Every year, millions of Americans find themselves unprepared when a disaster hits. A hurricane rolls in faster than expected. A winter storm knocks out power for four days. A wildfire forces an evacuation with 30 minutes' notice.

In those moments, the difference between panic and calm often comes down to one thing: whether you built your emergency kit before you needed it.

FEMA recommends that households maintain at least 72 hours of emergency supplies to help them remain self-sufficient until help arrives or conditions improve. In areas with a higher risk of prolonged disruptions, preparing for up to two weeks can provide additional security.

Here's exactly what to stock, how much you need, and why each item deserves a place in your emergency preparedness kit.

1. Water: The Non-Negotiable First Step

Start here. Access to safe drinking water is essential during a disaster, especially when public water supplies are disrupted or contaminated.

What water supplies should you store?

• Commercially sealed bottled water or packaged emergency drinking water.
• Food-grade water storage containers. Five- to seven-gallon containers can work well for household storage.
• Water purification tablets or a portable water filter for backup use, following the manufacturer's treatment instructions.

2. Food: Practical, Not Impressive

You don't need a gourmet emergency pantry. You need food that stores well, requires minimal preparation and that your family will actually eat under stress.

Stock at least three days of non-perishable food. Seven days or more is helpful if you have the space and budget.

Keep a manual can opener in your kit. It sounds obvious until the electricity goes out and you realize yours is electric.

Check expiration dates regularly and replace items before they expire. Choose foods that require little or no cooking, since power, refrigeration and clean water may be limited.

3. First Aid Kit: What Most Pre-Assembled Kits Are Missing

A first aid kit belongs on every emergency supplies checklist. But a basic store-bought kit may not contain everything your household needs during an extended emergency.

A well-stocked emergency first aid kit should cover minor injuries, basic wound care and the specific medical needs of your family.

What About Workplace First Aid Kits?

Businesses have different requirements from households. OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.151 requires adequate first aid supplies to be readily available in applicable workplaces.

Employers should assess workplace hazards and choose supplies appropriate to their employees and working conditions. ANSI/ISEA Z308.1 provides a useful reference for workplace first aid kit contents.

Small offices may need different kits from warehouses, construction sites or larger commercial facilities. Consider the number of employees, injury risks, kit accessibility and restocking procedures.

4. Safety Tools Most People Overlook

These are the items people often forget until they're dealing with a power outage, evacuation or severe weather warning.

Keep your emergency tools accessible alongside your other supplies.

• Flashlights: Keep extra batteries or choose a hand-crank or solar-powered option.
• Emergency weather radio: A battery-powered or hand-crank radio can provide emergency broadcasts when internet or cellular service is unavailable.
• Whistle: Useful for signaling for help if you are trapped or injured.
• N95 respirators: Useful for certain airborne particles, including wildfire smoke, when properly fitted and used.
• Wrench or pliers: Keep appropriate tools for emergency utility shutoffs and learn when and how to use them safely.
• Multi-tool: A compact option for basic emergency tasks.
• Printed local maps: Helpful when GPS or mobile devices are unavailable.

5. Documents and Financial Records

When you have to leave home quickly, you shouldn't need to spend valuable time searching for important paperwork.

Keep copies of essential documents in a waterproof, portable folder or bag.

• Government-issued IDs and passports
• Home, health and auto insurance policies
• Important banking and financial information
• Medical records and prescription details
• Lease or mortgage documents
• Written emergency contact list

Keep original documents in a secure, fire-resistant location at home. Consider encrypted digital backups in a trusted, secure storage service.

6. Communication and Power Backup

Power outages affect more than lighting. They can interrupt communication, access to weather alerts and your ability to contact family members.

Prepare your emergency communication supplies before an outage occurs.

• Charged portable power bank for mobile devices
• Hand-crank or solar emergency radio
• Spare batteries in the sizes your devices use
• Emergency contacts written on paper
• Your local NOAA Weather Radio frequency
• Address and directions to the nearest designated emergency shelter

Check your power bank periodically and recharge it according to the manufacturer's instructions. Make sure everyone in your household knows where communication supplies are stored.

7. Your Emergency Supplies Checklist

Use this checklist when building or reviewing your emergency kit. You can print this section and keep it with your supplies.

Being prepared doesn't mean anticipating every possible disaster. It means making a simple decision now so that, if something goes wrong, you're not making that decision under pressure.

Start with water and a first aid kit. Build from there.