Plan for access first
Choose a dry, reachable location unlikely to be blocked during an outage or severe-weather event. Household members should know where it is, and an adult should be able to lift or divide the supplies quickly.
Keep essential documents, medications and situation-specific needs in a separate plan suited to your household. General checklists are a starting point, not personalized safety advice.
Use modules, not one deep bin
Divide supplies into light, information, basic comfort and household needs. Smaller labeled pouches are faster to inspect than one container where batteries, paperwork and food disappear beneath each other.
Use a dated checklist attached to the shelf. Review it on two memorable dates each year and replace expired or damaged items according to manufacturer guidance.
- Light and compatible batteries
- Printed contacts and local information
- Basic first-aid supplies
- Water and shelf-stable provisions
- Manual tools appropriate to your home
Practice the first five minutes
A kit is only part of readiness. Make sure family members know how to find a flashlight, where to meet and whom to contact. Keep the exercise calm and age-appropriate.
After any use, restore the shelf while the missing items are still obvious. A partially used kit should not wait for the next scheduled review.