FEMA's Emergency Supply List: What to Actually Buy (And What to Skip)
FEMA recommends stocking a basic emergency kit with water (1 gallon per person per day for several days), non-perishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered radio, first aid kit, and medications. The agency's checklist also includes documents, cash, and supplies for infants or pets. However, FEMA's baseline recommendations are designed for the broadest audience—you may need to customize beyond these essentials depending on your family's specific needs and local disaster risks.
In this guide, we'll break down FEMA's official emergency supply list, explain what the agency gets right, point out what's missing, and recommend specific upgrades that turn a basic kit into a serious preparedness plan.
FEMA's Official Emergency Supply Checklist
Here's the full list FEMA recommends every household assemble:
- Water — one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food — at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio with NOAA Weather Radio capability
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Extra batteries
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask to help filter contaminated air
- Plastic sheeting and duct tape for sheltering in place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Manual can opener for food
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
- Prescription medications and glasses
- Infant formula and diapers (if applicable)
- Pet food and extra water for pets
- Important family documents in a waterproof, portable container
- Cash or traveler's checks
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate
- Fire extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels, and plastic utensils
- Paper and pencil
- Books, games, puzzles, or other activities for children
It's a comprehensive list — but the devil is in the details. Let's go category by category.
Water: FEMA's Biggest Underestimate
FEMA recommends one gallon per person per day for "several days," usually defined as 72 hours. That's the bare minimum to stay alive — not to live comfortably, cook, or maintain basic hygiene.
What to upgrade: Most preparedness experts now recommend planning for two weeks or more. After Hurricane Maria, parts of Puerto Rico lacked running water for months. Store at least 14 gallons per person and add a serious water filtration system as a backup.
Safecastle recommends: The Alexapure Pro Gravity Water Filtration System and Blue Can Premium Emergency Drinking Water (50-year shelf life) for long-term water storage supplies.
Food: Skip the Canned Goods Mountain
FEMA suggests "non-perishable food" — typically interpreted as canned goods and granola bars. The problem? Canned food is heavy, has a 2–5 year shelf life, and requires constant rotation.
What to upgrade: Freeze-dried food has a 25–30 year shelf life, weighs a fraction of canned goods, and only requires hot water to prepare. For a true two-week supply (which experts recommend over FEMA's 72-hour baseline), freeze-dried is the only practical option.
Safecastle recommends: Mountain House and Augason Farms emergency food kits, available in 72-hour, 30-day, and 1-year supplies.
First Aid: The IFAK Upgrade
FEMA's first aid recommendation is generic — bandages, antiseptic, pain reliever. That's fine for scrapes and bruises but inadequate for the kinds of injuries common in disasters: lacerations, burns, broken bones, and traumatic bleeding.
What to upgrade: Add an Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) with a tourniquet, hemostatic gauze, chest seals, and a trauma shears. Take a Stop the Bleed course — it's free and may save a life.
Safecastle recommends: MyMedic First Aid Kits, which include both everyday medical supplies and trauma-grade equipment.
Light and Power: Hand-Crank Isn't Enough
FEMA mentions flashlights and batteries but stops short of recommending serious backup power. In a multi-day grid-down event, your phone, medical equipment, and refrigerator all need electricity.
What to upgrade: A solar generator paired with portable solar panels provides indefinite power generation. For lighting, switch to rechargeable LED lanterns and tactical flashlights with multiple power options.
Safecastle recommends: EcoFlow and Bluetti solar generator systems, which can run essential appliances for days.
Communication: Beyond the Cell Phone
FEMA recommends a NOAA weather radio and a cell phone with backup battery. The flaw: in major disasters, cell networks fail within hours.
What to upgrade: Add a handheld two-way radio (GMRS or HAM) and a satellite communicator like a Garmin inReach for true off-grid messaging.
Safecastle recommends: Midland GMRS radios and emergency NOAA receivers with hand-crank, solar, and USB charging.
Documents: Don't Forget Digital Backups
FEMA recommends a waterproof container for documents. Good — but not enough.
What to upgrade: Scan everything (IDs, insurance policies, deeds, medical records, prescriptions) and store on an encrypted USB drive plus a secure cloud account. Physical copies should be in a
Related resource: For data and statistics on emergency preparedness rates, disaster costs, and recommended supply guidelines, see our Emergency Preparedness Statistics 2024-2025 reference page.