72-hour kit: the checklist
Tick what you already have and add the rest a little at a time. Your ticks are saved in this browser, and you can print the list at any time.
Start with what you already have at home. The European guidelines suggest preparing in small, affordable steps and ask authorities to discourage fear-based commercial offers. You don't need special purchases or large stockpiles.
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72-hour kit: the checklist
Drinking water
Water comes first. Store it somewhere cool and dark, in clean, sealed containers.
Shelf-stable food
Choose food your household already eats, that keeps at room temperature and needs no cooking.
Lighting, batteries and phone charging
During a power cut, light and a charged phone help you stay informed and safe.
Hygiene
If running water stops, good hygiene helps prevent illness.
Health and personal medication
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about keeping a small supply of the medicines you take every day.
Documents, contacts and money
If digital payments stop, cash and paper copies make a difference.
Other essentials
Items to stay warm, communicate and, if needed, leave home quickly.
Adaptations
Young children
Think about what three days of routine, sleep and comfort require.
Older adults
People who mainly get news from radio, TV or in person need channels that work without the internet.
People with disabilities
A personal plan helps family and responders know what is needed.
Pets
Pets also need water, food and a safe way to travel.
How to store it and keep it up to date
- Home supplies and a grab bag are two different things. Home supplies help if you stay at home without services; the grab bag holds the minimum you need if the authorities ask you to leave quickly.
- Keep everything in one easy-to-reach place that everyone at home knows, away from heat sources.
- Check expiry dates, batteries and power banks twice a year: the clock change is a handy reminder.
- During a power cut, keep the fridge and freezer closed as much as possible.
- Never use camping stoves, barbecues, braziers or generators indoors or in a garage: there is a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The next step
Your kit works best together with a shared plan: who to call, where to meet and how to communicate if phones are down.
Sources for this page
- European Commission, Communication C(2026) 8250 on population preparedness (30 October 2026, presented on 3 November 2026)
- European Commission, staff working document SWD(2026) 826 on self-sufficiency of at least 72 hours
- Italian Civil Protection Department, Io Non Rischio campaign – good practices (in Italian)
- TGcom24, 10 November 2026: overview of national guides from France, the UK and the Netherlands (in Italian)