Building Your Family's 72 Hour Kits

This page is intended to help you prepare for disasters (large and small) before they happen. Using this procedure, your family can assemble a 72 hour and emergency evacuation kit in small steps over a six month period. Recent events, however, have shown that your kit should be capable of supporting you and your family for at least 6 days! Check off each item for each week as you gather the contents and finish the "To Do" work. Supplies may be stored all together in a large plastic garbage can or food may be kept on kitchen or pantry shelves. Remember to rotate your perishable supplies and change water as needed for freshness. An asterisk (*) next to an item means "for each family member".

Remember: Check the kit every few months to be sure your supplies are fresh!
Create a Family Disaster Supplies Kit

To Get Started:

  • Check your house for supplies that you already have on hand.
  • Decide where you will store supplies (food may be packed together in a single container or kept on shelves for easy rotation.
  • Meet With Your Family To Plan:
  • Discuss the types of disasters that could occur.
  • Explain how to prepare; explain when and how to respond.
  • Discuss what to do if you need to evacuate.

Should you evacuate?

  • Where will you go?
  • How will you get there?
  • What is your alternate route?
  • What must you take with you?

Practice your plan.

  • Suggested Foods
  • Select based on your family's needs and preferences. Pick low-salt, water-packed varieties when possible.
  • Canned Meat: Tuna, chicken, ravioli, chili, beef stew, spam, corned beef, etc.
  • Vegetables: Green beans, kernel corn, peas, beets, kidney beans, carrots, etc.
  • Fruit: Pears, peaches, mandarin oranges, applesauce, etc.
  • Cereal: Cheerios, Chex, Kix, Shredded Wheat, etc.
  • Quick Energy Snacks: Granola bars, raisins, etc.

Remember to rotate your supplies as needed for freshness!

  • In case of evacuation, your emergency evacuation or "Go-Pack" should:
  • Be in a back pack or other similar container that is easily carried.
  • Contain your most important items such as a change of clothes, coins for pay phones, out-of-state contact info, medications, important papers, etc.

Note: Items marked with an asterisk "*" should be purchased for each member of the household.   For water, plan to have one gallon of water, per person, per day! Pets should be counted also when figuring water!

Week 1, From Grocery Store

( ) 1 gallon Water*
( ) 1 jar Peanut Butter
( ) 32 oz canned Juice
( ) 1 manual Can Opener
( ) Instant Coffee, Tea and Powdered Drink Mix
( ) Permanent Marking Pen to mark dates
( ) 1 gal Water per Pet

ALSO: Pet food, Diapers, Baby food

 To Do:

( ) Make Family Plan
( ) Date perishable food items using pen

Week 2, From Hardware Store

( ) Crescent Wrench
( ) 50 ft Heavy Rope
( ) 1 roll Duct Tape
( ) 2 Flashlights with batteries
( ) "Bungee" Cords

ALSO: Pet leash or carrier

 To Do:

( ) Check for household hazards
( ) Add latches to kitchen cabinet doors and acquire / install window protection devices

Week 3, From Grocery Store

( ) 1 gallon Water*
( ) 8 oz canned Meat*
( ) 16 oz canned Fruit
( ) 1 bx Sanitary Napkins
( ) 1 Video Tape
( ) 1 gal Water per Pet

ALSO: Pet food, Diapers, Baby food

To Do:

( ) Video tape home contents for insurance purposes
( ) Store video tape in a secure location

Week 4, From Hardware Store

( ) 1 roll Plumber's Tape
( ) 1 Crow bar
( ) Smoke Detector with batteries

ALSO: extra medications or prescriptions marked "emergency use" if needed

To Do:

( ) Install / Test smoke detectors
( ) Plan for Pet sheltering

Week 5, From Grocery Store

( ) 1 gal Water*
( ) 8 oz canned Meat*
( ) 16 oz canned Fruit*
( ) 16 oz canned Vegetables*
( ) 2 roll Toilet Paper*
( )Extra Toothbrush*
( ) Toothpaste

ALSO: Special Diet Foods if needed

To Do:

( ) Have home fire drill

Week 6, From First Aid Supply Store

( ) Aspirin or Acetominophin
( ) Compresses
( ) Roller Gauze
( ) First Aid Tape
( ) Adhesive Bandages

ALSO: extra hearing aid batteries if needed

To Do:

( ) Check into Day Care or School Disaster Plans if you have children

Week 7, From Grocery Store

( ) 1 gallon Water*
( ) 16 oz Ready-To-Eat Soup*
( ) 16 oz canned Fruit*
( ) 16 oz canned Vegetables*
( ) 1 gal Water per Pet

ALSO: Extra plastic baby bottles, formula and diapers if needed

 To Do:

( ) Establish an Emergency Contact

Week 8, From First Aid Supply Store

( ) Scissors
( ) Tweezers
( ) Antiseptic
( ) Thermometer
( ) Liquid Hand Soap
( ) Disposable hand wipes
( ) Sewing Kit

ALSO: Extra glasses, saline solution, contact lenses and lens case if needed

To Do:

( ) Place extra shoes and flashlight under beds for emergency use at night

Week 9, From Grocery Store

( ) 1 gallon Water*
( ) 16 oz Ready-To-Eat Soup*
( ) Liquid Dish Soap
( ) Plain Liquid Bleach
( ) 1 box Heavy Garbage Bags
( ) 1 gal Water per Pet

ALSO: Extra Pet food, Diapers, Baby food

 To Do:

( ) place "family photos" in a secure place

Week 10, From Hardware Store

( ) Waterproof portable plastic container with lid for important papers
( ) Portable AM/FM radio with batteries

ALSO: Blankets or sleeping bags for each family member

To Do:

( ) Photocopy important documents
( ) Store securely

Week 11, From Grocery Store

( ) 32 oz canned Juice*
( ) Large plastic food bags
( ) 1 box energy snacks
( ) 3 roll paper towels

ALSO: Sunscreen

 To Do:

( ) Store a roll of quarters and dimes for phone calls
( ) Locate nearest payphone

Week 12, From First Aid Supply Store

( ) Anti-diarrhea medicine
( ) Rubbing alcohol
( ) 2 pr latex gloves
( ) Ipecac syrup and activated charcoal
( ) children's vitamins

ALSO: Denture care items if needed

 To Do:

( ) Locate utility shut offs and show the family

Week 13, From Hardware Store

( ) Whistle
( ) ABC Fire Extinguisher
( ) Pliers
( ) Vise-Grips

 To Do:

( ) Take First Aid and CPR classes

Week 14, From Grocery Store

( ) 16 oz canned Fruit*
( ) 8 oz canned Meat*
( ) 16 oz canned Vegetables*
( ) 1 pk Paper Plates
( ) 1 pk Plastic Utensils
( ) 1 pk Paper Cups
( ) Adult Vitamins

 To Do:

( ) Plan to check on neighbors

Week 15, From Hardware Store

( ) Extra Flashlight with batteries
( ) 1 roll Masking Tape
( ) Hammer
( ) Assorted Nails
( ) "L" brackets for securing furniture
( ) Wood Screws

To Do:

( ) Check roof turbines and prepare covers or plan for storage
( ) Secure Water Heater and other appliances and furniture against movement

Week 16, From Grocery Store

( ) 8 oz canned Meat*
( ) 16 oz canned Vegetables*
( ) Heavy Garbage Bags
( ) Kleenex
( ) Quick energy snacks

To Do:

( ) Find neighborhood safety organizations
( ) Join them

Week 17, From Grocery Store

( ) 1 box Graham Crackers
( ) Assorted plastic containers with lids
( ) Assorted safety pins
( ) Dry cereal

 To Do:

( ) Arrange for friend or neighbor to care for children when needed

Week 18, From Hardware Store

( ) Latches or fasteners for cupboards
( ) Double sided tape and velcro fasteners

To Do:

( ) Pack a "go-pack" in case of evacuation
( ) Finish securing cabinets, furniture and appliances

Week 19, From Grocery Store

( ) Heavy garbage bags
( ) Quick energy snacks

To Do:

( ) Have home disaster drill

Week 20, From Hardware Store

( ) Camping or utility knife
( ) Extra radio with batteries

ALSO: Purchase emergency escape ladder for second floor bedrooms if needed

To Do:

( ) Learn workplace disaster plans

Week 21, From Hardware Store

( ) Heavy work gloves
( ) Disposable dust masks
( ) Screwdrivers
( ) Safety goggles

Week 22, From Hardware Store

( ) Extra manual can opener
( ) 3 roll Paper towels

Week 23, From Grocery Store

( ) Camping lantern with extra fuel or batteries
( ) Extra flashlights with batteries

Week 24, From Hardware Store

( ) Large plastic food containers
( ) Plastic food wrap
( ) Aluminum Foil