Putting together an emergency kit: step by step

A useful emergency kit starts with your household. Who are you preparing for, what do they need and what do you already have? These six steps help you build a supply you can find and maintain.

Step 1: decide who you are preparing for

The Dutch Denk Vooruit campaign uses the first 72 hours as a starting point. That does not promise that every disruption ends after three days. Count household members and note personal needs such as infant food, medicines, accessible aids, and food and water for pets. Check your own local authority's guidance if you live elsewhere.

Step 2: calculate drinking water and meals

The Dutch starting point is three litres of water per person per day. Over three days, that is nine litres per person, or 36 litres for four people. Decide where to store it safely. Account for pets and additional needs separately. Check the official Dutch baseline list (Dutch).

Make a simple meal plan for each person. Choose familiar shelf-stable food, including products that can be eaten without heating according to their labels. Dry meals may need extra water and preparation. Check allergens and keep a manual opener ready.

Step 3: check what you already have

Review torches, batteries, a radio, a power bank, blankets and first-aid supplies. Test them and make sure everyone knows where they are. Everyday equipment can be part of your plan if it remains available in a known place.

Our preparedness guide and checklist helps you work through the subjects. You can also open the English print checklist and print it from your browser. Add any missing personal items.

Step 4: buy what is missing

Compare individual purchases with emergency kits. Check contents and quantities per person. A kit with 72 hours in its name may still need additional water, food or personal supplies. Prepz does not sell an official government kit.

• Packaged drinking water for your basic supply.
• Long-life food for suitable meals.
• Lighting and radios you can use without mains power.
• First-aid kits, supplemented for personal needs.

Step 5: store accessibly and agree your plan

Everything need not fit into one backpack. Water is heavy: organise the supply clearly and keep access routes free. Protect products against damp and heat according to their instructions. Keep a bag ready for essentials if you need to leave.

Discuss where to meet without a phone and who needs help. Write a contact person's details and essential numbers on paper. Supplies and an emergency plan (Dutch) complement each other.

Step 6: schedule maintenance

Regularly check dates, packaging, device power and changing personal needs. Replace or recharge as instructed. Use food in normal meals and replenish it. Discuss personal medication and additional supplies with your pharmacist or clinician.

You do not need to buy everything at once. Fill the basic gaps steadily and test your plan. A maintained supply that suits you is more useful than a large box of unfamiliar contents.