Emergency kit in United States: what the government recommends

Reviewed on November 15, 2026

Time frame	Several days
Water per person	3.8 L/day (1 gallon)
What stands out	It adds a face mask, plastic sheeting and tape to seal a room, a wrench to turn off utilities, and local maps.
Official source	Ready.gov (FEMA)

What every country asks for

Water: 2 to 4 liters per person per day; the most common figure is 3 liters (drinking and cooking).
Food: Non-perishable, and edible without cooking or with little heating. Ideally what you already eat, rotated.
Light: A flashlight (ideally a headlamp) and spare batteries. Candles only with care: several countries advise against them.
Radio: Battery or hand-crank: in every country it's how warnings get through when the internet goes down.
First aid and medication: A basic first aid kit and regular medication for the time frame; Canada and Sweden ask for more margin (weeks).
Cash: In small bills: without power, card terminals and ATMs don't work.
Documents: Copies of your documents and important phone numbers on paper, in a waterproof pouch.
Power bank: Charged, with its cable, to keep your phone going.

Figure checked against the official source on November 15, 2026. Always follow the instructions of your country's authorities.