Enough to get through three days at home, or to leave with, on your own. Ready.gov and the American Red Cross say how much of each; this sheet says what, so nothing is forgotten. Check the boxes you can; the blanks are yours.

Water

  • Water for every person for three days — the amount Ready.gov recommends
  • Water for pets, and extra for washing
  • Unscented bleach, with the EPA’s disinfection instructions printed and kept beside it
  • Clean containers for collecting and carrying water

Food

  • Food for every person for three days — the amount Ready.gov recommends, of things you already eat
  • Food that needs no cooking and no refrigeration
  • Manual can opener
  • Formula, special diets, pet food
  • Disposable plates, cups and utensils

Light and power

  • Flashlight or headlamp for each person
  • Spare batteries, kept with the lights
  • Charged power bank and phone cables
  • Car charger
  • Carbon monoxide alarm with battery backup, working
  • The generator rule: never indoors, never in a garage — the manufacturer’s and CPSC instructions govern where it goes

Medical

  • Written medication list for every person: name, dose as printed on the label, prescriber, pharmacy
  • Prescriptions, with a reserve where your prescriber and pharmacy allow it
  • First aid kit — opened, checked, expired items replaced
  • Plan for refrigerated medicine and powered equipment, arranged with the pharmacist and the supplier
  • Spare glasses, hearing aid batteries, mobility aids
  • Copies of insurance cards

Communications

  • Out-of-area contact chosen, and that person knows it
  • Phone numbers on paper: family, neighbors, doctor, pharmacy, school, utilities
  • County emergency alerts signed up; Wireless Emergency Alerts on in phone settings
  • Battery or hand-crank radio, with spare batteries
  • Whistle to signal for help

Sanitation and hygiene

  • Toilet paper, moist towelettes, soap, hand sanitizer
  • Heavy-duty garbage bags and plastic ties
  • Lidded bucket or container for waste
  • Feminine supplies, diapers, incontinence supplies
  • Gloves and a mask

Documents and money

  • Copies or photos of identification, insurance, deeds, and prescriptions, kept in a waterproof bag
  • Cash in small bills, since card readers stop with the power
  • The household plan, printed

Clothing and shelter

  • A change of clothes and sturdy shoes for each person
  • Warm layers, rain gear, hats
  • Blanket or sleeping bag for each person
  • Emergency blanket, tarp or tent if you may have to leave

Children, elders, pets

  • Comfort items, games, a book for each child
  • What each elder cannot do without, written down
  • Pet carrier, leash, food, water, records, a photo of each pet
  • Anything a person with a disability needs to move, hear, see or communicate

The plan

  • Where we meet: right outside · in the neighborhood · outside the area
  • Who checks on which neighbor
  • Where the water, gas and electrical shut-offs are, and who knows
  • Go-bags packed, and who carries which
  • Reviewed on: