Full list of what every home needs in 72-hour survival kit (2025)

The UK and various European countries have recently advised citizens to prepare emergency kits with at least 72 hours' worth of essential supplies

Fresh advice issued to UK residents by the government suggests they should keep a 72-hour emergency kit ready at home, sparking confusion about what should be included and how to store the additional supplies like cans of baked beans and water bottles. The recent encouragement from both UK authorities and European countries reminds everyone to prepare emergency kits packed with at least three days' worth of supplies.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden introduced the "Prepare" website in the UK, offering tips on how households can safeguard themselves in various crises, including floods, blackouts, or disease outbreaks. According to the website, an emergency pack should comprise a number of essentials that might be needed in an emergency, including:

• Battery or wind-up torch – torches are safer than candles.
• Portable power bank for charging your mobile phone.
• Battery or wind-up radio to get updates during a power cut – a car radio can be used, however in severe weather it might be safer to stay inside.
• Spare batteries for torches and radio and a backup battery for any medical equipment you rely on.
• A first aid kit (or some first aid items) including items such as waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings and gloves, medical tape for dressings, and tweezers.
• Hand sanitiser and wet wipes for hygiene purposes when the water is off.
• Bottled water – there is no standard figure for this as emergencies can vary in duration and people use different amounts. A minimum of 2.5-3 litres of drinking water per person per day is recommended by the World Health Organisation for survival. 10 litres per person per day will make you more comfortable by also providing for basic cooking and hygiene needs. Additional water might be needed to make up baby formula, for medical devices and for pets.
• Non-perishable food that doesn’t need cooking, such as ready-to-eat tinned meat, fruit or vegetables (and a tin opener). As with water, how much you need will vary based on your own circumstances. Don’t forget food for pets.
• Baby supplies such as nappies and baby formula – ready made or ‘ready-to-feed’ formula is best as you may not be able to boil water.

The government advise that people who can't get all these items at once should buy them over time, adding to their supplies whenever they can.

The European Commission also has been rallying EU citizens to ensure they have enough food, water, and necessities to last for 72 hours, highlighting a new readiness approach aimed at mitigating the impact of all sorts of disasters ranging from natural events to pandemics and military conflicts. This initiative is part of a broader effort to boost public knowledge and bring together EU responses to possible widespread threats.

The Dutch government is advising its citizens to assemble 72-hour emergency kits in preparation for potential crises, which could range from natural disasters and cyber attacks to conflicts. Suggested items include drinking water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, a first aid kit, and necessary medications.

And for those short on space, experts have provided guidance on how and where to store these emergency provisions.

Creating and stocking an emergency larder

Not everyone has the space for a full-sized larder, but even the tiniest kitchens can accommodate supplies for 72 hours.

Designate one kitchen cupboard for long-lasting food such as canned meals (think ravioli or baked beans with sausages), tinned fruit, dry pasta, UHT milk, and high-calorie snacks like energy bars. Filling a larder all at once can be costly, so spread out the expense by adding a few extra items to your weekly shop, and rotate them regularly to keep them within their use-by dates.

A mini larder can prove invaluable during power outages or if the household falls ill and can't make it to the shops.

Invest in stackable clear boxes for essential items

Emergency supplies are of no use if you can't locate them when needed, so consider buying some stackable, clear storage boxes. These can be used to store essentials such as spare power banks, batteries, torches, tools, first aid supplies, hygiene products, baby necessities, and additional blankets or foil blankets.

Once filled, label each box by category and store them in a central yet unobtrusive location, such as under the stairs or in a low kitchen cupboard. These should be within easy reach for everyone and kept inside the house, not tucked away in the loft or garage.

This is also an ideal spot to stash bottled water and extra toilet rolls.

Create a Grab-and-Go bag

In the US, professional preppers might refer to this as a 'bug-out bag', but essentially it's a small bag packed with essentials you'd need if you had to leave home in a hurry. This could prove invaluable in situations like evacuations due to flooding or other local emergencies.

Opt for a compact yet strong bag, about the size of a school backpack, and make sure it includes: a torch, charging packs (remember the cables), a plastic pouch for medications and important documents, snacks like cereal or energy bars, a few small bottles of water, and any essential medication.

Ideally, this should be stored somewhere easily accessible to all, near the front door – perhaps in a hallway cupboard. To ensure it's instantly recognisable as the emergency grab bag, consider tying a colourful ribbon around a strap so everyone knows which bag it is.

Don't forget the car boot

After securing a 72-hour survival kit for your home, it's wise to equip your car as well. The boot is the perfect spot for an emergency stash, invaluable during breakdowns or when stuck in traffic due to severe weather.

Essentials include blankets, warm yet light clothing like fleeces, a high-visibility jacket, energy-rich snacks, and bottled water.

Storage specialist Sarah Day from Pay Less for Storage commented: "While this news might understandably be worrying for some, remember it's not intended to scare you, just to ensure that everyone is well prepared in the event of an emergency. And remember, preparedness doesn't mean panic buying or anxiously hoarding - it means planning for the worst and sensibly storing what you need.

"A pre-packed emergency kit can make a big difference in stressful situations, whether it's a blackout caused by cyber interference or flooding caused by mother nature. The key to this is accessibility and suitable storage, think boxes you can find in the dark, home insurance documents carefully placed to grab and go, food you'll actually eat if the lights go out, and storage systems that fit your space.

"Many of us already have most of the items we need, but they're lost in cluttered cupboards or overstuffed drawers. With a few small tweaks, you can repurpose those spaces to make your home not just tidier, but more resilient too."