Family emergency kit
A three-day kit for a family with kids: the Ready.gov basics plus kid food, children's medicine, comfort and something to do.
Amounts below are for 4 people, 2 kids, 3 days. They are planning estimates; change any of them on your list.
Saves the 15 must-haves, 4 easy-to-forget items and 6 things to do to a list on this device. Upgrades are up to you. Then shop the list item by item and tick things off.
At a glance
- 🔎 Drinking and cleaning water12 gallons
- 🔎 Non-perishable food12 person-days
- 🔎 Applesauce pouches6 pouches
- 🛒 Manual can opener1 can opener
- 🛒 Flashlights4 flashlights
- 🛒 Batteries16 batteries
- 🛒 Weather radio1 radio
- 🛒 First aid kit1 kit
- 🔎 Children's pain and fever reliever1 bottle
- 🔎 Prescription medicines4 one-week supplies
- 🛒 Power bank2 power banks
- 🔎 Wet wipes60 wipes
- 🔎 Trash bags6 bags
- 🛒 Whistle4 whistles
- 🔎 Go-bag4 bags
🛒 7 exact products we picked · 🔎 8 Amazon searches, so you choose the brand and size.
Must-haves (15)
- Must-have
Drinking and cleaning water
1 gallon per person per day is the Red Cross and Ready.gov amount. Hot weather, nursing and illness can need more.
Get about 12 gallons
4 people × 3 days × 1 = 12 gallons · official amount
Amazon search: “gallon drinking water”
- Must-have
Non-perishable food
One person-day is a day of food for one person. Pick food your household already eats.
Get about 12 person-days
4 people × 3 days × 1 = 12 person-days
Amazon search: “non perishable food”
Applesauce pouches
Get about 6 pouches (1 × 12-pack)
2 kids × 3 days × 1 = 6 pouches
- Must-haveOur pick
Manual can opener
Mebotem heavy-duty manual can opener
Big handles and an easy-turn knob. No power needed.
Good for: Every pantry
Get about 1 can opener
1 can opener for the group
Ready.gov puts one in the basic kit.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Must-haveOur pick
Flashlights
GearLight S1000 rechargeable flashlights, 2-pack
Bright flashlights that charge by USB-C, so a power bank keeps them going.
Good for: Outages
Get about 4 flashlights
4 people × 1 = 4 flashlights
One per person, so nobody is left in the dark.
- Budget pick: GearLight S1000 flashlights, 2-pack (AAA) ↗The same light on AAA batteries, sold without batteries.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Must-haveOur pick
Batteries
Amazon Basics AA batteries, 48-pack
A big pack of AAs for lights and radios.
Good for: Restocking
Get about 16 batteries
4 people × 4 = 16 batteries
Check sizes for your lights and radio.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Must-haveOur pick
Weather radio
Midland ER310 hand-crank NOAA weather radio
Weather alerts, plus hand-crank and solar charging.
Good for: Every home kit
Get about 1 radio
1 radio for the group
Ready.gov lists a battery-powered or hand-crank radio with NOAA alerts.
- Upgrade: Midland ER310PRO weather radio ↗The newer ER310 with a bigger battery and Bluetooth.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Must-haveOur pick
First aid kit
First Aid Only 298-piece all-purpose kit
A stocked kit to start from. Add your own medicines.
Good for: Home and car
Get about 1 kit
1 kit for the group
- Upgrade: Surviveware comprehensive first aid kit ↗A bigger, organized kit in a tough bag.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Children's pain and fever reliever
Get about 1 bottle
1 bottle for the group
Amazon search: “children's fever reducer”
- Must-have
Prescription medicines
Red Cross: a 7-day supply. Ask your prescriber or pharmacy what is possible.
Get about 4 one-week supplies
4 people × 1 = 4 one-week supplies · official amount
Amazon search: “weekly pill organizer”
- Our pick
Power bank
Anker PowerCore Slim 10,000mAh power bank
Pocket-size backup charging for a phone.
Good for: Everyday bag
Get about 2 power banks
2 adults × 1 = 2 power banks
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Wet wipes
Ready.gov lists moist towelettes.
Get about 60 wipes (1 × 80-pack)
4 people × 3 days × 5 = 60 wipes
- Must-have
Trash bags
Our rule: half a bag per person per day; at least one per day.
Get about 6 bags (1 × 50-pack)
4 people × 3 days × 0.5 = 6 bags
Amazon search: “heavy duty trash bags”
- Our pick
Whistle
Fox 40 Classic whistle with breakaway lanyard
A loud pealess whistle on a breakaway cord.
Good for: Go-bags and kids
Get about 4 whistles
4 people × 1 = 4 whistles
Ready.gov lists a whistle to signal for help.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Must-have
Go-bag
Red Cross: a 3-day supply to take with you.
Get about 4 bags
4 people × 1 = 4 bags
Amazon search: “emergency backpack”
Easy to forget (4)
Allergy and emergency info card
Ask each family about allergies before you shop.
Get about 2 cards
2 kids × 1 = 2 cards
Amazon search: “medical alert card holder”
Card games
Ready.gov suggests activities for kids in a kit.
Get about 2 decks
2 decks for the group
Amazon search: “card games for family”
Coloring books and crayons
Get about 2 sets
2 kids × 1 = 2 sets
- Our pick
Document bag
Flypal fireproof document bag with lock, XL
Keeps IDs and papers together, ready to grab.
Good for: Go-bag
Get about 1 bag
1 bag for the group
Copies of IDs, insurance and medical papers.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Upgrades (4)
- Our pick
72-hour kit
Ready America 70280 72-hour kit, 2 people
A packed 3-day go-bag for two people to build on.
Good for: Starting from nothing
Get about 2 kits
4 people × 0.5 = 2 kits
This kit covers two people.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Headlamps
Energizer LED Headlamp PRO, 2-pack
Light where you look, and batteries included.
Good for: Outages and camping
Get about 4 headlamps (2 × 2-pack)
4 people × 1 = 4 headlamps
- Upgrade: Black Diamond Spot 400 headlamp ↗Brighter and waterproof, from an outdoor brand.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
3-day emergency food supply
Mountain House 3-day emergency food supply kit
Freeze-dried meals for three days in one box. Add hot water.
Good for: Go-bag or a short outage
Get about 4 kits
4 people × 1 = 4 kits
A ready-made option; one kit per person.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Budget pick
Portable power station
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus
Runs phones, lights and a small fan. Light enough to carry.
Good for: Short outages
Get about 1 station
1 station for the group
- Upgrade: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 ↗A large battery for small appliances in longer outages.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Spend less (1)
Instead of 72-hour kit:
- Must-have
Go-bag
Red Cross: a 3-day supply to take with you.
Get about 4 bags
4 people × 1 = 4 bags
Amazon search: “emergency backpack”
Things to do (6)
- ✅ Make a family emergency planReady.gov: decide how you'll get alerts, where you'll meet and how you'll reach each other.
- ✅ Pick two meeting placesOne near home, one outside the neighborhood.
- ✅ Talk with kids about the planReady.gov has kid-friendly activities.
- ✅ Pack a kids' comfort item
- ✅ School emergency contact formUpdate phone numbers and pickup names with the school office.
- ✅ Make a go-bag for each person
Official guide: Ready.gov: Build a Kit ↗
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General planning information, not professional or medical advice. A list does not guarantee anyone’s safety. In any emergency, call your local emergency number and follow official guidance from local authorities.
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