72-Hour Home Emergency Survival Kits

A 72-hour emergency kit for home use gives your household a ready-made foundation for the first three days of a power outage, severe storm, or other unexpected disruption.

Think of it as the one shelf in the house nobody raids for a midnight snack.

Food, starter water, first aid, lighting, shelter, and other emergency essentials are packed together so you're not gathering supplies after an emergency has already begun.

Choose the kit that fits your household and the emergencies you're preparing for, then add medications, important documents, stored water, and the things unique to your family.

Three days is a starting point, not the finish line. For sheltering at home, building additional food and water reserves where space allows can give your household more flexibility during a longer disruption.

Start with the kit. Then build around the people who will actually use it.

72-Hour Emergency Survival Kit Collection

Find the right 72-hour kit

Start with who you're preparing for, then the kind of emergency most likely where you live.

FOR FAMILIES

Guardian

2 or 4 person

Three days of food, starter water and a way to treat more, first aid, shelter and a weather radio. The 4-person size splits across two backpacks.

See Guardian → LIGHTEST FOR TWO

RapidShield

2 or 4 person

Full 72-hour coverage at just 12 pounds for two, with safety goggles included. Easy to lift off a shelf and carry out the door.

See RapidShield → ONE BACKPACK

SideBySide

2 or 4 person

Our most affordable kit for two or four. A food bar, blanket, poncho and warmer for each person, plus a flashlight that never needs batteries.

See SideBySide → LIVING ON YOUR OWN

SoloSteady

1 person

Food, starter water, light, a radio and a full hygiene kit in one backpack, so your plan for one is all in one place.

See SoloSteady → ROLLING BAG

WheelDeal

1 person

Three days of essentials in a bag you pull instead of lift. A thoughtful choice for a parent who lives on their own.

See WheelDeal → CITY & APARTMENT

Urban Escape Gear

2 or 4 person

Low-profile and light enough for stairwells and sidewalks. Made for apartment living and getting home on foot.

See Urban Escape Gear → HURRICANE READY

StormShield

2 or 4 person · bucket

Packed in a 5-gallon bucket with a toilet seat lid, plus sanitation supplies, water treatment and a weather radio for riding out the storm at home.

See StormShield → HURRICANE FOR TWO

SafeHarbor

2 person · backpack or bucket

The same supplies and price either way, with a hand-crank NOAA radio that charges your phone. Backpack if you may leave, bucket if you plan to stay.

See SafeHarbor → EARTHQUAKE READY

ShakeGuard

2 person · basic or deluxe

protective gear and tools for navigating post-earthquake conditions. The Deluxe is the full 72-hour kit; the Basic is a starter.

See ShakeGuard →

How to Choose the Right 72-Hour Emergency Kit for Your Household

Why 72 hours?

A 72-hour emergency kit is a practical starting point for preparing for disruptions that may temporarily affect power, water, transportation, stores, or other everyday services.

Having essential supplies already gathered means you're not trying to find food, water, lighting, first aid, or other necessities after an emergency has begun.

Three days gives you a foundation. Your household and the risks where you live determine what you build around it.

What should a 72-hour emergency kit cover?

A well-rounded emergency kit should address the basic needs you'll have if normal services are disrupted:

  • Food
  • Water
  • First aid
  • Lighting
  • Communication
  • Shelter and warmth
  • Hygiene and sanitation

The kits here provide different combinations of these emergency essentials. Some emphasize fuller 72-hour coverage, while others add features for particular households or hazards.

Use the chooser above to compare the differences and find the option that best fits your household.

Which 72-hour emergency kit is right for my household?

The right 72-hour emergency kit depends on how many people you're preparing for, where you live, and whether you're planning to shelter at home or evacuate.

For one person, a ready-made emergency backpack like the SoloSteady keeps essential supplies together, while the WheelDeal offers a rolling alternative for anyone who prefers not to carry a backpack.

For couples or households of four, the SideBySide, Guardian, and RapidShield offer different levels of emergency preparedness. If you live in an apartment or city, Urban Escape Gear provides a portable option. For specific hazards, consider StormShield or SafeHarbor for hurricanes and ShakeGuard for earthquakes.

Compare each kit's contents, food and water quantities, and carrying options before choosing. Then add personal medications, additional drinking water, and anything else your household needs.

Is 72 hours enough?

Think of three days as a starting point, not the finish line.

A 72-hour kit gives you a manageable foundation, but a longer disruption may require additional food, stored water, medications, backup power, and other household supplies.

For sheltering at home, building additional reserves where space and circumstances allow can give your household more flexibility if a disruption lasts longer than expected.

A question worth asking

If an emergency kept you home tonight or required you to leave, which essentials could you put your hands on right now?

Food. Water. First aid. Lighting. Communication. Warmth. Hygiene.

You may already own many of them. The advantage of an emergency kit is having essential supplies gathered, organized, and easy to find when you need them.

Then add the layer no pre-packed kit can provide:

  • Prescription medications and a refill plan
  • Important documents and emergency contacts
  • Additional stored water
  • Glasses, hearing aid supplies, medical-device needs, or other personal essentials
  • Comfort items for children
  • Pet supplies, if animals are part of your household

The kit provides the foundation. You make it fit your household.

Read Our 72-Hour Family Emergency Plan Guide