Create a Basic Emergency Kit for Your Family + Free Printable
When an emergency strikes, will your family be ready with the essentials they need to stay safe and secure?
Being prepared for unexpected situations can bring a sense of security to your home. One of the essential steps in family preparedness is creating a basic emergency kit. Today let’s walk through the must-have items, customization tips for unique family needs, storage and maintenance recommendations, and budget-friendly ways to gather supplies.
Be sure to download my printable shopping list at the bottom of the post!

Emergencies can happen without warning, leaving us scrambling to find what we need when time is of the essence. Whether it’s a power outage, severe weather, or unexpected evacuation, having an emergency kit prepared ahead of time ensures your family is ready for whatever comes your way.
It’s probably been ten years ago, but I remember it was April and we had a spring thunderstorm that ended up felling tress all around our community – and even our region. In fact we had huge trees in our own yard come down. We ended up being without electricity for nearly a week.
It’s the longest I’ve personally ever been without power and we ended up losing most of the food in our freezers. It wasn’t fun but we were okay. We had what we needed on hand and everyone stayed safe.
So many of our neighbors (including us) cut down many of our huge trees after that storm. In our yard alone we had 22 trees cut down over a period of 5 or 6 years after that. I’m talking 70 – 100 foot trees. One of them had 150 rings – broke my heart to see it go. But even one of the branches reached out over 50 feet.
The good news is well-thought-out kit gives you one less thing to worry about when life takes an unexpected turn. And if you’ve lived long enough you’ve probably experienced an emergency or two. Let’s talk about how you can easily build your family’s emergency kit with this simple list of supplies.
Why You Need an Emergency Kit
An emergency kit provides vital supplies to help your family stay safe and comfortable during natural disasters, power outages, or other emergencies. Having these items on hand can make all the difference, ensuring you’re prepared for various situations.
Proverbs 21:31 – “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.”
Essential Items for Every Emergency Kit
You can shop my full Home Emergency Amazon List here. Start by gathering these basic supplies:
- Water: Plan for at least one gallon of water per person per day, enough to last three days for drinking and sanitation. You may need more if you have pets or are in a hot climate.
- Food: Include non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items such as canned goods, dried fruits, protein bars, and peanut butter. Plan for at least three days’ worth of food.
- Manual can opener: Make sure you have a way to open any canned goods.
- First Aid Kit: Stock a comprehensive first aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, adhesive tape, tweezers, scissors, and any prescription medications your family members need.
- Flashlight and extra batteries: A reliable flashlight and spare batteries are crucial for power outages.
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio: This helps you stay informed with emergency updates, especially if power and cellular service are down.
- Personal hygiene items: Include essentials like hand sanitizer, wet wipes, toilet paper, and basic toiletries.
- Multi-tool: A multi-tool with a knife, pliers, and other useful features can come in handy.
- Emergency whistle: Useful for signaling for help if you’re trapped or lost.
- Local maps: In case GPS or cellular service fails, paper maps can help you navigate.
Customizing Your Kit for Your Family’s Unique Needs
Every family is different, so consider these additions based on your household:
- Children: Add items like diapers, baby formula, small toys, or comfort items.
- Pets: Include extra water, pet food, and a leash or pet carrier.
- Medical conditions: Make sure you have any necessary prescription medications, as well as extra supplies like glasses, contact lenses, or hearing aid batteries.
- Allergies or dietary restrictions: Store appropriate food items that accommodate any specific dietary needs.
Storing and Maintaining Your Emergency Kit
- Choose a Convenient Location: Store your kit in a cool, dry place that’s easy to access in an emergency, such as a hall closet or a designated emergency supply area in your home.
- Regularly Check Your Kit: Every six months, review your kit and replace any expired food, water, medications, or batteries.
- Store Items in a Portable Container: Use a sturdy backpack or plastic bin that’s easy to grab and carry if you need to evacuate.
Budget-Friendly Tips for Building Your Kit
You don’t have to spend a lot to create a functional emergency kit. Here are some tips for gathering supplies affordably:
- Buy in bulk: Purchase non-perishable food, water, and other essentials in bulk to save money.
- Reuse and repurpose: Use items you already have at home, such as extra blankets, old backpacks, or gently used clothing.
- Shop sales and discounts: Look for sales on emergency supplies at your local store or online, especially for items like first aid kits, flashlights, and multi-tools.
- DIY first aid kit: Assemble your own first aid kit using items from home, like gauze, adhesive bandages, and pain relief medication.
Additional Items to Consider for Long-Term Preparedness
For those of you who want to go beyond the basics, you could consider adding these items:
- Portable phone charger or solar charger: To keep your devices powered.
- Water purification tablets or a portable water filter: Useful in case of long-term water outages.
- Emergency blankets and sleeping bags: For warmth during cold weather.
- Extra cash: In small bills, as ATMs and card readers may not work in an emergency.
In our house we’re kind of at the half way point. We have a good stock of a lot of things, but there are still a number things we need to add to our supplies. One of the things that is currently on my mind is water. We do not have that much purified water on hand. I need to work on it!
Shopping List for Your Basic Emergency Kit
Here’s a shopping list to help you gather the essential items for your family’s emergency kit:
Emergency Kit Shopping List
Water & Food
- [ ] 3-day supply of bottled water (1 gallon per person per day)
- [ ] Non-perishable food items (canned goods, protein bars, dried fruit)
- [ ] Baby formula or special dietary foods (if needed)
- [ ] Manual can opener
First Aid & Hygiene
- [ ] Comprehensive first aid kit (bandages, antiseptic, gauze, adhesive tape, tweezers, etc.)
- [ ] Prescription medications (extra supply)
- [ ] Personal hygiene items (hand sanitizer, wet wipes, toilet paper, basic toiletries)
- [ ] Glasses, contact lenses, or hearing aid batteries (if applicable)
Tools & Supplies
- [ ] Flashlight and/or emergency candles
- [ ] Extra batteries
- [ ] Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- [ ] Multi-tool (with knife, pliers, etc.) or cheaper option
- [ ] Emergency whistle
- [ ] Local maps and a road atlas
- [ ] Sturdy backpack or plastic storage bin (for storing items)
Clothing & Comfort
- [ ] Extra blankets or sleeping bags
- [ ] Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing
- [ ] Small toys or comfort items for children
- [ ] Pet supplies (food, water, leash, carrier)
Optional Items for Enhanced Preparedness
- [ ] Portable phone charger or solar charger
- [ ] Water purification tablets or portable water filter
- [ ] Emergency cash (small bills)
This list covers the essentials and helps customize your basic emergency kit based on your family’s needs. Gather these items over time or shop sales for budget-friendly options.
Stay Prepared and Stay Safe
Creating a basic emergency kit goes a long way toward ensuring your family’s safety during unexpected events. It doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated—start with the essentials and gradually build upon your kit. With regular updates and thoughtful planning, your emergency kit will be a valuable resource for your home.
Is there anything you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments below!
More Emergency Home Preparedness Articles
- A Guide to Family + Home Emergency Preparation
- 10 Basic Items to Stock Up for Emergencies
- Preparing a Home Emergency Closet & Being Organized
- How to Create a Grab and Go Bag
- Create a 72 Hour Grab & Go Bag: Complete Gear List
Printable Emergency Kit Shopping List
Click on the button below to download! If you’re a member of the Homemaker’s Society, you’ll find this and hundreds more printables inside the Resource Libraries (linked in the menu above).