Three Days of Self-Reliance
Emergency management agencies recommend every household maintain enough supplies to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. That is the window between when a disaster strikes and when organized help typically arrives — whether it is a hurricane, ice storm, earthquake, widespread power outage, or civil disruption.
A 72-hour kit is not about doomsday fantasies. It is about practical readiness for events that happen every year in every part of the country.
Water and Food
One gallon of water per person per day. Three gallons per person minimum. Store commercially bottled water and rotate annually. For food, pack calorie-dense items that require no cooking or refrigeration: energy bars, canned goods with pull-top lids, peanut butter, dried fruit, and crackers.
Lighting and Power
When the grid goes down, darkness is immediate. Pack:
- A tactical flashlight with spare batteries or USB charging capability
- A headlamp for hands-free work
- A portable battery bank to charge phones and radios
- Fire starters for light, warmth, and cooking
Cutting and Multi-Purpose Tools
Emergencies generate an endless list of cutting, prying, and fixing tasks. Your kit needs:
- A fixed blade knife — stronger and more reliable than a folder for heavy tasks
- A multi-tool — pliers, screwdrivers, wire cutters, can opener all in one
- A folding saw or hatchet if you have room — for processing firewood and clearing debris
First Aid
A comprehensive first aid kit goes beyond band-aids. Include wound closure strips, gauze rolls, medical tape, antiseptic, pain medication, any prescription medications for 72 hours, and a basic first aid guide if you have not taken a course.
Personal Security
Emergencies can bring out the worst in people. Looting, opportunistic crime, and general chaos are documented in virtually every major disaster. Having personal defense tools is not paranoia — it is the same logic as having a flashlight: you hope you do not need it, but you carry it anyway.
- Pepper spray — Range-based deterrent that works in any lighting condition
- A stun gun with flashlight — Dual purpose: light plus defense
- A sturdy fixed blade knife — Already in your kit for utility; serves double duty
Communication and Navigation
- Battery-powered or hand-crank AM/FM radio — Your information lifeline when cell towers are down
- Whistle — For signaling if trapped or separated
- Compass and local map — Navigation when GPS is unavailable
- Copies of important documents in a waterproof bag — IDs, insurance, medical info
Shelter and Warmth
- Emergency mylar blankets — Two per person minimum
- A tarp or heavy-duty contractor trash bags — Improvised shelter from rain and wind
- Paracord — 100 feet for shelter construction, gear lashing, clothesline
- Hand warmers — Chemical warmers last 8 to 12 hours per pair
Build It Now, Not Later
The worst time to build an emergency kit is during an emergency. Put it together on a normal Saturday afternoon, store it in a closet near your front door or in your vehicle, and check it twice a year.
Total investment: under $150. Total weight: a single backpack. Peace of mind: significant.
Browse our emergency preparedness and tactical gear to build a 72-hour kit from equipment designed to perform under pressure.