The 72-hour kit checklist
Everything one person needs for three days without power, water, or a store. Use the list below as-is, or get a version scaled to your household and the hazards where you actually live.
What goes in the bag
Six categories. Pack one bag per person, store it where you can grab it on the way out the door.
Water
- 1 gallon per person per day (3 days minimum)
- 1 gallon per day for each pet
- Water purification tablets or a filter bottle
- Collapsible container for refilling
Food
- 3 days of no-cook food per person
- Manual can opener
- Pet food and a bowl
- Formula, baby food, or special-diet items
Light, power, and information
- Flashlight or headlamp per person, plus spare batteries
- NOAA weather radio (hand-crank or battery)
- Power bank charged and a charging cable for each phone
- Whistle to signal for help
Health and hygiene
- First aid kit and any prescription medication (7-day supply)
- Glasses, hearing aid batteries, and mobility aids
- N95 masks, hand sanitizer, wet wipes
- Toilet paper and heavy-duty trash bags
Documents and cash
- Copies of ID, insurance, deed or lease, medical records
- Photos of household members and pets
- Small bills and coins — card readers fail in outages
- Written contact list; phones die and memory fails
Shelter and tools
- Change of clothes and sturdy shoes per person
- Emergency blanket or sleeping bag
- Multi-tool, duct tape, and work gloves
- Local paper map with your evacuation routes marked
A generic list is a starting point, not a plan
Enter your ZIP code and household details and GridPrepped scales the quantities, adds the items your local hazards call for, and tracks what expires — free.
Quantities scaled to your household
Expiration reminders by email
Printable PDF for the bag
Common questions
What is a 72-hour kit?
A 72-hour kit — often called a go-bag — holds everything one person needs to survive three days without power, water, or stores. It lives by the door so you can leave in under two minutes.
Why 72 hours?
Three days is the window emergency managers plan around before outside help reliably reaches a widespread disaster area. In large events it takes longer, which is why we also recommend two weeks of supplies at home.
One kit for the family or one per person?
One bag per person for clothing, water, food, and light. Share the heavier items — tools, stove, large first aid kit — across the household, packed with whoever can carry them.
How often should I check the kit?
Twice a year. Rotate food and water, replace batteries and medication, and update clothing sizes for kids. A free GridPrepped account tracks expiration dates and emails you before things go bad.
Does the checklist change based on where I live?
Yes. A wildfire evacuation bag, a hurricane kit, and an earthquake kit differ in real ways. GridPrepped pulls FEMA, NWS, and USGS hazard data for your ZIP code and adjusts the list accordingly.
Pack it once. Keep it current automatically.
Start free. Save it when you're ready.
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