Surv · Guides
A home emergency kit: the Ready.gov list, explained
What the United States government actually recommends storing, how much water and food, how to treat suspicious water, what to do when the power goes out, and how to keep the kit current.
Why a kit exists at all
Ready.gov, the preparedness site of the United States government, opens with the reason: after an emergency you may need to survive on your own for several days. Utilities take time to restore, roads take time to clear, and shops empty quickly. A kit is not about anticipating a specific disaster. It is about removing the need to make decisions and go shopping during the hours when both are hardest.
How many days to plan for
Ready.gov phrases its recommendation as several days rather than a fixed number, and that wording is deliberate. Seventy-two hours became the common planning convention because it is a memorable floor, not because it is a guarantee. Treat it as a minimum you build first, then extend if you live somewhere prone to long outages, far from services, or under weather that closes roads.
Water: the quantity that matters
The recommendation is at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation. Ready.gov notes that a normally active person needs about three quarters of a gallon of fluid daily, and that the rest covers hygiene. Children, nursing mothers and sick people may need more. In very hot temperatures, water needs can double.
Storing water so it stays usable
Commercially bottled water in its sealed original container, kept somewhere cool and dark, is the simplest approach. If you fill your own containers, Ready.gov specifies food-grade water storage containers, cleaned with dishwashing soap and sanitised with a solution of one teaspoon of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water. Water that has not been commercially bottled should be replaced every six months.
Never ration water on your own initiative
This instruction surprises people, and it is explicit: never ration drinking water unless ordered to do so by authorities. Drink what you need today and look for more tomorrow. Reduce activity and stay cool to lower what your body needs. Caffeinated drinks and alcohol dehydrate the body and increase the need for water, so they are not substitutes.
Treating suspicious water
If stored water runs out, let suspended particles settle or strain the water through coffee filters or clean cloth, then treat it. Boiling is described as the safest method: a rolling boil for one full minute, then cool. Chlorination uses regular household liquid bleach containing 5.25 to 6.0 percent sodium hypochlorite, at an eighth of a teaspoon per gallon, stirred and left to stand for thirty minutes.
What boiling and bleach cannot do
Both kill microbes, and neither removes heavy metals, salts or most other chemicals. Distillation does both, which is why it is the method for water of genuinely unknown chemical quality. Scented bleaches, colour-safe bleaches and bleaches with added cleaners must not be used, and iodine or camping treatment products that do not use sodium hypochlorite as the only active ingredient are not recommended.
Food that needs nothing to be edible
Stock canned foods, dry mixes and staples that require no refrigeration, cooking, water or special preparation. The suggested items are ordinary: ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables; protein or fruit bars; dry cereal or granola; peanut butter; dried fruit; canned juices; non-perishable pasteurised milk; high-energy foods; food for infants; and comfort foods. Two instructions carry more weight than the list: choose foods your family will actually eat, and remember any special dietary needs.
The basic supply list
Beyond food and water: a battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert; a flashlight; a first aid kit; extra batteries; a whistle to signal for help; a dust mask; plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape to shelter in place; moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for sanitation; a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities; a manual can opener; local maps; and a cell phone with chargers and a backup battery.
The additions most households actually need
Ready.gov lists these separately because they depend on who you are: prescription medications, non-prescription medicines such as pain relievers and antacids, prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution, infant formula and nappies, pet food and extra water for pets, cash, copies of insurance policies and identification kept waterproof or saved electronically, a sleeping bag or warm blanket per person, a change of clothing and sturdy shoes, a fire extinguisher, matches in a waterproof container, hygiene items, and activities for children.
When the power goes out
Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible. An unopened refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours, and refrigerated food should be safe as long as the outage lasted no longer than that. Discard perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs or leftovers that has been above forty degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more. Thawed food can usually be eaten if it is still refrigerator cold, and refrozen if it still contains ice crystals.
Food safety rules that are easy to get wrong
Throw away any food that has touched contaminated flood water, that has been at room temperature for two hours or more, or that has an unusual odour, colour or texture. Do not eat from cans that are swollen, dented or corroded, even if the contents look fine. Charcoal grills and camp stoves are for outdoor use only. Commercially canned food can be eaten from the can without warming.
Where to keep it, and how many
Store the kit in airtight plastic bags inside one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag, somewhere you can reach quickly rather than at the back of a cellar. A smaller kit in the car and one at work make sense if you spend long hours away, because an emergency does not wait until you are home.
Maintaining it, which is where kits fail
Keep canned food in a cool, dry place, store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers, and replace expired items as needed. This is the step that is skipped. A kit assembled once and never reviewed becomes a box of expired food and dead batteries, and you discover that at the worst possible moment. Once a year, walk through it item by item.
What an inventory app contributes
Surv keeps an inventory with expiry dates and can remind you before something expires, and it works without a network connection, which matters when the network is the thing that failed. It cannot tell you about what you never entered, so build the list by walking through the kit physically. Surv is a reference tool, not an emergency service. In an emergency, follow the instructions of local authorities.
Questions
How much water should I store per person?
Ready.gov recommends at least one gallon per person per day for several days, covering both drinking and sanitation. Children, nursing mothers and sick people may need more, and in very hot temperatures water needs can double.
How long should an emergency kit last?
Ready.gov says several days rather than naming a number. Seventy-two hours is the common planning convention and a sensible floor. Extend it if you live far from services or somewhere prone to long outages.
How do I make suspicious water safe to drink?
Let particles settle or strain the water, then boil it at a rolling boil for one full minute. Chlorination with unscented household bleach containing 5.25 to 6.0 percent sodium hypochlorite is an alternative. Neither removes heavy metals or chemicals; only distillation does.
How long does food stay safe when the power goes out?
An unopened refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours. Discard perishable food that has been above forty degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more. Frozen food that still has ice crystals can be refrozen.
How often should I check my kit?
At least once a year, item by item. Replace expired food, water and medicines, refresh batteries and update documents. Water that was not commercially bottled should be replaced every six months.