WW3 WW3 PREP / FIELD LIBRARY
A kit that fits your family
Build a useful emergency kit around the people in your home, starting with what you already own.
Start with an inventory
Lay out what you already have before buying anything. Group it into water, food, light, communication and personal essentials. Mark what is ready and give missing items a priority. A checklist is an organising aid, not a certificate of safety.
Cover the basics
The American Red Cross lists water, non-perishable food, a torch, a radio, batteries, hygiene supplies and important documents among emergency kit essentials. Use its full checklist as a reference, then adapt it to your household.
Make room for individual needs
Include baby supplies, a familiar activity for children and the equipment your pets need. Check personal requirements rather than assuming that a standard shop-bought kit fits everyone.
Choose a manageable first step
Use three days as a starting planning period. It is not a prediction of how long disruption will last. The Red Cross distinguishes a three-day evacuation supply from two weeks of supplies at home. Keep portable items separate from bulky home stores.
Primary source
American Red Cross — Survival kit suppliesRead the full instructions and your local official guidance. References accessed 3 October 2026. No independent expert review.