Power banks and charging cables for phones
- Copies of ID, insurance papers and key phone numbers in a waterproof bag
- Cash in small bills, since card machines may be down
- Garbage bags, wipes and a few zip bags for sanitation
Plan for each member of the family
Babies need formula or milk supplies, diapers, wipes and a comfort item. Young children benefit from a small game or book and a familiar snack. Older adults may need extra medication, spare glasses and mobility aids. Pets need food, water, a leash and any medication; our pets in a power outage guide goes deeper. For medication and device planning, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
Choose a container
A sturdy backpack per person works if you might need to leave home. A lidded plastic bin works for shelter-in-place supplies. Many families do both: a grab-and-go bag each, plus a bin of heavier items like water. Choose something you can carry comfortably, and label it clearly.
Where to store it
Keep the kit somewhere cool, dry and easy to reach, such as a hall closet, near the main exit, or a basement shelf above any flood risk. Keep a smaller kit in each car. Make sure every adult knows where it is. Do not bury it behind seasonal storage.
Refresh it twice a year
Set a reminder when the clocks change, or on two dates you will remember. At each check:
- Swap any food and water close to its best-before date into everyday use, and replace it.
- Test flashlights and radios and replace batteries.
- Update clothing sizes for growing children.
- Refresh medications and documents as needed.
- Review the kit against the season, adding cold or hot weather items.
Build it in stages
You do not need to buy everything at once. Start with water and food this week, then lighting and radio next, then personal items. Score your progress with our readiness score, and browse gear in our food and water hubs when you are ready to shop.
Common mistakes to avoid
Families often buy food nobody likes, forget a can opener, or pack so much that the bag is too heavy to lift. Choose foods your family will actually eat, test every tool once, and carry the packed bag around the block. Also check that the kit is not stored where heat or freezing will spoil water and batteries. A simple, usable kit beats a perfect one that never gets finished.
Quick answers
How much water do I need per person for 72 hours?
A common minimum is 2 litres (about half a gallon) per person per day for drinking, so about 6 litres (1.5 gallons) for three days. Plan more for heat, illness, hygiene and cooking.
Should I keep one big kit or one per person?
Many families do both: a grab bag per person for leaving home, and a shared bin for heavier items at home.