Emergency Preparedness Checklist — 24h, 72h & 30-Day Plans | Salars

Emergency Preparedness Checklist — Complete Guide to Family Readiness

An effective emergency preparedness plan covers three tiers: immediate (24-hour), short-term (72-hour), and extended (30-day) scenarios. Most emergencies are resolved within 72 hours, but extended disruptions like grid failures or supply chain breakdowns require deeper preparation. The key is layered readiness — each tier builds on the previous one.

This checklist works for families and individuals alike. Adapt it for your specific needs — whether you have infants, elderly family members, pets, or medical requirements. For evacuation-specific preparation, see our bug out bag guide.

24-Hour Emergency Kit

This is your grab-and-go minimum. Keep this assembled and accessible at all times. In many disasters — earthquakes, fires, severe storms — you have minutes to evacuate, not hours.

Water & Food

• ☐ 1 gallon of water per person
• ☐ Energy bars, dried fruit, nuts
• ☐ Water purification tablets (backup)

Safety & Shelter

• ☐ Emergency blanket / space blanket
• ☐ Flashlight + extra batteries
• ☐ First aid kit (basic)
• ☐ Whistle (for signaling)

Documents & Communication

• ☐ Copies of IDs, insurance, medical records
• ☐ Emergency contact list (paper copy)
• ☐ Cash in small bills
• ☐ Phone charger / power bank

Personal Needs

• ☐ Prescription medications (3-day supply)
• ☐ Infant supplies (formula, diapers) if applicable
• ☐ Pet supplies if applicable
• ☐ Comfort item for children

72-Hour Emergency Supply

The standard recommendation from Ready.gov and the American Red Cross. Most rescue and relief operations establish within 72 hours. This is your shelter-in-place or sustained evacuation supply.

Water & Food

• ☐ 3 gallons of water per person
• ☐ Canned food + manual can opener
• ☐ Freeze-dried meals
• ☐ Portable water filter

Shelter & Warmth

• ☐ Sleeping bag or warm blankets
• ☐ Tarp or tent
• ☐ Extra clothing and rain gear
• ☐ Fire-starting kit

Tools & Safety

• ☐ Multi-tool or knife
• ☐ Duct tape + paracord
• ☐ Battery or hand-crank radio
• ☐ Comprehensive first aid kit

Hygiene & Sanitation

• ☐ Toilet paper + trash bags
• ☐ Hand sanitizer + wet wipes
• ☐ Soap
• ☐ Feminine hygiene products

30-Day Extended Preparedness

For extended disruptions — grid-down scenarios, supply chain breakdowns, or prolonged natural disasters. This tier bridges short-term survival to self-reliance skills that produce rather than consume.

Food & Water Security

• ☐ 30-day food supply (rice, beans, canned goods)
• ☐ Water storage (30 gallons per person) or reliable filtration
• ☐ Seed packets for emergency garden
• ☐ Fishing line + hooks

Energy & Communication

• ☐ Solar charger or generator
• ☐ Ham radio or CB radio
• ☐ Fuel storage (safely)
• ☐ Battery stockpile

Security & Protection

• ☐ Home security measures
• ☐ Perimeter awareness tools
• ☐ Self-defense training
• ☐ Neighborhood watch coordination

Community & Knowledge

• ☐ Barter items (batteries, lighters, first aid supplies)
• ☐ Physical reference books (first aid, foraging)
• ☐ Maps of your area (printed)
• ☐ Skills library (how-to guides without internet)

Family Communication Plan

Half of emergency preparedness is knowing what to do — the other half is making sure everyone else knows too. Establish these before an emergency, not during one:

• 1.Meeting points — one near home, one outside the neighborhood
• 2.Out-of-area contact — a relative everyone can check in with (long-distance calls often work when local lines are jammed)
• 3.Evacuation routes — at least two exit routes from your home and neighborhood
• 4.School/work plans — know each location's emergency procedures
• 5.Practice drills — run through the plan at least twice per year

Build Your Complete Preparedness Plan