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Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management

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Build a Kit

Assemble disaster supplies

Evacuating or Sheltering-in-Place

Pack the basic supplies for each person in a portable container or backpack. You’ll need them whether you stay (shelter-in-place) or go (evacuate). You can also download a PDF version of this checklist.

This list is meant to get you started in thinking about your own kit and is not intended to be exhaustive. Spend some time to evaluate your personal or family needs for a disaster and modify the list below as needed. Hint: copy-and paste this into a word processor document or your phone’s notes app so you can personalize it and share it with family and friends.

Food and Water

  • 3-day supply of food that needs no cooking
  • 1 gallon of water per day for each person
  • Manual can opener
  • Baby items (e.g. baby food, formula, bottles)
  • Pet Supplies

First Aid, Medication, Hygiene

  • First-aid kit
  • Prescription and backup medications
  • Hand sanitizer, wipes, bleach (to purify water, mix 1/8 teaspoon per gallon. Stir and let stand for 30 minutes.)
  • Toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags
  • Dental care, hearing and vision products
  • Soaps, personal supplies, diapers
  • Sunscreen, insect repellent
  • Face masks to filter air (N-95 rating)

Communication, Lighting, Document Bag Items

Additional Items

Pet Supplies:

  • 3-day supply of food, water and bowls
  • Medications and pet first-aid kit
  • Vaccination records
  • Crate or carrier (may be required in shelters or where you spend the night)
  • Leash and toys
  • Photo, in case pet gets lost
  • Cat litter and box

First Aid Kit

It is a good idea to keep your first-aid kit portable so you can take it with you if you evacuate, or use if you stay and shelter in place. Some of these items have a shelf life, so many people choose to use them day-to-day; just make sure you replenish when supplies run low! Make sure your first aid kit contains these items:

  • 2 compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
  • 25 band-aids (different sizes)
  • First-aid tape
  • Antibiotic ointment
  • Hydrocortisone ointment
  • Aspirin and ibuprofen
  • Instant cold pack
  • 2 pair of medical gloves (non-latex)
  • Oral thermometer, scissors, tweezers
  • 2 roller bandages (different widths)
  • 2 elastic bandages
  • 10 sterile gauze pads (different sizes)
  • 2 triangular bandages (for making slings)
  • First aid instruction booklet

Emergency Documents

Imagine how hard it would be after a disaster if you couldn’t prove your identity, or if you didn’t have access to your bank account. Avoid that difficult situation by making copies of your important documents and keeping them in a waterproof bag, ready to grab-and-go if needed. Include the following items:

  • Current photo IDs, driver licenses, birth records, Social Security cards, passports
  • Photos of family members in case you get separated
  • Health insurance and prescription cards
  • Medical records, medications and dosages
  • Phone numbers (family, friends, doctors)
  • Bank account information
  • Wills
  • Insurance documents (homeowner, renter, flood, life)
  • Property deeds, leases, mortgages
  • Vehicle titles, insurance, leases, loan documents
  • Inventory of household possessions and their value
  • Backup computer files (on a CD, DVD, USB drive)
  • Copies of important keys
  • Utility bills (to prove where you live)

Special Medical Needs (for people with access and functional needs):

Think about what you need to make it on your own. Plan now for your health away from home. Label medical equipment with your contact information. Wheelchairs, walkers and canes

  • Cooler with cold packs for medications
  • Extra medications and dosages
  • Copies of prescriptions and medical alert tags
  • Food for special diets
  • Medical supplies (oxygen, glucose monitoring strips,syringes, etc.)
  • Hearing aids with extra batteries
  • Communication devices
  • Supplies and documentation for service animals

Evacuating

You may have to leave in a hurry to get to a safe place. Keep these supplies near your car. When it’s time, grab them and go.

Add these items for evacuating by car

  • Road maps
  • Car repair items (tools, spare tire, Fix-A-Flat, oil
  •  More food and water
  • Plastic plates, cups, utensils
  • Tent, blankets and pillows
  • Clothes and sturdy shoes
  • Rain gear and towels
  • Books, games, and toys

Before you leave home:

  • Fill your gas tank, check your spare tire
  • Take cash, checkbook and credit cards
  • Call your family emergency contact
  • Charge your mobile phone
  • Get a map of your route

Sheltering-in-Place

When staying home is your safest choice, add these items to your kit and stay tuned to the news.

Add these items for sheltering-in-place

  • Smoke detectors with extra batteries
  • Carbon monoxide detector (if using generators, charcoal grills or camp stoves)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Land line phone with extra long cord
  • Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to seal doors, windows and air vents from contaminated air or to build an emergency shelter)

Note: Dial 2-1-1 for information about available services during an emergency (registering for evacuations must be done every year).