Assembling a 3-Day Emergency Kit

by DoItYourself Staff

Every household needs a 3-day emergency kit in the event of a crisis. You may need serious survival gear to get through a fire, earthquake or other natural disaster. The time to assemble such a kit is before an emergency occurs. If you wait until you're dealing with the aftermath of a flood, fire or earthquake, you'll be competing with all your neighbors for basic goods that are in limited supply.

Depending on how many items you already have on hand, it only takes a couple of hours or less to put a kit together. If you have a family, assemble the kit together so that everyone knows what is in the kit and what it is to be used for. Remember, the kit is only to be used in emergencies. Borrowing a flashlight or other items from the kit just because you can't find your other one defeats the purpose. It won't be there when you need it!

Basic and Advanced Emergency Kits

There are many kinds of emergency kits that address different needs in different circumstances. It's best to create several smaller kits that will all fit into one big bag if needed. Depending on whether you have pets, special medical needs, children, and live in a rural area or an area prone to weather-related emergencies, your kits will need to be adapted for those situations. You may, for instance, want to put important papers, drug prescriptions, passports and other paperwork in one kit; and child related items such as a 3-day supply of diapers, medicine, baby-food, blankets and supplies in a separate child kit. Make sure you can carry the bag!

Step 1: Determine what Kinds of Items You will Need

The government's Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) has lists of items they suggest all residents pack into an emergency bag. Begin with those items. The quantities must last for at least 3 days, per person. They are:

Food: 3 days of non-perishable food items per person
Water: One gallon of water per person, per day for drinking and sanitation purposes
Dust masks, heavy-duty plastic sheeting and several rolls of duct tape: Sheeting may be used for protection, tarps or to cover doors and windows in case of chemical attacks
Flashlight and batteries: While one flashlight is good, one per person is best. Use small penlights with LED bulbs for longest lasting light
Whistle: Every person in your family should have a whistle to help signal location, distress or for help. Putting the whistle on a lanyard helps keep track of it
Radio-One hand-cranked, battery or solar-powered radio for listening to emergency broadcasts and evacuation updates
Sanitation-Moist towelettes, hand purifying gel, paper towels, trash bags in several sizes and plastic ties
Basic hand tools: A hammer, axe for chopping wood, a small container of nails and pliers for turning off water, electric etc. and a set of screwdrivers
Maps: Maps which indicate evacuation routes, safe houses or storm shelters and emergency medical locations such as police, fire and hospitals may be laminated and placed in the bag as well
Blankets or emergency "space" blankets for warmth
A heavy duty backpack or duffel bag with a shoulder strap to carry kit items

Step 2: Inform Your Family

Have a family meeting and discuss the use and need for the kit. Keep the bag in the same place at all times so whoever needs to grab it knows where to find it.