Chapter 2 · Your emergency kit
2.1 The five kits and what each one is for
| Kit | Purpose | Duration | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home kit | Staying home with no power, tap water, or stores | 2 weeks | Interior closet and under beds, up off the floor |
| 72-hour bag | Leaving in minutes (evacuation, fire, flood) | 3 days | One per person, next to the door or in the entryway closet |
| Car kit | Being stranded by heat, cold, a crash, or evacuation traffic | 24 hours or more | Trunk, in a closed container |
| Work kit | Sheltering at the office or walking home | At least 24 hours (Ready.gov) | Drawer or under the desk |
| Pet kit | So your animals can evacuate or ride it out with you | 2 weeks at home; 3 days portable | Next to the bags |
Ready.gov sets the minimum at "several days" of water and food. The American Red Cross recommends 3 days for evacuation and 2 weeks for the home. This guide uses 2 weeks because historic winter storms have left millions of people without power or drinkable water for several days, and because after a major disaster stores take a while to restock.
