3-Day Emergency Preparedness

Why 72 Hours Is the Starting Point

The 72-hour recommendation comes from FEMA's assessment of how long it typically takes emergency services to reach all affected areas after a major disaster. During hurricanes, earthquakes, or severe winter storms, roads may be blocked, power lines down, and first responders overwhelmed.

In this window, you're on your own. Stores may be closed or empty. ATMs won't work. Tap water may be unsafe or unavailable. A 3-day kit bridges this gap, giving you water, food, light, and information while you wait for services to restore.

What 3 Days Actually Means

Three days sounds short until you're living it. Consider what you consume daily:

• 6-8 glasses of water for drinking alone, plus cooking and basic hygiene
• Multiple meals adding up to 1,500-2,500 calories depending on activity level
• Medications you take without thinking about it
• Phone charging, maybe multiple times per day
• Lighting when it gets dark
• Information from news or weather services

Now imagine doing this with no electricity, no running water, and potentially no way to leave your home. That's what 72-hour preparedness addresses.

Family of 4: Example 3-Day Supplies

The 72-Hour Go Bag

A go bag (also called a bug-out bag or evacuation kit) is a 72-hour kit designed to grab and go. Unlike home supplies, a go bag assumes you may need to leave quickly—for evacuation orders, house fire, or other situations where staying isn't safe.

Key differences from home supplies:

• Portable: Everything fits in a backpack or duffle you can carry
• Self-contained: Water, food, and shelter don't depend on your home
• Documents: Copies of IDs, insurance, and important papers
• Cash: $100+ in small bills
• Ready: Packed and accessible—grab in 5 minutes or less

Use our Bug Out Bag Calculator to ensure your pack is comprehensive without being too heavy to carry.

Common 72-Hour Kit Mistakes

1. Forgetting water weight: Water is heavy (8.3 lbs per gallon). For a go bag, consider a water filter plus 1 gallon instead of carrying 3 gallons.
2. Food that needs cooking: No power means no stove. Focus on ready-to-eat options.
3. Dead batteries: Check and rotate batteries every 6 months.
4. Expired medications: Prescription meds in your kit need regular rotation.
5. No cash: ATMs and card readers need electricity.
6. Ignoring pets: They need food, water, and medications too.

When 3 Days Isn't Enough

The 72-hour kit is a baseline, not a ceiling. Many disasters exceed this window:

• Hurricane recovery often takes 1-2 weeks
• Ice storms can leave rural areas without power for weeks
• Supply chain disruptions (like we saw in 2020) can last months
• Pandemic situations may require extended shelter-in-place

Once you've built your 3-day supplies, consider extending to 7 days or 2 weeks. The additional investment is relatively small once you have the basics in place.