Why 72 Hours?

Emergency management agencies in many countries recommend households be able to sustain themselves for a minimum of 72 hours (three days) without outside assistance. This window covers the period when emergency services are most stretched — immediately after a major event — and when supply chains and utilities are most disrupted.

While a longer supply (one to two weeks) is better, 72 hours is the meaningful minimum. This checklist will walk you through exactly what to include, with brief explanations of why each item matters.

How to Use This Checklist

Don't try to buy everything at once. Work through the list over a few weeks, adding to it with your regular shopping. Store items in one or two designated containers (large backpacks or lidded bins) that are easy to grab quickly. Review and refresh the kit at least once a year.

Water

  • ☐ Minimum 1 litre per person per day (3 litres per person for a 72-hour kit)
  • ☐ Additional water if you have pets — calculate their needs separately
  • ☐ Water purification tablets or a portable filter as backup
  • ☐ Collapsible water container for collecting additional water

Why it matters: Water supply disruptions are one of the most common outcomes of earthquakes, storms, and infrastructure failures. Municipal water may be unsafe or unavailable for days.

Food

  • ☐ Non-perishable items your household will actually eat (this is important — stress is not the time to try unfamiliar foods)
  • ☐ Ready-to-eat options that require no cooking or minimal preparation
  • ☐ Manual tin/can opener
  • ☐ Snack foods with good calorie density (nuts, dried fruit, crackers)
  • ☐ Comfort foods — emotional wellbeing matters in a crisis
  • ☐ Infant formula or baby food if applicable
  • ☐ Pet food if applicable

First Aid Kit

  • ☐ Adhesive bandages (multiple sizes)
  • ☐ Sterile gauze pads and medical tape
  • ☐ Antiseptic wipes and cream
  • ☐ Tweezers and scissors
  • ☐ Pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication
  • ☐ Antihistamines
  • ☐ Thermometer
  • ☐ Any prescription medications (maintain a small rotating reserve)
  • ☐ List of medications, dosages, and relevant medical conditions for each household member
  • ☐ Basic first aid instruction guide

Power, Light, and Communication

  • ☐ Torches/flashlights with spare batteries
  • ☐ Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (for emergency broadcasts)
  • ☐ Portable power bank (fully charged) for mobile phones
  • ☐ Spare charging cables
  • ☐ Candles and waterproof matches or a lighter (use with care)

Warmth and Shelter

  • ☐ Emergency thermal blankets (compact, inexpensive, highly effective)
  • ☐ Warm clothing and rain gear appropriate for your climate
  • ☐ Sturdy, comfortable shoes for each person
  • ☐ Sleeping bag rated for your local temperatures (if space allows)

Documents and Information

  • ☐ Copies of identification (passport, driver's licence, birth certificates)
  • ☐ Insurance documents (home, health, vehicle)
  • ☐ Copies of medical records and prescription information
  • ☐ Bank account details and emergency contact numbers (written down — don't rely solely on your phone)
  • ☐ Local emergency services numbers and your household emergency plan
  • ☐ Store in a waterproof folder or sealed plastic bag

Cash

  • ☐ Small amount of cash in small denominations

Why it matters: Electronic payment systems and ATMs may be offline. Cash remains universally useful when infrastructure fails.

Sanitation and Hygiene

  • ☐ Hand sanitiser
  • ☐ Soap and basic toiletries
  • ☐ Toilet paper
  • ☐ Waste disposal bags
  • ☐ Feminine hygiene products if applicable
  • ☐ Nappies/diapers and wipes if applicable

Tools and Safety

  • ☐ Multi-tool or Swiss army knife
  • ☐ Duct tape
  • ☐ Work gloves
  • ☐ Face masks (useful during smoke events or dusty conditions)
  • ☐ Whistle (for signalling if trapped)

A Note on Location and Accessibility

Your kit is only useful if you can reach it quickly. Store it somewhere accessible — not in a locked room, not in the deepest corner of the garage. If evacuation is a risk in your area, keep a grab-bag version ready to take with you, separate from your at-home supplies.

Building this kit incrementally, over a few weeks, transforms it from an overwhelming project into a series of small, achievable steps. Each item you tick off is a genuine investment in your household's resilience.