First the most important thing, without any fuss.
An emergency kit is a supply that lets your household get by at home for 72 hours (3 days) without power, gas or water. It should contain at least: water (3 litres per person per day), non-perishable food, a first-aid kit, a torch, a battery radio, a power bank, blankets, hygiene items, cash and copies of your important documents.
That is the advice from national authorities through campaigns such as Denk Vooruit (2025) and from the Red Cross. The 72 hours is the time it takes on average before emergency services or emergency supplies reach you.
And no, you don’t need to get nervous about this. A long power cut, a flood or a disruption to the drinking-water network: it happens rarely, but it happens. When it does, it’s simply reassuring to need nothing from outside for a while.
Don’t panic, just be prepared. In this article you’ll read exactly what belongs in the kit, in what amounts per person, how to build it up affordably and in stages, where to store it and how to keep it in shape.
Why be self-sufficient for 72 hours?
Authorities work with 72 hours as a guideline, and that isn’t a random number.
In a major emergency, the services spend the first few days on the people who need help most urgently. For everyone else, it can take a while before emergency water, power or shelter is arranged.
If you can bridge those first three days yourself, you’re not a burden but rather a reassurance. For yourself, and for your neighbours.
The EU and national authorities take the same line. In November 2025 the multi-year Denk Vooruit campaign by the Dutch NCTV launched, and over 8.5 million households got the booklet Prepare for an emergency through the letterbox. The core question: can you get by for 72 hours without power, gas and water?
My advice: start with 3 days and then calmly build up towards a week. With water and food especially, a week is still very doable and gives a good deal more peace of mind.
What belongs in an emergency kit? The complete checklist
Below is the complete list, by category, with concrete amounts per person for 72 hours. This is the table you can tick off and print out.
The amounts are per person, unless stated otherwise. For a family of four, roughly multiply by four, except for the shared items (radio, tools, first-aid kit), of which you only need one.
Water and food
| Item | Amount per person (72 hours) | Ticked |
|---|---|---|
| Water (drinking, cooking, hygiene) | 9 litres (3 litres per day) | ☐ |
| Non-perishable food you can eat cold | for 3 days | ☐ |
| Tinned vegetables and pulses | 2 to 3 tins | ☐ |
| Nuts, crackers, spiced cake, muesli bars | generous supply | ☐ |
| Dried fruit | 1 packet | ☐ |
| Tinned fish, pâté or tinned meat | 2 tins | ☐ |
| Something tasty (chocolate, sweets) | to taste | ☐ |
| Tin opener (non-electric) | 1 per household | ☐ |
Choose food you can eat without cooking and without a fridge. Think of what you normally enjoy too, because in a stressful situation familiar food is comforting. Avoid very salty food, because it makes you thirsty, and water is precisely what’s precious.
Light, warmth and communication
| Item | Amount | Ticked |
|---|---|---|
| Torch or head torch with batteries | 1 per person | ☐ |
| Battery radio or wind-up radio | 1 per household | ☐ |
| Power bank (charged) | 1 per person | ☐ |
| Spare batteries (in the right sizes) | generous supply | ☐ |
| Candles and tea lights | 1 packet | ☐ |
| Matches (waterproof wrapped) or a lighter | 2 | ☐ |
| Warm blanket or sleeping bag | 1 per person | ☐ |
| Extra warm clothing (jumper, socks, hat) | 1 set | ☐ |
A battery radio or a wind-up radio is more important than people think. If the network goes down and your phone is dead, the radio is your only source of official information. Learn the frequency of the regional emergency broadcaster beforehand, or write it down.
A wind-up or solar radio with a built-in torch and USB output is a smart buy: it combines three functions and never has flat batteries.
First aid and hygiene
| Item | Amount | Ticked |
|---|---|---|
| First-aid kit with instructions | 1 per household | ☐ |
| Hand sanitiser gel | 1 bottle | ☐ |
| Toilet paper | 1 to 2 rolls | ☐ |
| Wet wipes | 1 packet | ☐ |
| Toothpaste and toothbrush | 1 per person | ☐ |
| Sanitary pads or tampons | as needed | ☐ |
| Bin bags (also for sanitation) | 1 roll | ☐ |
| Your own medication (backup supply) | for at least 3 days | ☐ |
The first-aid kit with instructions is a must. Buy a complete kit and don’t empty it for an ordinary cut at home, or if you do, top it up again straight away.
Think of your own medication. If you take daily medication, always keep a few days’ spare to hand and mind the expiry date. This is the item you really can’t quickly buy somewhere else.
Money, documents and tools
| Item | Amount | Ticked |
|---|---|---|
| Cash, small notes | 70 euros per adult, 30 euros per child | ☐ |
| Copy of passport or ID, driving licence | 1 set | ☐ |
| List of important phone numbers (on paper) | 1 | ☐ |
| Spare keys (house and car) | 1 set | ☐ |
| Pocket knife or multitool | 1 | ☐ |
| Hammer, saw, pliers | 1 set | ☐ |
| Whistle to raise the alarm | 1 per person | ☐ |
| Duct tape and rope | 1 roll / 1 roll | ☐ |
The cash is a classic that many people miss. In a power cut, cash machines and card terminals don’t work. The Red Cross advises 70 euros per adult and 30 euros per child, in small notes. For a family of four that’s around 200 euros.
Put your documents (ID copy, insurance papers, important numbers) in your kit on paper too. Your phone may be dead or unreachable, and those details are exactly what you need in an emergency.
A whistle sounds odd, but it’s light, costs nothing and costs you no breath when you need to make yourself heard. Handy in a flood or a collapse.
Grab bag or home supply? The difference
This is exactly the distinction most checklists skip, and it determines how you set up your kit.
There are two scenarios, and they call for something different.
Home supply (you stay at home). This is the ordinary emergency kit as above. You’re without power, gas or water but can stay safely indoors. Here it’s about volume: enough water, food and warmth to get through three days. Space and weight don’t matter.
Grab bag / go bag (you have to leave fast). In a gas leak, fire or flood, you have to get out of the house within minutes. Then you have no time to gather things. A grab bag is a ready-packed rucksack you can just grab and go.
The go bag should hold the compact, portable selection:
- Copies of your documents and a list of phone numbers
- Cash and spare keys
- Power bank and charging cable
- Torch, whistle, small first-aid kit
- Your regular medication
- A few bottles of water and some muesli bars
- A set of warm clothing, a raincoat and an emergency blanket (space blanket)
My advice: have both. The home supply in the cupboard, and one packed rucksack by the front door or under the stairs. That bag doesn’t have to be big, as long as it’s ready to go.
How do you build an emergency kit without spending a fortune?
You don’t have to buy this all at once. In fact, you don’t have to at all.
The thing is: you already have plenty in the house. A torch, candles, a first-aid box, tins in the cupboard. Building an emergency kit is largely about gathering what you already have and topping up what’s missing.
Take it in stages, over a few weeks or months, so it barely shows in your household budget.
Phase 1: the basics (roughly 20 to 40 euros). Water in stock (jerry cans or bottles), a few extra tins with the shopping, batteries, a torch. With this you’re already covered on the most important things.
Phase 2: the additions (roughly 30 to 50 euros). A complete first-aid kit, a wind-up radio with USB, a power bank, candles and matches, some extra non-perishable food.
Phase 3: finishing and refining (to taste). Set cash aside, copy documents, pack the go bag, add items for children and pets.
Authorities give a guideline figure of around 70 euros per adult and 30 euros per child for the initial costs, but that includes the cash you simply set aside anyway. The real purchase amount is a good deal lower if you shop smart.
Two money-saving tips. Don’t buy a ready-made emergency kit as a first choice, because you pay heavily for the convenience and it often overlaps with what you already have. And buy non-perishable food you already eat, so nothing ever goes to waste (see rotation below).
Where do you store your emergency kit?
The spot determines whether you can actually reach it in an emergency.
- Reachable, even in the dark. You must be able to get to it without power. So not right at the back of a full cupboard.
- Together, in one bag or box. A waterproof rucksack or a sealable storage box keeps everything dry and complete. That way you grab it all at once during an evacuation.
- High enough where there’s flood risk. If you live low or near water, put the box on a high shelf or on an upper floor. Then your kit stays dry when the water comes.
- Cool and dark for water and food. Heat and light spoil water and non-perishable food faster.
- Go bag separate, by the front door. You must be able to grab it in a few seconds.
Split your supply across two spots if you like. Then you still have something in reserve if one spot becomes unreachable.
How do you keep your emergency kit in order? Rotation and shelf life
An emergency kit you pack once and forget doesn’t work. Batteries run flat, food goes off, medication expires.
The rule of thumb: check your kit every six months. Tie it to the change of season or the clocks changing (spring and autumn), so you don’t forget it.
At that check, run through these points:
- Shelf life of food and medication. Replace what’s about to expire. Put new purchases at the back, old ones at the front, just like in the supermarket.
- Refresh the water. Replace self-filled tap water every six months. Bought bottled water lasts 1 to 2 years, mind the date.
- Test the batteries. Test the torch and radio. Store batteries separate from the device, so they don’t leak. Recharge the power bank.
- Completeness. Was anything borrowed from the kit and not put back? Top it up.
A handy approach for food is the rotation method: put non-perishable products in your kit that you normally eat too, and eat them before the expiry date while replacing them straight away. That way you never throw anything out and your supply is always fresh.
How do you adapt the kit to your family?
The standard list is a starting point. Your situation determines what needs to be added.
Children and babies. Formula, nappies, a familiar cuddly toy or plaything. You can’t make formula without clean water, so add extra water for that. A game or colouring book helps against the tension.
Pets. Extra water (reckon roughly 40 to 60 millilitres per kilo of body weight per day), food for a few days, a travel bowl and any medication. Ready-made emergency kits for animals don’t exist, so put this together yourself.
Medication use. Always keep a few days’ spare of your regular medication set aside and mind the shelf life. Write down which medicines you take and at what dose, on paper in your kit.
Older people or people with a disability. Think of spare glasses, hearing-aid batteries, aids and a clear list of what someone needs. Agree who will check in on them in an emergency.
Larger families. Multiply water, food, blankets and hygiene per person. The shared items (radio, tools, first-aid kit) you only need once.
Frequently asked questions
How long should an emergency kit last?
Reckon on at least 72 hours (3 days). That’s the guideline from the authorities (Denk Vooruit) and the Red Cross, and the time it takes on average before emergency services or emergency supplies reach you. Afterwards, calmly extend it to a week for more peace of mind.
What’s the difference between an emergency kit and a grab bag?
An emergency kit (home supply) is for when you stay safely at home without power, gas or water. A grab bag or go bag is a compact, packed rucksack you grab in a few seconds when you have to leave the house at once, for example in a fire or a gas leak. Ideally you have both.
How much water do I need in my emergency kit?
3 litres per person per day, so 9 litres per person for 72 hours. For a family of four that’s 36 litres. Two litres a day is for drinking, one litre for cooking and minimal hygiene.
How much cash belongs in an emergency kit?
The Red Cross advises 70 euros per adult and 30 euros per child, in small notes. For a family of four that comes to around 200 euros. In a power cut, after all, cash machines and card terminals don’t work.
Is it better to build an emergency kit myself or buy one ready-made?
Building it yourself is usually cheaper and better, because you already have plenty in the house and you adapt the kit to your family, medication and pets. A ready-made kit is handy if you want something complete fast, but you pay for the convenience and it often overlaps with what you already own.
How often should I check my emergency kit?
Every six months. Tie it to the change of season or the clocks changing. Then check the shelf life of food and medication, refresh self-filled water, test the batteries and power bank, and top up anything you’ve borrowed or used.
In short
Building an emergency kit really isn’t a big project.
- Aim for 72 hours (3 days) of self-sufficiency, to be extended to a week later.
- The basics: water (3 litres per person per day), non-perishable food, first aid, torch, battery radio, power bank, blankets, hygiene, cash and documents on paper.
- Alongside your home supply, keep a packed go bag by the front door.
- Build it up in stages and affordably, you already have plenty in the house.
- Check every six months: shelf life, water, batteries, completeness.
- Adapt it to children, pets, medication and older people.
Start small, with water, a few extra tins and a torch. That’s sorted in no time and it gives instant peace of mind. The rest you build up later.
Not panicked, just prepared.
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