FEMA emergency kit list

FEMA’s Ready.gov list is the reference for most US emergency kits. It asks for at least three days of supplies and includes items European lists usually skip: a NOAA weather radio, dust masks, plastic sheeting and duct tape for sheltering in place, and a wrench to turn off utilities.

The official numbers

Self-reliance: at least 3 days
Water: 1 gallon (about 3.8 litres) per person per day, for drinking and sanitation

What FEMA (Ready.gov) recommends

Gear

Supplies to buy

Bottled drinking water
Long-life food (ready to eat)
Wet wipes
Heavy-duty bin bags and ties
Plastic sheeting
Unscented household bleach (water treatment)

What the authorities advise beyond the kit

Ready.gov puts the kit third of four steps: be informed, make a plan, build a kit, get involved.

Be informed. Wireless Emergency Alerts reach phones automatically; also sign up for your county’s local alerts, and keep a NOAA Weather Radio for warnings when phone networks are down.
Make a plan, written down: how you will get alerts, where you will shelter for each likely hazard, your evacuation route, and a family communication plan with an out-of-town contact everyone calls.
Know your evacuation zone if you live near the coast, and leave when told to.
Plan for everyone in the household: children, older relatives, people with disabilities, and pets.
Protect your finances: keep copies of insurance, ID and bank details, and check that your insurance covers the hazards where you live.
Practise the plan with a drill, and update it once a year.

Food to keep at home

The official list names specific foods: see the printable list below.

General advice from the official food lists:

Stock food you already eat, and rotate it: use the oldest first and replace it, so nothing expires unnoticed.
For 72 hours, choose food that keeps at room temperature and can be eaten without cooking: tins, crispbread, dried fruit, nuts, muesli, long-life milk.
For a week or longer, add dry staples such as rice, pasta, oats and pulses, plus oil, salt and sugar, and a stove to cook on.
Dry staples need water to cook: count it in your water stock.
Store food cool, dry and dark, in airtight containers once opened.
Allow for babies, special diets, allergies and pets.
Keep a manual can opener, and throw away tins that are swollen, dented or rusty.

Printable FEMA food list. Print it or save it as a PDF.

What other governments add

These appear on most of the 12 official lists we compared, but not on this one:

Pet food and water (6 of 12 lists)
Lighter and waterproof matches (6 of 12 lists)
Blankets and warm clothing (6 of 12 lists)
Hand sanitiser (6 of 12 lists)

Build your kit

Every item above is in our L1 kit (72 hours). Use the household calculator to get quantities for your household, and download the shopping list for the supplies you’ll buy at the supermarket and pharmacy.

FAQ

How long should an emergency kit last in United States? At least 3 days, according to FEMA (Ready.gov).

Do I need to buy a ready-made kit? No. Building your own from the official list is cheaper and you know what’s in it. Our picks cover the gear; the rest comes from the supermarket.

Source: FEMA (Ready.gov). Last reviewed: October 2026.