An emergency kit is a collection of supplies that helps you stay safe when normal services are interrupted by hazards such as earthquakes, floods, storms, wildfires, or power outages. Building a kit matters because disasters can damage roads, stop electricity, limit clean water, and delay emergency responders. A good kit supports your basic needs for at least 72 hours while you wait for help or move to a safer place.
Preparing ahead of time also lowers panic because you already know where important items are.
Key Facts
- Plan for at least 72 hours of supplies per person.
- Water guideline: 1 gallon of water per person per day.
- Total water needed = people x days x 1 gallon.
- Food should be nonperishable, easy to open, and safe to eat without cooking.
- A kit should include first aid, light, communication, hygiene, warmth, and important documents.
- Check and replace expired food, water, batteries, and medicines every 6 months.
Vocabulary
- Emergency kit
- A prepared set of supplies used to stay safe and meet basic needs during a disaster or emergency.
- Go-bag
- A portable emergency bag that is ready to grab quickly if you must leave home.
- Hazard
- A natural or human-caused event that can threaten people, property, or the environment.
- Evacuation
- The planned movement of people away from a dangerous area to a safer location.
- Nonperishable food
- Food that can be stored for a long time without refrigeration, such as canned goods, granola bars, or dried fruit.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Packing too little water is unsafe because dehydration can become serious quickly, especially during heat, smoke, or physical activity.
- Forgetting a can opener makes canned food less useful because many cans cannot be opened safely without the right tool.
- Letting supplies expire is a problem because old batteries, medicines, food, and water may not work or may be unsafe when needed.
- Storing the kit in a hard-to-reach place slows your response because emergencies may require you to leave or shelter quickly.
Practice Questions
- 1 A family of 4 wants supplies for 3 days. Using 1 gallon of water per person per day, how many gallons of water should they pack?
- 2 A student has 6 granola bars, and each bar has 180 calories. If the student needs 1,800 calories per day from emergency food, how many full days of food do the bars provide?
- 3 After an earthquake, the power is out and cell service is unreliable. Explain why a flashlight, battery-powered radio, whistle, and written contact list are useful parts of an emergency kit.