72-Hour Shelter-in-Place Checklist
What to have at home to manage on your own for three days: water, food, light, health supplies and documents, in US and metric amounts.
Checklist
0 of 30 ticked
Water 0/3
Food 0/6
Light and information 0/5
Health and hygiene 0/6
Warmth and home 0/5
Documents and money 0/3
Pets and children 0/2
Everything on this list is ticked. Check it again when you rotate your supplies.
Three days (72 hours) is the starting point in both countries. Canada.ca asks households to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours, and CDC asks for at least a 3-day water supply. Ready.gov says “several days”.
Start here even if you plan to go further. Most of it is food and gear you already own.
How much water, US and Canada
Official figures differ, so I use the higher one in the list above.
- US (Ready.gov and CDC): 1 gallon (3.8 L) per person per day.
- Canada: Canada.ca’s kit checklist says 2 L (about 2 quarts) per person per day. Canada.ca’s main kits page and PreparedBC say about 4 L (about 1 gallon). Health Canada says 2 L for drinking plus 2 L for cooking and cleaning.
Store extra for pets, for anyone pregnant or sick, and in hot weather.
How to use this list
- Tick what you already have.
- Buy the missing items a few at a time.
- Keep everything together in one or two bins, and tell everyone in the home where it is.
- Check it once a year. Replace expired food, water and batteries.
If you cook on a camp stove or barbecue during an outage, follow the warning below.
Carbon monoxide warning. Generators, camp stoves, barbecues, charcoal, and kerosene or propane burners give off carbon monoxide, which you cannot see or smell and which can kill within minutes. Never use them indoors, or in a garage, basement, shed, tent or covered porch, even with doors and windows open. Outdoors, keep them at least 20 feet (6 m) from doors, windows and vents.
The next step up is the 7-day list. If you may need to leave quickly, also pack a go bag.
Where to buy
Some links earn me a commission at no cost to you. How this works.
Water storage container, 7 gal / 26 L
Reliance: Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container
A rigid 7 gal (26 L) container sold for drinking water storage, so one jug covers several person-days.
Manual can opener
OXO: OXO Good Grips Lock & Go Can Opener
A manual opener that works without power and has locking arms that hold the can while you turn.
Flashlight, battery or hand-crank
Black Diamond: Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp
A AAA-powered dimmable headlamp that keeps both hands free and uses common batteries.
Spare batteries for your flashlights and radio
Energizer: Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA Batteries, 4 Pack
Energizer states AA Ultimate Lithium cells last up to 25 years in storage and work from -40°F to 140°F (-40°C to 60°C), which suits stored kits.
Battery or hand-crank radio, with NOAA Weather Radio
Midland: Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather AM/FM Radio
Runs from multiple power sources including a hand crank, and receives NOAA weather channels with alert.
Battery or hand-crank radio, with NOAA Weather Radio
Kaito: Kaito KA500 5-Way Powered Emergency AM/FM/SW Weather Alert Radio
Has solar, hand-crank and other power options plus a flashlight and reading lamp.
Phone power bank
Anker: Anker Power Bank, 20,000mAh, Built-In USB-C Cable
A 20,000 mAh pack holds several phone charges and has its own cable, so one less thing to find in the dark.
First aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes and gloves
First Aid Only: First Aid Only 299 Piece All-Purpose First Aid Kit
A soft-sided kit with a broad mix of common supplies for home use; check contents and replace used items.
First aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes and gloves
Adventure Medical Kits: Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker Medical Kit
Sized by the maker for 2 people for 2 days and includes a guide book for when you can't get information online.
Battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm
Kidde: Kidde KN-COB-B-LP Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Battery Operated
Kidde lists it as UL Listed with an electrochemical sensor, and it runs on 3 AA batteries so it keeps working in a power outage.
Check price at Amazon.comNo Canadian link yetBattery-operated carbon monoxide alarm
Kidde: Kidde C3010 Worry-Free Carbon Monoxide Alarm, 10-Year Sealed Battery
Kidde lists its Canadian C3010-CA as CSA Listed with an electrochemical sensor and a sealed lithium battery, so it keeps working in an outage; check the listing shows the CSA mark before buying.
No US link yetCheck price at Amazon.caWaterproof pouch for document copies
SentrySafe: SentrySafe Fire and Water Resistant Portable Bag with Zipper, FBWLZ0SSC
A zippered bag sold as fire and water resistant, for keeping IDs, insurance papers and a paper medication list together.
Sources
- Ready.gov: Build a Kit https://www.ready.gov/kit
- Canada.ca: Emergency kit checklist https://www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/emergencies/preparedness/get-prepared/emergency-kits/get-kit.html
- Canada.ca: Emergency kits https://www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/emergencies/preparedness/get-prepared/emergency-kits.html
- CDC: How to Create an Emergency Water Supply https://www.cdc.gov/water-emergency/about/how-to-create-and-store-an-emergency-water-supply.html
- American Red Cross: Power Outage Safety Checklist (PDF) https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/get-help/power-outage/EN_Power-Outage-Safety-Checklist.pdf
- Health Canada: Food and drinking water safety in an emergency https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-drinking-water-safe-emergency.html
Updated November 9, 2026