Safety guides › Emergency kit checklist

What should be in a storm emergency kit?

Water, food, light, power and medicine for at least three days.

• Water: one gallon per person per day, for three days.
• Food that needs no cooking, and a can opener.
• Flashlights, extra batteries and a power bank for your phone.
• First aid kit and a week of prescription medicine.
• Copies of IDs and insurance papers, some cash.
• Sturdy shoes, helmets and a whistle near your shelter spot.
• Food, water and leashes for pets.

Source: Ready.gov. Reviewed 2026-10-07.

This guide is general safety information. When a warning is issued for your area, follow the instructions from the National Weather Service and local officials.

Get the warning on your phone

Stormkeeper is a free tornado tracker and weather radar for the United States. It reads official National Weather Service alerts and tells you plainly whether you are safe. See what it does.

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