How To Make An Emergency Kit (With Printable Checklist)
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How to make an emergency kit for your home. Keep your family safe and ready for emergencies by preparing ahead of time. This reduces panic and stress when problems come up. Don’t miss the easy to use checklist at the bottom to help you keep organized.
It doesn’t matter where you live, emergencies always happen.
Depending on the area you live in you may have the risk of hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, snowstorms, ice storms, or simply long-lasting power outages.
Then there are global problems like recessions and pandemics that can cause long-lasting problems for families.
But being prepared can help your family live better through difficult times.
It’s not about hiding things away because you are scared of the future but about being wise and preparing to take care of your family before problems happen.
Too often we live with a feeling that “those things” happen to others but not me. Why?
Because it’s part of human nature to not want to think about problems. We naturally want to think that everything will be ok and just keep on living our normal lives.
But storms do happen, economic problems happen, wildfires can seem to come out of know where.
I’ve always been a believer that it’s better to be prepared than sorry.
So take a little time to build an emergency kit for your family and it will give you peace of mind knowing that you are ready for problems if and when they come up.
This list of helpful items below are great ideas to have in your family’s emergency preparedness kit.
Start with the ones that best fit your family’s needs based on where you live and what problems you can see happening in your area.
How To Make An Emergency Kit
Storage Solutions
First, you’ll need a place to store your kit. It’s best to keep everything in one place as much as possible.
A large storage container is a great waterproof solution for holding emergency food and other needs. It can be kept in the back of a closet or pantry.
If you simply don’t have much room try using under the bed storage containers instead.
Water
You’ll want to have 2 gallons (4L) per person per day. This is enough to cover drinking needs as well as cooking and cleaning for each person.
Keeping a portable water filter on hand can really come in hand if you are without power for a while and run out of bottled water.
Food
Next to water non-perishable food is the most important thing in your emergency kit.
If you are making a 72-hour kit then simply storing some energy bars could be enough. But for a longer emergency, you’ll want some real food.
You can go with dehydrated meals that last for years or simply store a little extra normal canned and dried food to last a few weeks.
Canned Food
Canned beans, meat, soup, and stew are great foods for emergency preparations as they last a long time and can be warmed and eaten in the can they are stored in.
Dry Snacks
Crackers and cereal come in a wide range of types and even cereal can be eaten dry in an emergency and still taste great.
Trail mix or dried fruit are easy to find in most stores and last a long time in storage. Trail mix is packed with protein and helps you to feel full quickly.
Protein and granola bars are a great choice for a short term emergency kit. They are lightweight and store for a long time. Plus they come in many flavors so you can be sure even your kids will enjoy eating them.
Drinks
Coffee is always near the top of my prepping list. Instant coffee is a better option then normal coffee if you are preparing for a long term power outage and don’t have a wood stove to cook on. Why? Because it’s easier to heat small amounts of water then it is to boil larger pots on most emergency cooking solutions.
As an alternative to coffee keeping some fruit teas on hand is a great choice. They taste great hot or cold and can be a real comfort on a cold day.
Canned or boxed juice is a great option to have on hand for your kids. While large cans are cheaper to buy, smaller single serving sizes are better for emergency kits because you won’t have leftovers that require refrigeration.
Canned milk like evaporated milk is perfect for keeping on hand for coffee or tea.
Salt and pepper help to add flavor to simple foods and make them easier to eat.
Peanut butter is a long-lasting staple that doesn’t require refrigeration (with the exception of all-natural peanut butter) easily spread on crackers it can give you a tasty snack and protein boost.
Honey also is a shelf-stable sweetener you can add to tea, or use it to soothe sore throats.
Baby food and formula are a must-have in your kit if you have a baby or have close family or neighbors with a young baby.
Pet Food
Don’t forget pet food too! If you have cats, dogs, small pets or farm animals you need to have a reasonable supply of food and care products on hand to look after them too.
Personal Items and Medication
Keeping basic first aid and medications on hand helps to relieve a lot of stress when you stuck at home for a while.
First Aid Kit
A basic first-aid kit should be in every home and emergency kit. You can buy these ready-made or put your own together.
Disposable Gloves
Latex-free or latex disposable gloves are helpful to keep on hand if you have to treat someone who’s sick or clean up messes, empty toilet buckets, etc.
Face Masks
Face masks are always helpful. Whether you are dealing will treating the ill or a wildfire that’s filling the air with smoke and ash covering your face to protect your lungs is a good idea. They come in a wide range of styles included ones that are washable and reusable.
Toilet Paper
Toilet paper should always be kept on hand for emergencies. While it can be bulky to store you can remove the cardboard tube from the center and flatten the rolls to make them fit into your storage container better.
Disposable Towels
A great way to store towels and cloths in a compact way is to use pocket wipes like these. They are disposable but can be used up to 20 times before tossing.
Stored as compressed disks you simply add water and they expand into a good-sized towel for washing and cleaning.
Feminine Hygiene Products
Feminine hygiene products, yup gals it goes without saying you don’t want to be without these items if you can’t get to the store.
Toothbrushes
A spare toothbrush for each person and toothpaste are good to keep on hand also. Although these may be a better idea for your bug out bag since if you are staying home you likely already have your normal toothbrush.
Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is helpful when water is in short supply. Washing your hands with hot water and soapy water is always best but if it’s not available then hand sanitizer is the next easiest option.
Dish Soap
Dish soap and dish towels so that you are prepared to wash dishes by hand, especially important if you always use a dishwasher.
Spare Glasses
If you are a fellow glasses wearer then keep a backup pair in your kit too. If your normal glasses get lost or broken you’ll be grateful for a spare pare.
Medication
If you are on prescription medication make sure you always have 2 week supply minimum on hand. It’s never a good idea to let your medication run out.
What if the roads are closed due to a storm and you can’t get out to pick up a refill?
Pain medication (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, etc.) and cold medication are always a must-have for any emergency kit.
In emergencies, it’s common for people to get hurt or simply it could be just bad timing that you came down with the flu when that snowstorm hit. You’ll feel much better having what you need at home already.
Plastic Storage Bags
Plastic bags are perfect for storing leftovers or dividing up dry food into snack-sized portions for your kids.
Garbage Bags
Garbage bags are of course helpful for storing garbage but can also be used as an emergency rain poncho or to line a bucket used as a toilet.
Clothing & Bedding
Change of clothes and update this as the seasons change.
Extra socks and undergarments are something that’s easily forgotten but you’ll be so glad you have on hand. Cotton socks are cooler in the summer heat but wool socks are warmer in the winter. Plus wool socks can be worn and dried at night an go a long time before they start to stink.
Spare shoes, make sure they are comfortable hiking or running shoes.
Raincoat
Raincoat and jacket to protect you when you need to go outside or possibly walk for help.
Mylar Thermal Blankets
A Sleeping bag or Mylar blanket for each person in your family is a good idea to.
If you don’t have the room to store sleeping bags then Mylar blankets are a great option. They are thin, lightweight and redirect most of your body heat back towards yourself.
Lighting and Heating
Flashlights and lamps are other items that need to be near the top of your prep list. It’s no fun trying to move around in the dark and can cause you to get hurt.
Thankfully there are many types of fuel, battery-powered, or hand crank are all good options.
Oil Lamps
My personal favorites are kerosene lanterns and lamp oil and we used them often on our off-grid homestead.
But they do require careful use especially if you have kids or animals in your home.
Battery Camping Lanterns
Battery-powered flashlights or lanterns are easy to use options just make sure to have lots of batteries on hand.
Hand Crank Lanterns
Hand-cranked lanterns are also good solutions and if you have kids they will love helping to wind them up.
Emergency Candles
Candles are an alternative to lanterns that you can also use in an emergency. Just make sure you also have candle holders on hand.
Waterproof Matches
Waterproof matches are a must-have for every kit. You’ll need them for lighting candles, lanterns or alternative cooking solutions.
BBQ Lighters
A lighter can be kept on hand as an alternative to matches. My preferences are BBQ lighters as their length makes them especially easy for lighting candles sunken down inside tall holders.
Documents
In a waterproof bag or container make sure to store copies of personal documents that you may need. This includes:
- Copies of legal documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, wills, etc.)
- Insurance policies
- Credit card information
- Contact list
- Emergency plan
Cash
Always keep a little money in your emergency kit. Small bills and change are the best options if you need to go to a store when the power is out.
Tools
Disposable Dishes
Disposable dishes and utensils are a lifesaver when your power is out. You can eat without having to wash dishes afterward. This helps to reduce the amount of water you need to have stored.
Manual Can Opener
Manual can opener, honestly the only type of can opener that I’ve ever used.
But I know so many people who only have electric can openers in there homes. That makes it a little hard to open those cans of food that you stocked up on. Make sure to store a can opener with your canned goods.
Rechargeable Batteries
Always have extra batteries in your kit too. Rechargeable is best if you can but even regular batteries will do.
Before stocking up make sure to check your flashlights to see what type of batteries they take.
Solar Battery Charger
Solar chargers are really handy for charging up batteries if you are living through a longer power outage.
Hand Crank Radio
Crank or battery-powered radios are good ways to keep up on local news during an emergency. Yes, you can also use your smartphone but what if the cell towers are down?
Some like this one can also charge your cell phone and work as a flashlight too.
Basic Stationery
Paper and pens for leaving notes or even just drawing to pass time when you start to get bored.
Multi Tool
Pocket knife or multi-tool is so helpful to have on hand. Multi-tools are my favourite because they can replace so many tools that you may need in an emergency. They are strong and take up little room in a kit too.
Duct Tape
Duct tape can temporarily fix almost everything! Keeping a roll or two on hand for anything from taping plastic over broken windows, to taping blankets in doorways to hold heat in a smaller room.
Basic Tool Kit
Always have a basic tool kit with a hammer, screwdrivers, adjustable wrench on hand for fixing basic items when they break.
Work Gloves
Work gloves for protecting your hands during emergency cleanup.
Activities
While not really a necessity, keeping a few activities in your emergency kit can really help to break up the boredom and tension especially if you have young children in your home.
Fun Card Games
Cards are easy to store and fun for kids and adults alike. Keep a deck of normal cards on hand but try some other simple card games like UNO, Crazy 8’s and Go Fish to keep your kids busy too.
Board Games
Board games can provide hours of fun and distraction stock up on 2 or 3 ones you know your kids will love.
Activity Books
Activity books and crayons can help keep young children busy solving puzzles, word searches, mazes or just coloring for hours.
More Emergency Tips
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Kim Mills is a homeschooling mom of 6 and lives on an urban homestead in Ontario, Canada. Blogging at Homestead Acres she enjoys sharing tips to help you save money, grow and preserve your own food.
