Basic Home Emergency Kit List: The Gear Every Household Needs

A home emergency kit doesn’t need to be tactical, expensive, or complicated. It just needs to cover the basics: water, calories, light, communication, sanitation, and basic medical needs. This list is built for normal households, not survival hobbyists, and matches the needs of most short-term disruptions.

If you want a deeper breakdown of how this fits into a full 72-hour setup, see 72-Hour Survival Basics.

1. Water Supplies

• 1 gallon per person per day (minimum)
• Extra bottled water for pets
• Water filter or purification tablets
• Collapsible water containers for backup storage

For backyard collection options, read Backyard Water Collection Basics.

2. Food Supplies

• Canned soups, vegetables, meats, and beans
• Protein bars and shelf-stable snacks
• Peanut butter, nuts, crackers
• Ready-to-eat meals that don’t require cooking
• Manual can opener

For safe cooking options during outages, see Emergency Cooking Basics.

3. Lighting & Power

• Headlamps (one per adult)
• LED lanterns
• Flashlights
• Extra batteries or power banks
• Small solar charger (optional)

Lighting is one of the biggest factors for safety during blackouts—review Backup Lighting Options.

4. Communication

• Battery-powered or hand-crank emergency radio
• Backup phone chargers or power banks
• Whistle for signaling
• Printed emergency contacts

A deeper communication plan is outlined in Communication During Emergencies.

5. First Aid & Medications

• Bandages of multiple sizes
• Antiseptic wipes or solution
• Gauze, tape, and gloves
• Pain relievers
• Prescriptions and allergy medications
• Tweezers and small scissors

6. Sanitation

• Trash bags (heavy-duty)
• Bathroom-size bags for makeshift toilets
• Hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes
• Toilet paper and paper towels
• Bleach for disinfection

For a full walk-through of bathroom planning during outages, read Emergency Sanitation Basics.

7. Tools & Safety Gear

• Multi-tool or basic toolkit
• Duct tape
• Paracord
• Work gloves
• Sturdy shoes
• Small pry bar
• Fire extinguisher

8. Documents & Cash

• IDs, insurance documents, medical information
• Copies in a waterproof pouch
• Small bills for cash transactions

For storing cash safely, see Emergency Cash Storage Basics.

9. Comfort Items

• Blankets
• Warm clothing
• Snacks for kids
• Simple entertainment (cards, small toys)

10. Storage Tips

Put everything in one or two lidded containers that are:

• Stored in an accessible closet or garage shelf
• Labeled clearly
• Checked every 6–12 months

Your kit doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be ready. Most emergencies don’t warn you first.