72 Hour Checklist
🧃 Water
- 3 gal/person (minimum)
- Purification tablets or filters
- Collapsible water container
- Electrolyte packets
🍽️ Food
- 72-hour shelf-stable supply
- Manual can opener
- Disposable utensils
- Multivitamins
🧰 Tools & Gear
- Multi-tool or toolkit
- Duct tape, gloves
- NOAA radio, flashlight + batteries
- Lighter, matches, whistle
🪫 Power & Lighting
- 2+ battery banks
- Solar/hand-crank charger
- Lantern or solar light
- Extra batteries
🧼 Hygiene & Sanitation
- Toilet paper, wipes, trash bags
- Soap, sanitizer, toothbrush
- Feminine hygiene items
- Small shovel for sanitation
💊 Medical & First Aid
- First-aid kit, 3-day meds
- OTC meds (pain, allergy)
- N95 masks, glasses/contacts
- Emergency dental kit (optional)
🧥 Clothing & Shelter
- Weather-appropriate clothes
- Sturdy shoes
- Blanket or sleeping bag
- Rain gear, seasonal items
📃 Documents & Cash
- ID, insurance, medical records
- Paper maps
- Written emergency contacts
- $200+ in small bills
📦 Go-Bag / Evacuation
- Backpack with 72-hr gear
- Evacuation routes, shelter info
- Chargers and comfort items
- Personal safety device
📡 Staying Informed
- NOAA radio, local alerts
- Apps (FEMA, Red Cross, Zello)
- Phone + cable, walkie-talkies
- Contact list, check-in plan
🧠 Mental & Strategic Prep
- Family emergency plan
- Neighborhood check-in
- Know how to shut off utilities
- Semi-annual gear review
👨👩👧👦 Specialty Needs
- Kids: diapers, formula, meds, toy
- Elderly: mobility aids, hearing aids
- Pets: food, leash, waste bags
- Medical devices: backup power, cool storage
Disclaimer: Every person, family, and location is different—so no single checklist can cover everything. This list isn’t meant to be perfect; it’s meant to help you start. The goal is simple: give you a clear, practical foundation so you can stop procrastinating and begin taking real steps toward being prepared.