Survival & Preparedness

The Complete Survival Kit Checklist for Your Home

A survival kit is a collection of supplies that keeps your family alive and comfortable during an emergency. Whether you have a safe room, an underground bunker, or just a closet, having the right kit ready can make all the difference.

This is not a bare-minimum list. This is a complete survival kit designed for a family of four, covering everything from the basics to the items most people forget. FEMA's Ready.gov and the American Red Cross recommend every household have an emergency kit. We took their guidelines and built on them.

Tier 1: The Absolute Essentials (Hours)

These are the items you need for any emergency, even if you are only sheltering for a few hours during a tornado or storm.

Tier 2: Extended Survival (Days to Weeks)

If you need to stay in your safe room or bunker for more than a few hours, these items become essential.

Water and Purification

• Additional water storage (7 to 14 days per person)
• Water purification tablets (treats 25 gallons per pack)
• Portable water filter (like a Sawyer or LifeStraw)
• Collapsible water container for transport

Food and Cooking

• 14-day supply of shelf-stable food per person
• Freeze-dried meals (lightweight, 25-year shelf life)
• Rice, beans, oats in sealed Mylar bags
• Peanut butter, honey, dried fruit, nuts
• Vitamins — daily multivitamin for each person
• Camp stove with fuel (if ventilation allows) or flameless ration heaters
• Disposable plates, cups, and utensils

Shelter and Warmth

• Sleeping bags or heavy blankets (one per person)
• Mylar emergency blankets (compact backup)
• Change of clothes per person (layers)
• Sturdy shoes
• Rain ponchos

Tools and Safety

• Multi-tool or Swiss Army knife
• Duct tape (full roll)
• Work gloves (leather)
• Plastic sheeting (for sealing openings if needed)
• Rope or paracord (50 feet)
• Wrench or pliers (to turn off gas/water)
• Fire extinguisher (small, ABC-rated)
• Crowbar or pry bar (for debris removal after a storm)

Communication

• Battery-powered or solar AM/FM/NOAA weather radio
• Extra battery packs (at least 2 fully charged)
• Two-way radios (walkie-talkies) with spare batteries
• Printed list of emergency contacts
• Printed list of local emergency frequencies
• Notebook and pencil (for messages and notes)

Tier 3: Long-Term Preparedness (Weeks to Months)

If you have an underground bunker designed for extended stays, add these items to your kit.

• 3-month food supply (freeze-dried + canned + bulk dry goods)
• Large water tank (200+ gallons) or well access
• Generator with fuel (propane recommended — stores longer than gasoline)
• Solar charging system for batteries
• Full medicine cabinet (OTC pain, allergy, digestive, cold/flu meds)
• Hygiene supplies — soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, feminine products, hand sanitizer
• Sanitation supplies — garbage bags, bleach, bucket toilet with bags
• Entertainment — books, games, cards, loaded tablet, musical instrument
• Cash — small bills and coins (ATMs do not work without power)
• Important documents — IDs, insurance, deeds, medical records in waterproof bag
• Spare eyeglasses or contacts
• Pet supplies — food, water, medications, carrier, waste bags
• Baby supplies (if applicable) — diapers, formula, wipes, blankets
• Sewing kit for clothing repair
• Seed packets (non-GMO, heirloom variety) for long-term food growing

First Aid Kit: The Full List

The CDC and Red Cross both recommend keeping a well-stocked first aid kit. Here is what yours should include:

Items Most People Forget

These are the things that are not on most lists but matter a lot in a real emergency:

• Copies of keys — house, car, safe, mailbox
• USB drive — with scans of all important documents and family photos
• Comfort items for kids — stuffed animal, coloring book, favorite snack
• Cash in small bills — card readers do not work in a blackout
• Spare phone cable — cables break at the worst times
• Sunscreen and insect repellent — for when you leave the shelter
• Heavy-duty trash bags — for waste, makeshift rain cover, and dozens of other uses
• Zip ties — for quick repairs and securing items
• N95 masks — for dust, smoke, or airborne particles after a storm
• Morale items — a deck of cards, a journal, a favorite book

Maintenance Schedule

A survival kit is not a "set it and forget it" project. Supplies expire. Batteries drain. Check your kit on a regular schedule:

• Every month: Check battery levels on power banks and flashlights.
• Every 3 months: Check medications. Rotate perishable food. Test weather radio.
• Every 6 months: Replace water. Check all food dates. Swap out batteries. Update documents.
• Every year: Do a full inventory. Replace anything that is expired, damaged, or missing. Update your emergency plan.

Set reminders on your phone. The easiest schedule: check your kit when you change your clocks for daylight saving time, and do a full inventory on New Year's Day.

Where to Store Your Kit

The best place for your survival kit is inside your safe room or bunker. Everything is in one place, right where you need it. If you do not have a safe room yet, store your kit in a central, easy-to-reach location on the ground floor.

Use clear, labeled plastic bins. Stack them where they will not get buried behind other stuff. Everyone in the family should know exactly where the kit is.

For a detailed guide on how to organize supplies inside your safe room, read our safe room stocking guide.