How to Pack a 72-Hour Emergency Kit for a Natural Disaster (printable PDF checklists & Video included)
- Isabella Boston
- Feb 25, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Be Prepared and Learn How to Make a 72-Hour Emergency Kit.
This post was last updated on Augutst 7, 2026.
Library: Printable PDFs & Resources
Red Cross Checklist: Emergency Kit Checklist.
US Army: 72-Hour Kit Supply List.
Food Storage: Preparing an Emergency Food Supply, Long Term Food Storage, by Judy Harrison, PhD.) And, please visit my video library at the end of this blog for additional tips and resources!
First Aid Kit: How to Make Your Own First Aid Kit.
FEMA Power Outage Checklist: Be Prepared for a Power Outage.
Red Cross Power Outage Checklist: Be Red Cross Ready - Power Outage Checklist.
Are You Prepared?
As hurricanes, wildfires, mudslides, floods, and tornadoes are occurring more often, you and your family must prepare for the event of a worldwide emergency or natural disaster.
Many times, people are forced to leave their homes, often without any warning or notice.
Suppose you must evacuate your home. Are you prepared? If not, plan to have enough emergency items for at least 72 hours, or longer, per person.
If possible, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also recommends keeping an extra kit in your car and/or workplace, because you never know where you will be when an emergency or a disaster hits.
Critical Emergency Supplies Checklist:
(You can find most of these items at your local dollar or community store.)
Clothes
Short and long-sleeved shirts, pants, warm jackets, socks, etc.
Raincoat or poncho
Undergarments
Blankets
Cloth sheets
Plastic sheets: Preferably 4 -6 mil thick. (Please see the section below.)
Towels & washcloths
Water & Hydration
Stored Water: 1 gallon per person per day (3-day minimum).
Water Filters: Portable water filter or gravity purifier system.
Chemical Treatment: Unscented household bleach with dropper or chlorine dioxide tablets.
Food & Nutrition
Non-Perishable Food: 3-day supply of canned meats, chili, soup/stews, beans (pop-tops are more convenient), trail mix, dried fruits, peanut butter, crackers, cereals, granola & protein bars.
Manual Can Opener: Essential for accessing canned food.
Camp Stove & Fuel: Pack a tiny backpacking stove to boil water and rehydrate meals.
Mess Kit: Durable plates, utensils, and a small camp stove with fuel. Please consider the Kelly Kettle Base Camp.
Infant’s needs, if applicable: baby formula, bottles, etc.
Pet's needs, food, meds, collapsible bowl, toys, etc., if applicable.
Medical & Hygiene
First Aid Kit: Bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, tweezers, and medical Tape.
Prescription Medications: Minimum 7-day supply of critical personal medications.
Basic Medications: Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, children’s medication, etc.
Hygiene Supplies: Moist towelettes, feminine hygiene products, toothbrush & toothpaste, garbage bags, toilet paper, etc.
Cleaning supplies: Hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, dish soap, etc.
Infant’s needs, if applicable: diapers, baby wipes, rash ointments, etc.
Tools & Communication
LED Flashlight/ Headlamp: Headlamps keep your hands free during an evacuation.
Extra Matching Batteries: Store them outside the devices, so they do not leak or corrode.
Crank or Battery Radio: NOAA Weather Radio to receive emergency broadcasts.
Multi-Tool: Heavy-duty pocket knife with pliers and screwdrivers.
Whistle: High-decibel emergency whistle to signal for rescue.
Protection & Comfort
Emergency Blankets: Compact Mylar space blankets to retain body heat.
Tent
Sleeping Bags
Flares
Ax
Shovel
Scissors
Rope
Duct Tape: Versatile tool for quick repairs or sealing shelters.
Matches or Lighter: Stored inside a completely waterproof container.
Local Paper Maps: Reliable navigation if cell towers go down.
Books, Entertainment & Comfort: Holy Bible, family photos, at least 3 board games, coloring & reading books.
Phone & charger(s)
Pen & Paper
Personal documents and money (Keep these items in a waterproof container or pouch, especially during an evacuation!)
Legal documents: Birth and marriage certificates, wills, passports, contracts, etc.
Medical records
Insurance policies
Cash
Credit card/Checks
Prepaid phone card
I have all my important documents in order and stored in a safe and easily accessible place. All I have to do is grab them and throw them in my bag.
With everything going on right now, it is so important that if you are stopped and approached during an emergency, you can verify yourself without being detained.
Whether you are an American citizen or not. There will come a time when EVERYONE will be stopped and questioned!
And please keep in mind, you might never get to return to your home. So it is IMPERATIVE to have your important documents with you when you evacuate or relocate.
I suggest packing an emergency kit for each family member in a backpack (or a plastic easy-to-lift trunk) and keeping the backpacks in an area close to the door for easy access.
With a 72-hour supply kit, you can strategically rotate, replace, and use items as needed on the go, even if you are unable to return home. Think of it as the "bridge" to get you over to your next three-day supply or, in some cases, possibly a new location altogether.
Surviving On the Go!
Why Plastic & Cloth Sheets are Vital
Plastic Sheets
Plastic sheets are vital for your 72-hour kit. They can be used for emergency shelter from the elements and provide a quick barrier to "shelter-in-place" against outside airborne contaminants or hazardous smoke.
In addition, plastic sheets are extremely versatile survival tools. You can use them to:
Seal a room: When used with duct tape, plastic sheets can cover broken windows or seal vents, cracks, doors, and electrical outlets to keep out dust, smoke, or airborne toxins during chemical or biological events.
Build a Shelter: Plastic sheets can be cut and rigged to create a lightweight, waterproof lean-to structure, a teepee-style tent, or a makeshift sleeping bag liner to retain body heat.
Collect water: You can lay a plastic sheet in a shallow depression to collect rainwater or drape it to catch morning condensation.
Ground protection: Use plastic sheets as a dry ground cloth to sit on, or wrap your supplies to keep them protected from rain and mud.
Signal for help: You can use brightly colored plastic sheets, laid out in a large "X" or waved in the air, to attract search-and-rescue teams.
Cloth Sheets
Cloth sheets are vital for emergency preparedness because they, too, are incredibly versatile, multi-use survival tools. They can provide instant insulation, serve as makeshift bandages, block dust or debris, and act as highly visible signaling devices if you are stranded or awaiting rescue.
Their importance in a 72-hour emergency kit boils down to several key survival functions:
Versatile First Aid: In a medical emergency, a cloth sheet can be torn into strips to act as gauze, used to wrap wounds, tied to create a sling or tourniquet, or folded to form a cervical collar or padding.
Shelter & Insulation: Cloth sheets provide an extra layer of warmth when sleeping, can be hung to block cold drafts, or can be fashioned into a makeshift sunshade. (Note: While they breathe better than synthetic space blankets, it is best to avoid heavy cotton in freezing conditions, as it loses heat when wet.)
Signaling for Help: A bright-colored bed sheet can be tied to a tree or waved overhead to catch the attention of rescue teams.
Environmental Protection: You can tie a sheet around your head and face to filter out dust, smoke, or wind-blown debris.
Hygiene and Cleanliness: If sheltering away from home (e.g., in a community center or crowded facility), clean sheets provide a sanitary barrier when placed over cots, sleeping mats, or used as personal towels.
Different Ways to communicate:
Cell phone/ text messaging
Landline telephone (will work even when the internet, cellular networks, and infrastructure are down)
Satellite phone: beneficial, especially in remote areas where the internet is scarce.
Two-way radio: Also known as walkie-talkies. A pair of handheld devices that can connect provided both are on the same frequency within a certain distance.
Citizens Band Radio (CB Radio): Capable of short-distance communication on various frequencies.
Amateur Radio (HAM Radio): Similar to CB radio, but requires the user to be a licensed American Amateur Radio operator, thus giving the user more authenticity to the information being transmitted across the airwaves.
Police Scanner: You can hear all emergency communications between officials in the police, rescue, fire, emergency response, military, and aircraft industries with this device. You cannot broadcast on it, but it does allow access to important information during an emergency.
Word-of-Mouth: When all else fails, and the power is out, devices are ruined or lost, and the internet is scarce, use word-of-mouth. This is when having a prior disaster plan in place is crucial to communicate with your family, friends, and loved ones during a time of crisis. If you do not have a plan in place, try not to become isolated from each other. Stay together in a group to avoid being separated, lost, or misplaced.
We are facing challenging times. It is imperative to be self-sufficient and prepared in every way. If you live in a place that allows you to grow your garden or food, please do that! Become self-reliant.
Please get your house in order and make right with God in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! This is spiritual warfare, but God is with us.
May God bless, protect, and watch over you.
Video Library & Resources: How to Prepare an Emergency Kit: How to Make a 72-Hour Emergency Preparedness Kit; How Do Plastic Sheeting and Duct Tape Create Shelter?
Author’s Bio
Saved by Grace, Isabella Boston is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, deeply passionate about sharing God’s Holy Word and unpacking biblical truths for daily life.
From exploring prayer and deepening your relationship with God in Christ Jesus to navigating toxic relationships and intrusive thoughts, she writes to provide clear, biblical guidance.
Called to uphold the traditions of faith, Isabella also writes about the significance of the Christian Veil of God’s Holy Order and Chain of Command, and of living a set-apart life that honors God in all things.
Follow her blog for more scriptural insights and spiritual encouragement.
