Build A Kit โ Emergency Supplies Checklist (USA): 16 Items
Build and maintain a household emergency supply kit with food, water, lighting, communications, first aid, and supplies for individual needs.
Read Full Guide
What is Send Listy?
Create and organize your own lists. Start here, add or remove items, check off what matters, and share selections via WhatsApp or iMessage.
Make this checklist your own. Add what you need, edit what you like, and remove anything that doesnโt fit.
๐ก๏ธ Prepare Before an Emergency
Notes: Save your city or county emergency management contact and follow current instructions.
Save your city or county emergency management contact and follow current instructions.
Notes: Agree on a meeting point or short check-in message; keep contact information private.
Agree on a meeting point or short check-in message; keep contact information private.
Notes: Confirm safe water, medicines, and a charged radio or phone are accessible.
Confirm safe water, medicines, and a charged radio or phone are accessible.
Notes: Plan at least one gallon per person per day for at least three days; adapt to heat and special needs.
Plan at least one gallon per person per day for at least three days; adapt to heat and special needs.
Notes: Choose at least a three-day supply of food household members can safely eat.
Choose at least a three-day supply of food household members can safely eat.
Notes: Select tools needed to use stored food without electricity.
Select tools needed to use stored food without electricity.
Notes: Add access to NOAA weather warnings and spare batteries if required.
Add access to NOAA weather warnings and spare batteries if required.
Notes: Prefer battery-powered lighting rather than candles.
Prefer battery-powered lighting rather than candles.
โ ๏ธ Respond Safely When Needed
Notes: Check contents and replace expired supplies.
Check contents and replace expired supplies.
Notes: Prepare for communications and navigation outages.
Prepare for communications and navigation outages.
Notes: Pack wipes, garbage bags, ties, soap, and personal hygiene items.
Pack wipes, garbage bags, ties, soap, and personal hygiene items.
Notes: Charge power banks and include the correct charging cables.
Charge power banks and include the correct charging cables.
๐ Recover, Maintain & Review
Notes: Plan around individual medical needs without changing prescribed care.
Plan around individual medical needs without changing prescribed care.
Notes: Include diapers, formula, pet food, assistive items, or needed batteries.
Include diapers, formula, pet food, assistive items, or needed batteries.
Notes: Avoid storing passwords or sensitive records inside the checklist itself.
Avoid storing passwords or sensitive records inside the checklist itself.
Notes: Replace expired food, water, medicines, and depleted batteries.
Replace expired food, water, medicines, and depleted batteries.
Complete Guide
How to Use This Checklist
Build and maintain a household emergency supply kit with food, water, lighting, communications, first aid, and supplies for individual needs.
Follow current alerts and instructions from local officials. Hazards, climate, geography, access requirements, and household needs can change which actions are appropriate.
Important Safety and Scope Notes
This practical checklist is an independent, English-language adaptation of the Ready.gov preparedness topic. It does not reproduce FEMA publications and is not endorsed by FEMA or any U.S. government agency.
Use this checklist to organize preparations and recovery tasks. In an active emergency, follow the latest official instructions rather than relying on a static checklist.
Related & Useful Checklists
Open a related checklist for supporting tasks and household planning.
Sources & Official Guidance
Official reference for this topic:
Suggested Sources
More than just a checklist
Ready to organize your way? Add this checklist to Send Listy and make it yours.
Use this checklist in Send Listy