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Home Emergency Kit: A Two-Week Supply List for Staying Put

By Memeza · Updated October 24, 2026

Many emergencies don’t send you anywhere. A winter storm, a days-long power outage, a boil-water notice or an illness in the house keeps you at home, often with stores closed or empty. A home emergency kit is the supply that lets your household stay put safely. The Red Cross and the CDC suggest planning for two weeks.

• 2 weeksof water, food and supplies for everyone at home, the Red Cross target for staying put
• 28 gallonsof water for two people for two weeks, at one gallon per person per day
• Monthlytest of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Why it’s worth the space

A home kit protects your health first: safe water, enough food, your medicine and a way to stay warm. It also protects your money. Food in a fridge that stays shut lasts longer, a generator used safely keeps a freezer running, and supplies you bought ahead cost less than whatever is left on the shelves the night before a storm. And it lowers the risk of a second emergency: candles, grills and generators used indoors during outages cause house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning every year.

Where to keep it

Store everything in one or two sturdy plastic bins in a cool, dry, dark place everyone can reach: a closet, a basement shelf or under the stairs. The CDC suggests storing water between 50 and 70 °F and away from direct sunlight and chemicals such as gasoline or pesticides, so a hot garage is a poor spot. Keep the flashlights where you’d reach for them in the dark, such as a kitchen drawer and each bedside table.

The home emergency kit checklist

Items marked Essential are on the Ready.gov or Red Cross basic lists. Tick them off as you go: your ticks are saved in this browser only. If you already have a go bag, keep it next to the home kit; it covers the first three days if you need to leave.

Storing water the right way

• Store-bought bottled water is the simplest choice. Keep it sealed and replace it by the date on the label.
• Water you bottle yourself should go in food-grade containers that you clean first. Label each one “drinking water” with the date, and replace it every 6 months, as the CDC advises.
• Plan for more than drinking. One gallon a day covers drinking and basic hygiene. Store extra for pets, hot weather, nursing mothers and anyone who is sick.
• Keep a way to treat more. Unscented household bleach can disinfect water if you follow the CDC’s instructions. Don’t use scented, color-safe or splash-free bleach.

Staying safe in a power outage

• Run generators outside only. Ready.gov says to keep generators, camp stoves and charcoal grills outdoors and at least 20 feet from windows. Never run them in a home, garage or basement, even with the door open.
• Don’t heat the house with a gas stove or oven. It raises the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Keep carbon monoxide alarms on every level, with battery backup, so they work when the power doesn’t.
• Keep the fridge and freezer closed. Ready.gov says a closed fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours, and a full freezer for about 48 hours. When in doubt, throw it out.
• Use flashlights, not candles, and unplug electronics so a power surge doesn’t damage them when service comes back.

Keep it ready

The bins are easy to forget once they’re packed. Set two dates a year with the calendar button above the checklist and work through this list.

• Every month

  • Press the test button on each smoke and carbon monoxide alarm.

• Every 6 months

  • Replace water you bottled yourself; check dates on bought water.
  • Move the oldest food into the kitchen and restock.
  • Test flashlights, the radio and the power station; replace weak batteries.
  • Rotate spare medicine so it stays fresh.

• Once a year

  • Rethink your needs: new people, pets, medical devices or a move.
  • Replace the bleach and check the fire extinguisher gauge.
  • Practice your home fire escape plan; Ready.gov suggests twice a year.
  • Make sure everyone knows where the utility shutoffs are.

Spread the cost

A two-week kit sounds like a big shopping trip, but most of it is food and water your household already uses. Buy a few extra cans and a case of water each time you shop, store them in the bin, and eat from the oldest end. The rest (flashlights, a radio, a first aid kit, alarms) are one-time purchases that last for years. Spreading the cost this way means the kit comes out of your normal grocery budget instead of your emergency fund.

Common questions

How much water should I store at home for emergencies?

Store one gallon per person per day. The CDC sets a 3-day supply as the minimum and 2 weeks as the goal, and the Red Cross suggests a 2-week supply for staying at home. For two people that is 28 gallons. Store more for pets, hot climates, and anyone who is pregnant, nursing or sick.

How long should a home emergency kit last?

Plan for two weeks. The Red Cross recommends a 2-week supply of water and food for staying at home, compared with 3 days for an evacuation kit. Keep at least a 7-day supply of prescription medicine on top of your normal refill.

How often should I replace stored water?

Replace water you bottled yourself every 6 months, as the CDC advises. For store-bought bottled water, follow the expiration or best-by date on the label. Keep all stored water in a cool, dark place away from chemicals.

Where should I keep a home emergency kit?

In one or two sturdy bins in a cool, dry place everyone in the household can reach, such as a closet, basement shelf or under the stairs. Avoid a hot garage or attic, which shortens the life of water, food and batteries. Keep flashlights where you can find them in the dark.

Is it safe to use a generator during a power outage?

Use fuel-powered generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents, with exhaust directed away from the home. Never run one in a home, garage or basement. Put battery-backed CO alarms on every level and outside each separate sleeping area; install smoke alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level. Follow manufacturer instructions and local requirements.

Related guides

• Go Bag Checklist: What to Pack and How to Keep It Ready
• Car Emergency Kit: What to Keep in Your Car
• Emergency Funds 101: How Much You Need and Where to Keep It

Sources

1. Survival Kit Supplies, American Red Cross
2. How to Create and Store an Emergency Water Supply, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
3. Build A Kit, Ready.gov, Federal Emergency Management Agency
4. Power Outages, Ready.gov, Federal Emergency Management Agency
5. Home Fires, Ready.gov, Federal Emergency Management Agency
6. Smoke Alarms, U.S. Fire Administration
7. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention, U.S. Fire Administration

This guide is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial, medical, legal, or tax advice. Follow instructions from local officials during an emergency, and consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

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