72-hour kit questions and answers
Short answers about 72-hour emergency kits: how much water per person, 3 days or 2 weeks, what food to pack, weather radios, kits for pets and how often to check them.
Amounts
How much water per person? One gallon per person per day, for drinking and sanitation (Ready.gov).
Is 72 hours enough? It is the minimum for a go-bag. The Red Cross suggests 2 weeks of water and food if you stay at home (Red Cross).
How much food? Several days of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food; counting three meals a day per person is a simple way to plan.
Contents
Do I need a special weather radio? Ready.gov lists both a battery or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert. Many emergency radios combine both.
What documents should I pack? Copies of IDs, insurance policies, bank records, medication lists, proof of address and birth certificates, in a waterproof container or saved electronically.
What about pets? Several days of food and water, medicine, a carrier, a leash and ID tag, records and a photo of you with your pet.
Upkeep
How often should I check my kit? Replace self-bottled water every six months (Ready.gov) and review the whole kit yearly (Ready.gov). We also suggest checking batteries and medicine twice a year.
Should I buy a ready-made kit? It can be a start, but check it against the checklist: most need water, medicine, documents and family items added.
Spotted an error or a figure that has changed? Let us know