70+ Emergency Essentials You Should Have in Your 72-Hour Kit

While people all over the country were dealing with the various effects of the coronavirus pandemic years ago, we Utahns had one especially chaotic week! A 5.7 magnitude earthquake occurred just outside of Salt Lake City on a Wednesday morning, and while thankfully there weren’t any casualties, it didn’t do much for the already frayed state of our nerves!

If there’s a silver lining to facing an earthquake during a pandemic, it’s that it served as a timely reminder about how important it is to be prepared for an emergency! If the earthquake had been any stronger, it’s highly likely that we would have been facing power, water, and gas outages in addition to structural damage.

In light of those uncertain times, I figured there’s no better time to discuss emergency preparedness than right now, since you really never know what the future holds! So today I’ll be sharing a list of essential items to include in your emergency kit. (Obviously, you shouldn’t go out and buy all of this at once, so start small and add to your kit regularly!) :-)

70+ Emergency Essentials to Stock Up On

Emergency Essential Food Items

• Sweeteners – white sugar, brown sugar, honey, syrups
• Grains – rice, wheat
• Seasonings – salt, dried garlic, spices
• Baking supplies – flour, yeast
• Oils – vegetable oil, shortening
• Canned goods – Tuna fish, beans, fruits, vegetables, soups
• Snacks – crackers, pretzels, trail mix, jerky
• Peanut butter
• Milk – powdered milk, condensed milk
• Vinegar
• Non-perishable food items

Emergency Essential Cooking Supplies

• Tools – can opener, whisks
• Disposables – napkins, plates, cups, utensils
• Canning supplies
• Camp stove & propane
• Cast iron cookware
• Insulated ice chest
• Aluminum foil
• Charcoal
• Fire starting supplies – lighter fluid, matches, kindling

Emergency Essential Hygiene & Personal Care Items

• Medical supplies like a First aid kit
• Feminine hygiene products
• Personal care – soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hair products, skincare, shaving
• Paper goods – toilet paper, paper towels, tissues
• Baby supplies (if needed) – diapers, wipes, formula, aspirin
• Lip balm
• Vitamins and supplements
• Sunscreen
• Drugs – prescription medications, pain relievers, allergy tablets

Emergency Essential Clothing

• Sewing kit
• Work gloves
• Waterproof gear – boots, jackets, pants
• Cold weather clothing – scarves, mittens, thick socks, thermal underwear
• Shoelaces
• Underwear – socks, underwear, t-shirts
• Head covers – hats, bandanas
• Reading glasses

Emergency Essential Cleaning & Laundry Supplies

• Laundry detergent
• Bleach
• Laundry supplies – clothesline, clothespins, washboard, bucket

Emergency Essential Power & Fuel

• Generator
• Firewood
• Propane
• Solar-powered water heater
• Lighting – oil lamp with oil, lantern with batteries, headlamp
• Gasoline container
• Extra Batteries – standard batteries, rechargeable batteries, solar-powered battery charger
• Hand-crank
• Hand pumps & siphons
• Candles

Emergency Essential Tools & Gear

• Wood tools – axe, hatchet, bow saw
• Fire extinguisher
• Flashlights
• Duct tape
• Super glue
• Hand tools – multi-tool, hammer, wrenches, pliers, files
• Trash can & garbage bags
• Materials – tarps, stakes, rope, nails
• Gardening supplies – seeds, tools
• Water – containers, filters, purifiers, tablets, water testing kit, Life Straw
• Portable toilet
• Fishing supplies – fishing rod, line, tackle
• Insect repellent
• Pest supplies – mouse traps, ant traps, cockroach magnets
• AM/FM radio for updates, news, and to check the weather
• Cell phone and battery bank to charge it

Emergency Essential Sleeping & Shelter Gear

• Tent
• Sleeping bags
• Bedding – blankets, pillows, emergency blanket
• Cots, inflatable mattresses, or sleeping mats

Miscellaneous Emergency Essentials

• Books – survival guide, The Boy Scout Handbook
• Writing paper, pens, & pencils
• Copies of important documents in a waterproof container or bag
• Wagons or utility carts
• Bags – backpacks, duffel bags, tote bags
• Training (Prepare by taking a first aid class, learning CPR, practicing wilderness survival skills, etc.)
• Two-way radio
• Pet food and other essential items for your pets

In Conclusion

It’s crucial to be prepared for natural disasters and other emergencies. Starting an emergency kit (even if you’re starting from scratch and adding to it slowly) is a great place to start!

For more useful information on how to prepare for emergencies, visit RedCross.org or Ready.gov.

VIDEO: How to Store Your Own Wheat (Just in Case)

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