FEMA Emergency Supply List: The Official 2026 Checklist

The FEMA emergency supply list is the official baseline for household disaster preparedness, published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Ready.gov. FEMA recommends every household have enough supplies to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours — and ideally longer — after a major disaster disrupts power, water, food access, and emergency services.

This page reproduces and expands the official FEMA checklist in full, with practical guidance on quantities, specifications, and what to buy first if you're starting from scratch.

The Official FEMA Emergency Supply List

Per Ready.gov/kit, FEMA's core emergency supply list includes these categories:

"To assemble your kit store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag. Include enough supplies for at least 72 hours."

— FEMA / Ready.gov

1. Water — 1 Gallon Per Person Per Day, 3-Day Minimum

Water is FEMA's number-one priority item. Ready.gov water guidance is clear: 1 gallon per person per day, minimum 3 days. FEMA recommends storing at least 2 weeks' worth after a major disaster declaration.

• Family of 1: 3 gallons minimum, 14 gallons for 2 weeks
• Family of 2: 6 gallons minimum, 28 gallons for 2 weeks
• Family of 4: 12 gallons minimum, 56 gallons for 2 weeks
• Storage: Food-grade plastic containers in a cool, dark location. Replace annually.
• Backup: Water purification tablets (Aquatabs or Potable Aqua) and a portable filter (LifeStraw or Sawyer Squeeze)
• Pets: Add 1 quart per small pet per day; scale for size

2. Food — 3-Day Minimum Supply of Non-Perishable Items

FEMA recommends at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food. The priority is food requiring no cooking or refrigeration. See the full FEMA food guidance at Ready.gov/food.

• Canned goods (vegetables, beans, fish, chicken, soup)
• Manual can opener — electric openers require power
• Peanut butter (high calorie, shelf stable)
• Crackers, granola bars, trail mix, dried fruit
• Infant formula or specialty foods if required by household members
• Pet food for any animals
• Camp stove with fuel for cooking (outdoor use only — never use indoors)
• Paper plates and disposable utensils

3. Battery or Hand-Crank NOAA Weather Radio

This is the most underrated item on the FEMA list. When cell networks and internet fail after a major disaster, a NOAA all-hazards radio is your only link to emergency broadcasts, evacuation orders, and shelter locations.

• NOAA weather radio with hand crank: receives all 7 NOAA alert channels; works when batteries and power are unavailable
• Best option: Midland ER310 or Midland ER210 (~$50); hand crank + solar + battery
• Feature to require: USB charging port — allows you to charge phones from the radio
• Why not a smartphone app: NOAA apps require cell service; a dedicated radio works without any infrastructure

4. Flashlight with Extra Batteries

• LED headlamp (1 per person): headlamps are more practical than handheld flashlights in almost every emergency situation — they free both hands for tasks
• LED lantern (1 per floor): illuminates a room for group activities, navigation, and meals
• Batteries: 48-pack of AA and AAA: most emergency lighting runs on these sizes; store half in your kit
• Rechargeable alternative: a high-capacity power bank can charge USB-powered lanterns and headlamps indefinitely from stored energy

5. First Aid Kit

FEMA requires a first aid kit in every emergency supply kit. The American Red Cross first aid kit guidelines align with FEMA's recommendations.

• Adhesive bandages (assorted sizes, 50+)
• Sterile gauze pads (4x4 inches, 10+)
• Medical adhesive tape
• Antiseptic wipes
• Antibiotic ointment (Neosporin or equivalent)
• Elastic bandages (ACE wraps, 2+)
• Nitrile gloves (2+ pairs)
• Scissors and tweezers
• Instant cold packs (2+)
• Tourniquet (CAT) — strongly recommended addition beyond standard FEMA kit
• First aid manual (printed, not digital)

6. Prescription Medications and Medical Items

FEMA explicitly calls for a 7-day supply of prescription medications. This is one of the most commonly overlooked items — pharmacies become inaccessible and their computer systems go down during extended disasters.

• 7-day supply of all prescription medications (talk to your doctor about maintaining a buffer supply)
• N95 masks or dust masks (10+ per person) — for wildfire smoke, structural collapse dust, and contaminated air
• OTC medications: acetaminophen/ibuprofen, antidiarrheal (Imodium), antihistamine (Benadryl), antacid
• Glasses and contact lens supplies (extra pair of glasses; extra contact lenses and solution)
• Infant and child-specific medications for households with children
• Medical device backup power (CPAP, nebulizer, powered wheelchair)

7. Tools and Safety Items

• Manual can opener (required; electric openers need power)
• Multi-tool (Leatherman or Victorinox Swiss Army)
• Work gloves (leather) — moving debris is dangerous without hand protection
• Wrench or pliers — to shut off gas and water utilities
• Duct tape
• Plastic sheeting — for sealing rooms from airborne contamination or improvised water collection
• Scissors
• Whistle (pealess Fox 40 or similar) — to signal for help if trapped
• Local maps (printed) — GPS requires a charged device; paper maps do not

8. Moist Towelettes, Garbage Bags, and Plastic Ties

FEMA specifically calls for personal sanitation items. Sanitation failures after disasters cause disease outbreaks that compound the original emergency.

• Baby wipes / wet wipes (large pack, 200+)
• Hand sanitizer (16 oz or larger)
• Heavy-duty garbage bags (30+)
• Plastic ties or zip ties
• Toilet paper (2-week supply)
• Feminine hygiene products
• Portable camping toilet (optional for extended scenarios)
• Bleach (unscented, 8.25% sodium hypochlorite) — disinfects surfaces and purifies water at 8 drops per gallon

9. Important Documents and Cash

Keep a waterproof container with copies of all of the following. Also store digitally in an encrypted cloud backup.

• Government-issued ID (driver's license, passport) — copies for each family member
• Social Security cards or numbers
• Insurance policies (home, auto, health, life)
• Bank account and financial records
• Property deeds or leases
• Medical records (health conditions, medications, allergies, vaccination records)
• Emergency contact list (printed)
• Family emergency plan (printed)
• Cash — $200 minimum in small bills ($5s, $10s, $20s). Card readers and ATMs require electricity and internet.

FEMA Additional Recommended Items

These items appear in the Ready.gov additional items section for households with specific needs:

• Infant supplies: formula, diapers, baby food, wipes, pediatric medications
• Pet supplies: food, water, medications, carrier, leash, vaccination records
• Sleeping bags or warm blankets (1 per person)
• Change of clothing and sturdy shoes (1 set per person)
• Household chlorine bleach (see sanitation)
• Fire extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils
• Books, games, puzzles, or other activities — for children; maintaining morale and mental health in a shelter-in-place scenario matters
• Two-way radios — for household or neighborhood communication when cell networks fail

How to Build This Kit Step by Step

Don't try to buy everything at once. FEMA acknowledges that building a complete kit is a process. Here is the recommended sequence based on what protects you first:

1. Week 1 — Water: Buy 12 gallons of water (family of 4) or fill food-grade containers. This is the highest-leverage first step. Add water purification tablets.
2. Week 2 — Radio: Buy a NOAA hand-crank weather radio. This is your lifeline to information when all digital communications fail. Do not skip this step.
3. Week 3 — Food: Buy a 3-day supply of non-perishable food and a manual can opener.
4. Week 4 — Light and Power: Buy a headlamp for each person and a high-capacity power bank.
5. Week 5 — First Aid & Medications: Assemble or buy a 100-piece first aid kit. Stock 7-day medication supply.
6. Week 6 — Documents and Cash: Create a waterproof document bag with copies of all key documents. Set aside cash.
7. Week 7 — Sanitation and Tools: Buy wipes, hand sanitizer, garbage bags, and a multi-tool.
8. Ongoing: Add warmth items, disaster-specific supplies, and extend food and water supply toward 2 weeks.

Printable FEMA Emergency Supply Checklist

Water

• Water — 1 gallon per person per day, 3-day minimum
• Water purification tablets
• Portable water filter (LifeStraw or Sawyer)

Food

• 3-day non-perishable food supply per person
• Manual can opener
• Camp stove + fuel (outdoor use only)
• Infant formula / special dietary items

Radio & Light

• NOAA hand-crank weather radio
• LED headlamp + extra batteries (1 per person)
• LED lantern

First Aid & Medical

• First aid kit (100+ piece)
• 7-day prescription medication supply
• N95 masks (10+ per person)
• OTC medications

Sanitation

• Baby wipes / wet wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Garbage bags (heavy duty)
• Toilet paper (2-week supply)
• Bleach (unscented)

Tools

• Multi-tool
• Work gloves
• Wrench or pliers (for utility shutoffs)
• Duct tape
• Plastic sheeting
• Whistle (pealess)
• Local paper maps

Documents & Cash

• Waterproof document bag (IDs, insurance, medical records)
• $200+ cash in small bills
• Family emergency plan (printed)
• Emergency contact list (printed)

Warmth

• Sleeping bags or warm blankets (1 per person)
• Change of clothing + sturdy shoes (1 set per person)
• Mylar emergency blankets (1 per person)