2.6 72-Hour Bag (One Per Person)

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It is what you grab when you have to leave in minutes. Each adult carries their own. It should be comfortable, with padded straps and a hip belt, and a weight you can carry for several hours of walking. Test it loaded by taking a long walk around the block.

Contents per person

Contents per person
Category	Contents
Water	3 liters on hand (bottles or hydration bladder) and ways to make water safe to drink: portable filter and tablets (chapter 3). Carrying a full 3 gallons per person is impractical on foot; if you evacuate by car, load water jugs from your reserve.
Food	3 days of no-cook food: bars, peanut butter packets, pouch tuna, nuts, crackers. A spoon.
Light	Headlamp + spare batteries; optional chemical light stick.
Communication	Phone, cable, and charged power bank; whistle; paper contact list; small AM/FM/NOAA radio (one per group is enough).
Health	Personal first-aid kit (bandages, gauze, tape, adhesive bandages, gloves), tourniquet if you have training, prescription medications for 7 days or more, spare glasses, N95 masks, sunscreen, insect repellent, hand sanitizer.
Clothing	One complete change, extra underwear and socks (in a sealed bag), raincoat or poncho, cap or hat; in winter, a warm hat, gloves, and a thermal layer.
Footwear	Sturdy closed-toe shoes, already broken in (not new).
Shelter and warmth	Emergency thermal blanket, heavy trash bag (poncho or ground insulation).
Tools	Multitool or knife, tape (wrapped around a card), thin cord, lighter and matches, resealable bags.
Hygiene	Toilet paper, wipes, toothbrush and toothpaste, feminine products, trash bag.
Documents and money	Copies of ID and key documents in a waterproof bag (section 2.10), encrypted USB drive, cash in small bills.
Extras	Spare house and car keys, paper local map, notebook and pen, work gloves, something for morale (book, playing cards).

Figure 2.2. 72-hour bag: padded straps and hip belt, color-coded bags by category, and a loaded test by taking a long walk around the block. — **Figure 2.2.** 72-hour bag: padded straps and hip belt, color-coded bags by category, and a loaded test by taking a long walk around the block.