When an emergency strikes — a wildfire evacuation, a major storm, an extended power outage — authorities consistently ask the same thing: have 72 hours of supplies ready to go. That window gives emergency services time to respond and infrastructure time to stabilise.
This checklist is built on guidance from FEMA, the American Red Cross, and Ready.gov. It covers what to pack, how much, and why each item earns its weight.
Why 72 Hours?
FEMA's baseline recommendation is three days of self-sufficiency for every household. After major disasters — Hurricane Katrina, the 2021 Texas freeze, the LA wildfires — many households needed to be self-sufficient for far longer. Build to 72 hours first, then expand your household reserve toward 14 and 30 days.
The Checklist
Water
- 1 gallon per person per day minimum (3 gallons for 72 hours)
- Include your pets in the count
- Rotate every 6–12 months if using tap water in sealed containers
- Pack water purification tablets as backup
Food
- At least a 3-day supply of non-perishable items
- No-cook options (power may be out): canned goods with pull-tabs, nut butters, dried fruit, crackers, jerky
- Manual can opener
- Infant formula or baby food if applicable
- Aim for at least 2,000 kcal/day per adult
First Aid
- Pre-stocked first aid kit or build your own:
- Adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
- Gauze pads and roller gauze
- Medical tape
- Antiseptic wipes and cream
- Tweezers
- Thermometer
- Scissors
- Nitrile gloves (2+ pairs)
- CPR face shield
- SAM splint
- Prescription medications (minimum 7-day supply)
- Non-prescription medications: pain reliever, antidiarrheal, antacid, antihistamine
- Copies of prescriptions and medication list
Documents (waterproof container or USB)
- Copies of ID: passports, driver's licences
- Insurance policies (home, health, vehicle)
- Bank account information
- List of emergency contacts
- Copies of prescription medications
- Proof of address
Communication & Power
- Battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio
- Flashlights (one per person) + extra batteries
- Battery pack / power bank (fully charged)
- Whistle (to signal for help)
- Backup phone charger cables
Shelter & Warmth
- Emergency mylar blankets (one per person)
- Rain ponchos
- Sturdy work gloves
- Dust masks (N95 rated)
- Duct tape
- Plastic sheeting (for shelter-in-place scenarios)
Sanitation
- Hand sanitiser
- Moist towelettes
- Toilet paper
- Soap
- Feminine hygiene products
- Baby wipes
- Garbage bags with ties
Tools & Safety
- Multi-tool or Swiss Army knife
- Fire extinguisher (small, ABC type)
- Matches in a waterproof container or lighter
- Local maps (physical — GPS may not work)
- Cash in small denominations
Special Needs
- Infant supplies (formula, diapers, wipes)
- Pet food and water (3-day supply per pet)
- Pet medications
- Extra glasses or contact lens supplies
- Hearing aid batteries
- Mobility aid supplies
How to Store Your Kit
- Primary bag: A backpack or duffel you can carry if you need to leave on foot
- Secondary reserve: Bins or shelves at home for the 14–30 day supply
- Vehicle kit: A smaller version for your car
- Rotation schedule: Check expiry dates every 6 months — spring and autumn daylight-saving changes are a useful trigger
Keeping It Current
The most common reason go bags fail is neglect. Food expires. Batteries drain on the shelf. Kids grow out of clothes packed three years ago.
GoBag+ tracks every expiry date in your kit and sends reminders 30, 7, and 1 day before anything needs replacing. It includes vetted kit templates based on Ready.gov, FEMA, and Red Cross materials, so you're not starting from a blank page.
Sources: FEMA Ready.gov, American Red Cross Emergency Preparedness, CDC Emergency Preparedness.
Build it in the app
GoBagPlus does the tracking, you do the prepping.
Every item in your kit gets expiry reminders 30, 7, and 1 day before it needs replacing. Scenarios tell you what to add next. The offline library reads when the signal doesn't.