Emergency 72 Hour/Bug Out Bags

Every emergency agency in the country recommends having a 72-hour kit (adult kits) available to grab-and-go in an emergency. Be sure to update your kit every six months to a year, depending on the items you have in it. Include food you know you will eat and items that can keep you busy during times of inactivity. Be mindful of storing items that might leak, melt, or affect other items in your bag if they leak or break open (Ziploc bags might help with this problem.) Attach a tag to the kit or bag with your name, phone number(s), a tag to remind you to grab your prescriptions/medicines, and a tag to grab your emergency binder. Depending on the needs of you and/or your family, items you could include in your kit:

Water for at least three days (1-4 gallons per day per person), water purifiers and water purifier bottles (like Sport Berkey Portable Water Purifier)
Food to last for at least three days: MRE’s (Meals ready to eat); hot and cold ready to eat food packages; freeze-dried fruits and vegetables; and candy, gum, jerky, fruit snacks, raisins, fruit leather, granola bars, peanuts, crackers, etc.
Aspirin, Aleve, Ibuprofen, Vitamin C, cold remedies, Essential Oils, etc., antacids (for upset stomachs) Don’t forget Tylenol PM or something similar to use as a sleeping aid.
Ax/Shovel combo
Baggies (all sizes)
Batteries (all sizes-rotate yearly)
Bible/Scriptures
Bee Sting & bite kit
Blanket–solar is thinner
Pillow
Bleach (household chlorine–nonscented)
Books
Bung wrench/Gas shut off wrench
CASH-small bills/coins (if we lose power, ATM’s won’t work; credit/debit cards won’t work)
Can opener (non-electric)
Canned stove
Candles/glow sticks
Cards or small games to play
Chapstick/lip balm
Chargers in case we have electricity
Coats/Jackets/Sweaters/Extra Clothes & Shoes
Coffee Pot, pitcher, container
Cooking pot, griddle or fry pan
Cooking stove of some kind/fuel/fire starter/striker
Compass
Contact lenses & supplies
Cotton Swabs/Kleenex Tissues
Disinfectant
Duct tape
Emergency sewing kit
Fingernail clippers/nail file
Fire extinguisher
First Aid Kit
Hand Warmers
Flashlights (preferably solar or crank); don’t forget batteries (store batteries outside the flashlights to keep them fresh)
Garbage Bags
Glasses (extra pair of eyeglasses)
Gloves/Latex or non-latex
Hair brushes/combs
Hats, gloves/scarves
Headlamp
Hearing Aid, plus batteries
Imodium/Anti-Diarrhea medicine
Instant milk (chocolate would be good as well)
Ipecac (check with poison control if possible)
Hot pads, dish towels/rags/dish soap
Lanterns/compact lights
Latex/Non-latex gloves
Masks N-95 minimum
Matches (waterproofed)
Mess Kits
Mirror
Scissors
All Purpose Knife
Mosquito Spray
Personal Hygiene (tampons, pads, feminine supplies, etc.)
Post It Notes/pencils/pens/crayons
Radio/crank and or battery type (pack batteries)
Rain Poncho
Rope
Safety pins, several sizes
Shaving cream, shavers (disposable)
Solar lights
Sunglasses
Temporary toilet and bags
Thermal Underwear
Thermometer
Toilet Paper, shampoo, hand soap, baby wipes and hand sanitizer, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, tweezers
Tools
Tent(s)
Umbrella
Utensils, plates, cups, silverware to cook and eat with
Vaseline
Wet wipes-lots…they might be our only shower
Whistles, Walkie Talkies, (test before you need them for distance) like Motorola Talkabout 2-Way Radios #MR350R/ FRS/GMRS Radio (22 channels, 121 privacy codes, 2662 Combinations)
NOAA Weather Radio
Work Gloves

REMEMBER, you would need a truck to “haul” all of these items, so check off one item at a time and pick the items that meet you and/or your family’s needs. These are IDEAS…just start collecting a little at a time.

Put all the things that need to be rotated together in baggies. This way you just GRAB a bag and switch out the outdated items.

Printable: FSM 72-hour kit adults