The complete emergency kit checklist

You don't need a specialist "prepper" haul. Most of what a good emergency kit requires is already in your home. The goal is to gather it, organise it, and keep it rotated so nothing expires unused.

Water

Safe water is the most urgent need in any emergency. Tap water can become unavailable or unsafe quickly during floods, pipe bursts or power outages affecting pumping stations.

• At least 2 litres (half a gallon) per person per day for drinking — aim for 4 litres if you can, and more in hot climates.
• Extra water for basic hygiene, cooking and pets.
• Stored in clean, sealed food-grade containers (washed plastic bottles work; mark them with the fill date).
• A water purification method as a backup: purification tablets (such as iodine or sodium dichloroisocyanurate tablets), a portable filter, or knowledge of how to boil water safely.
• A large pot or container for boiling water if needed.

Rotation tip: Refresh stored tap water every six months. Write the fill date on the container in marker.

Food

Aim for at least three days of food that needs no refrigeration and minimal cooking — ideally seven days if space allows. Choose foods your household actually eats, so you'll naturally rotate them.

• Tinned vegetables, beans, lentils, fish, meat and fruit.
• Dried goods: pasta, rice, oats, crackers, dried fruit, nuts.
• Ready-to-eat foods: nut butter, honey, granola bars, UHT milk, instant soups.
• A manual can opener — essential, easy to forget.
• Eating utensils, paper plates or a camping set.
• A camp stove, gas rings or another way to heat food if your cooker is electric and power fails. Keep fuel stored safely.
• Any formula, baby food or specialist foods needed by household members.
• Pet food for any animals.

Rotation tip: Write expiry dates on items and eat-before-replace them. An emergency kit should never be wasted — it's just food with a purpose.

Light and power

A power cut at night is disorienting and can be unsafe. Good lighting and a way to keep essential devices charged matters more than most people expect until it happens.

• A torch (flashlight) in good working order — checked before you need it.
• Spare batteries in the correct sizes, or a rechargeable torch.
• A head torch — hands-free light is useful for anything practical in the dark.
• Candles and a lighter or waterproof matches (use safely; never leave unattended).
• A power bank, fully charged, for keeping phones and small devices going.
• A battery-powered or hand-crank/solar radio to receive emergency broadcasts and weather alerts when your internet and phone signal may be unreliable. This is more important than most people realise — it may be your only source of official information.

First aid and medication

A basic first aid kit handles the injuries and illnesses most likely to occur during or immediately after an emergency, when accessing medical care may be delayed.

• Adhesive plasters (assorted sizes).
• Sterile gauze pads and bandage rolls.
• Adhesive tape.
• Antiseptic wipes or solution.
• Disposable gloves.
• Scissors and tweezers.
• A digital thermometer.
• Pain relief and fever medication (paracetamol/acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen).
• Antihistamine tablets and cream.
• Rehydration sachets.
• Any essential prescription medications for household members — keep at least a week's supply rotated in your kit, and know how to request emergency supplies from your pharmacy or doctor.
• Spare glasses or contact lens supplies if needed.
• A first aid instruction booklet.

Warmth and shelter

If heating fails — especially in winter — staying warm becomes a priority. You can also be asked to evacuate at short notice, in which case you need gear ready to go.

• A warm blanket for each person — wool or fleece holds heat well even when damp.
• Emergency foil (mylar) thermal blankets — they fold flat and are very effective at retaining body heat.
• Warm layers of clothing for each household member, including socks, hats and gloves (especially in cold climates).
• A sleeping bag rated for your climate's low temperatures — your regular bedding may be enough.
• Sturdy footwear that can handle debris — keep a pair that could be quickly grabbed.
• Rain gear or waterproof jackets in case of evacuation in wet weather.
• A tent or tarpaulin if your area has a risk of displacement from home.

Tools and supplies

A small set of practical tools handles a surprising range of situations.

• A multi-tool or Swiss Army knife.
• A roll of strong waterproof tape (duct tape or gaffer tape).
• A whistle — the universal signal for help, audible much further than your voice.
• Waterproof matches and/or a lighter.
• Rope or paracord (5–10 metres).
• A heavy-duty bin bag or two — waterproofing, shelter, waste, many uses.
• Work gloves for handling debris safely.
• A small wrench or spanner to turn off the gas or water supply at the mains — know where yours are now, not during the emergency.
• A basic map of your local area (paper, not just phone).

Hygiene and sanitation

When water is limited, maintaining basic hygiene becomes important to prevent illness spreading in the household.

• Hand sanitiser (alcohol-based, for when handwashing isn't possible).
• Wet wipes — useful for cleaning hands and surfaces with minimal water.
• Toilet paper.
• Soap bars.
• Toothbrushes, toothpaste and any dental essentials.
• Sanitary products for household members who need them.
• Nappies/diapers and wipes if you have an infant.
• A small bucket with a lid for sanitation if your toilet cannot flush.
• Rubbish bags for waste management.

Important documents and cash

In a fast evacuation, the documents and contacts you need may be inaccessible on a phone with a dead battery. Keep physical copies ready.

• Copies of ID (passport, driving licence, national ID card) for each household member.
• Copies of insurance policies (home, health, vehicle).
• A written list of emergency contacts (family, friends, doctor, vet) — don't rely on your phone memory.
• Copies of key medical information: blood type, medications, allergies, any important diagnoses.
• Copies of essential financial information (bank account numbers, cards).
• Your household's meeting point and out-of-area contact details (see communication plan below).
• Keep all of these in a sealed waterproof bag. A digital backup (encrypted, cloud or USB) is also worth having.
• Small-denomination cash — ATMs and card payments may be unavailable during a power cut.

Communication and a family plan

Knowing what you'll do and how you'll find each other is as important as any physical item.

• Know your local emergency broadcast frequencies (radio stations used for official alerts in your area).
• Agree a household meeting point near your home, and a second one further away in case the first is inaccessible.
• Choose an out-of-area contact — a friend or relative elsewhere who everyone can call to relay messages if local lines are overloaded.
• Make sure every household member old enough knows the plan, the meeting points, and the contact number.
• Know your evacuation routes and where your nearest emergency shelter or community hub is.
• Sign up for local emergency text alert systems if your area offers them.
• A battery or wind-up radio tuned to the local emergency station.
• A fully charged power bank and your emergency contacts' numbers written on paper.

Small car kit

Keep a lighter version of your kit in the car for emergencies while travelling — a breakdown, being stuck in snow or flooding, or needing to evacuate by car.

• A torch and spare batteries (or a car charger-powered torch).
• A basic first aid kit.
• An emergency foil blanket for each person who typically travels in the car.
• A bottle of water per person.
• A few non-perishable snack items.
• A warning triangle or road flares.
• Jump leads or a portable jump starter battery pack.
• A warm layer (jacket, fleece) — especially important in winter.
• A charged power bank.
• A paper road map for your region.
• A whistle.