PrepGo bag checklist: your 72 hour kit
A go bag holds what you'd need if you had to leave home quickly. Tell us who it's for, check things off as you pack, and print the list. Nothing leaves this browser.
Who's it for?
Saved in this browser for the other tools.
Your go bag
Water, snacks, layers and masks scale with your household. One flashlight, radio and first aid kit covers the bag.
Check it again every 6 months.
Water and food
Light, power and news
Health
Warmth and shelter
Tools
Papers and money
For your household
What not to pack
Our own suggestions, based on the advice cited below.
- Candles. Ready.gov says to have a flashlight for every household member.
- Food that needs cooking or refrigeration. A go bag should work without a kitchen.
- Camp stoves and fuel. They add weight, and Ready.gov says camp stoves must only be used outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows.
- Original documents, if copies will do. Save copies electronically too.
- More than you can lift. Put the bag on and try the stairs. Keep any extra water by the door or in the car.
- Anything past its date. Check food, water, medicine and batteries when you check the bag.
From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.
How it works
This is our own list, written from Ready.gov's basic and additional supply lists and the grab bag kit in the Prep app. Ready.gov's kit page doesn't use the words go bag or 72 hour kit. Its hurricane page says to keep supplies in a go bag or car trunk, and the CDC says to store at least 3 days of water.
Water and snacks are multiplied by people and days. Layers, shoes, emergency blankets and masks are per person. Babies, children, pets, medical needs and a car or apartment add their own lines, and the tags show which is which. Six snacks a person a day is our planning figure, not an official one.
Example: two adults for 72 hours need 6 gallons of water and 36 snacks. Six gallons weighs about 50 lb, which is why most families can't carry it all. Pack what you can lift, and keep the rest by the door or in the car.
Ready.gov says to keep your kit in one spot where everyone can find it, and to be ready to shelter at work for at least 24 hours. A smaller version at work and in the car covers the times you aren't home.
Common questions
What is a 72 hour kit?
A set of supplies to keep you going for three days: water, food, light, a radio, first aid, medicines, documents and warm clothes. The CDC says to store at least 3 days of water, and 2 weeks if you can.
What's the difference between a go bag and an emergency kit?
An emergency kit at home can be large, because it stays put. A go bag is what you can carry out the door. Ready.gov suggests one spot for your kit so you can grab it quickly if you have to leave.
How much water do I need in a go bag?
Ready.gov says about one gallon per person per day, for drinking and sanitation. That's about 25 lb per person for three days, so most people carry less and keep the rest nearby.
Where should I keep a go bag?
In one spot everyone at home knows about. Ready.gov also suggests a kit in your car and a grab and go case at work with food, water, medicines and comfortable walking shoes.
Does FEMA have an official go bag list?
Ready.gov, run by FEMA, publishes a basic disaster supplies kit list. It isn't sized for one bag, so this page narrows it down to what can be carried. This is an independent tool.
How often should I check a go bag?
Ready.gov says to replace expired items and reassess your needs every year. Self-filled water should be replaced every 6 months, so twice a year is a good habit.
Sources
- Ready.gov: build a kit
- CDC: creating an emergency water supply
- Ready.gov: hurricanes
- Ready.gov: hurricane season toolkit
- Ready.gov: power outages
- CDC: emergency list for families with infants and young children
Checked on 2 November 2026. This is an independent tool and not official advice. See sources and method.