How to Build a Home Emergency Kit for Sheltering in Place

Not every emergency requires an evacuation. In fact, for the majority of disruptions a household is likely to face — power outages, severe storms, water main breaks, supply chain interruptions, or local infrastructure failures — the safest and most practical option is to stay at home. The challenge is that "staying home" during an extended disruption means living without some or all of the services your household normally depends on: electricity, running water, heating, internet, and the ability to pop out to a shop.

A home emergency kit is a supply of essentials that allows your household to live comfortably and safely at home for at least seven to fourteen days without external support. It's the counterpart to a go bag, which is built for evacuation. Where a go bag is portable and lightweight, a home kit can be larger, heavier, and more comprehensive — it doesn't need to fit in a backpack because it isn't going anywhere.

This guide walks through everything your home kit needs — pillar by pillar, starting with the one that matters most — so you can build it up at your own pace and keep it ready for whatever comes.

1. How a Home Kit Differs From a Go Bag

Your go bag is designed to be grabbed in two minutes and carried out the door. It covers the minimum needed for 72 hours of displacement. A home kit, by contrast, is designed for depth and duration. Because you're staying put, you can store more water, keep a wider variety of food, maintain alternative heating and cooking equipment, and set up a more comfortable living situation than any backpack could provide.

The two kits complement each other. If you've already built a go bag following earlier guidance in this series, your home kit expands on it — more water, more food, more fuel, and additional supplies for longer-term comfort. If you haven't built a go bag yet, don't worry — many items overlap, and starting with a home kit is perfectly valid.

2. Water

Water is the foundation of any home emergency kit. Without it, nothing else matters within a few days.

Store at least 20 litres of drinking water per person — enough to cover minimum needs for one week. For a two-week supply, double that. If you have space, aim higher. Remember that water is needed not only for drinking but also for cooking, brushing teeth, and basic hygiene.

Store water in sealed, food-grade containers in a cool, dark location. Label each container with the date it was filled. Replace water stored in reusable containers every six to twelve months. If your household uses foods that require water to prepare (rice, pasta, dried beans, powdered milk), your water plan needs to account for that cooking water on top of your drinking and hygiene needs.

As a backup, keep water purification tablets or a portable filter in your kit. If you need to use water from an uncertain source during a prolonged disruption, these provide an additional layer of safety. For a complete guide to preparing, treating, and maintaining stored water, see our guide to storing tap water for long-term emergency preparedness.

3. Food

A home kit allows for a much broader food supply than a go bag. You're not constrained by weight or portability, so you can store bulk staples alongside ready-to-eat items.

Aim for one to two weeks of shelf-stable food per household member. Good staples include rice, pasta, cooking oil, tinned goods, salt, sugar, coffee, tea, dried fruit, muesli, chocolate, UHT milk, hard cheese, and dried meat — everyday items that combine long shelf lives with nutritional balance and familiarity.

Build your supply around the principle of eating what you store and storing what you eat. Integrate emergency food into your regular pantry and rotate it through normal use. This prevents waste, keeps your supply fresh, and means your household will be eating familiar food during a stressful time — which matters more for morale than most people expect.

Don't forget a manual can opener, cooking utensils that work without electricity, and basic condiments (salt, pepper, oil) that make simple food more palatable over several days. For detailed guidance on shelf life, storage conditions, and rotation systems, see our guide to storing food for long-term emergency preparedness.

4. Heating

If your home relies on electric heating — and in many countries, this is the majority of homes — a prolonged power outage in cold weather becomes a heating emergency fast. Having a plan for warmth without electricity is one of the most important elements of household preparedness.

If you have a wood-burning stove or fireplace, keep a sufficient supply of dry firewood. If you don't, consider a gas heater or paraffin stove rated for indoor use — but ensure you understand the ventilation requirements and follow the manufacturer's safety instructions. Carbon monoxide from improperly vented appliances is a serious and potentially fatal risk.

If installing an alternative heat source isn't practical — as is often the case for renters and apartment dwellers — make a plan to relocate to someone who has one. Agree in advance with a friend, relative, or neighbour who has an alternative heating source that you can stay with during an extended outage — arranging it before an emergency means everyone already knows the plan.

In the shorter term, insulation and layering are your friends. Close off unused rooms, hang blankets over windows, block draughts, and dress warmly in layers. Concentrate your household in the smallest comfortable space — shared body heat in a smaller room is surprisingly effective. For a full guide to managing all aspects of a power outage, see our guide to preparing your home for a power outage.

5. Lighting

Keep several torches or headlamps with spare batteries in known, accessible locations around your home. Headlamps are particularly useful because they leave your hands free. Battery-powered or rechargeable LED lanterns provide wider room lighting and last much longer than candles.

Candles provide warmth and atmosphere but carry a fire risk — use stable holders, never leave them unattended, and keep them well away from curtains, paper, and anything flammable. If you use candles, store matches or a lighter alongside them.

6. Cooking Without Power

Your home kit should include at least one way to heat food and boil water without mains electricity. Outdoor options include a gas barbecue or camping stove — never to be used indoors. Indoor-safe options include fondue sets, chafing dishes, candle warmers, or a wood-burning stove if your home has one.

Keep a supply of fuel or gas canisters for your chosen method, stored safely according to the manufacturer's guidance. And include plenty of foods in your supply that require no cooking at all — tinned goods, crackers, nut butters, dried fruit, energy bars — so that you always have options even if cooking isn't possible.

7. Communication and Information

When the power goes out, your Wi-Fi dies, your TV goes dark, and your phone battery becomes a finite resource. Staying informed about the situation and being able to communicate with the outside world requires some advance preparation.

A battery-powered or hand-crank radio is essential. Most countries designate a national emergency broadcast station or frequency — find out which one covers your area and mark it on your radio's dial so you can tune in quickly.

Keep a fully charged power bank (10,000–20,000 mAh) and the correct charging cables for all devices in your household. Use phones sparingly during an outage — switch to low-power mode and conserve battery for essential calls and texts.

Write down key phone numbers on paper: your electricity and water providers' fault reporting lines, local council or municipality, family and emergency contacts, your GP or pharmacy, and your insurance company. Paper doesn't run out of battery. These numbers should also form part of your family emergency communication plan.

8. First Aid and Medical Supplies

Your home kit should contain a comprehensive first aid kit — larger and more complete than the compact one in your go bag. Include adhesive bandages, sterile gauze and tape, antiseptic wipes, scissors, tweezers, disposable gloves, a digital thermometer, pain relief (paracetamol, ibuprofen), antihistamines, stomach remedies, oral rehydration salts, and any specialist items your household needs.

For prescription medications, maintain a minimum seven-day reserve that is regularly rotated so nothing expires. Discuss an additional emergency prescription with your doctor specifically for this purpose.

If anyone in the household depends on electrically powered medical equipment, ensure you have a backup power plan — whether that's a battery pack for the device, a portable generator used safely outdoors, or a pre-arranged plan to relocate to a location with power. Ask your electricity provider whether they offer a priority register for medical or vulnerable-need households — many do, and being registered can mean advance warning of planned outages and faster restoration after an unplanned one.

9. Hygiene and Sanitation

If the water supply is disrupted alongside the power, basic hygiene becomes a challenge. Your home kit should include hand sanitiser, antibacterial wipes, wet wipes, toilet paper, basic soap, and feminine hygiene products as needed.

For longer disruptions, include heavy-duty bin bags and zip ties — these can be used to line a toilet and improvise basic sanitation if flush systems are offline. Keep disposable gloves and a small supply of household bleach for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.

10. Cash and Important Documents

Electronic payment systems go offline during power outages. Keep a supply of small-denomination cash in your home kit — enough to cover basic purchases for several days if needed.

Store copies of important documents in a waterproof folder within the kit: identification, insurance policies, medical records, prescription lists, emergency contact numbers, and bank details. Originals should remain in a fireproof safe.

11. Comfort and Morale

During a multi-day disruption — especially one involving cold, darkness, and disrupted routines — psychological wellbeing matters more than people expect. Small comfort items can make an outsized difference.

Include books, card games, board games, or puzzle books for entertainment without electricity. For children, pack a few familiar toys, colouring materials, or a favourite storybook. For a full guide to supporting children through emergencies — including age-appropriate conversations and emotional wellbeing — see our guide to emergency preparedness for families with children. A flask for hot drinks (prepared when you have a working heat source) and a supply of comfort foods like chocolate, biscuits, or tea and coffee can provide genuine morale boosts when days feel long and uncertain.

12. Maintaining Your Home Kit

A home emergency kit only works if it's current. Set a six-monthly reminder — ideally tied to an existing habit like checking smoke alarms — to review your kit.

Check and rotate water supplies. Review food expiry dates and replace anything consumed or expired. Test torch batteries and recharge power banks. Update medications and document copies. Verify that your backup heating and cooking equipment is functional and that you have adequate fuel. Reassess clothing sizes if you have growing children.

After any event that uses supplies from the kit, restock immediately. The next disruption won't wait for you to get around to it.