Emergency kit builder

One gallon per person per day covers drinking and basic hygiene.

• Stored drinking water6 gallons total (2 people × 3 days)
• Bathtub liner or spare containers for washing water1

Shelf-stable food your household will actually eat, preparable without power.

• Shelf-stable meals18 meals total
• Manual can opener1

Talk with your prescriber and pharmacist about an appropriate on-hand supply.

• Essential prescription medicationsAs advised by your pharmacist
• Printed medication list with doses and prescriber contacts1 per person
• Cooler and cold packs for refrigerated medication1
• Basic over-the-counter medicines you normally use1 set

A stocked kit plus the training to use it.

• Comprehensive first aid kit1
• Disposable gloves1 box
• Printed first aid reference1

Battery lighting only — candles are a fire risk during outages.

• Flashlight or headlamp2 total
• Battery or crank lantern1–2

Assume no wall power and no working chargers at stores.

• Spare batteries in every size you useFull set
• Charged power bank1 per 2 people
• Car charger / 12V adapter1
• Carbon-monoxide alarms with battery backup1 per level

Information has to reach you when the network does not.

• Battery or hand-crank AM/FM radio1
• Printed contact list, including out-of-area contact1 per person
• Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled on all phonesAll devices
• Whistle2 total

Plan for no running water and no trash pickup.

• Heavy-duty trash bags and ties1 box
• Soap, hand sanitizer, wipes1 set per person
• Personal hygiene and menstrual suppliesFull period supply

Coastal Virginia can hand you heat, wind and cold in one week.

• Change of clothes and sturdy closed shoes2 total
• Rain gear2 total
• Blankets or sleeping bags2 total

Waterproof copies plus an encrypted digital backup.

• Copies of IDs, insurance, deeds/leases, medical records1 set
• Waterproof, portable document container1

Card readers and ATMs fail with power and network.

• Small bills kept in a secure placeAs appropriate for your budget

Basic, safe household tools — nothing improvised or hazardous.

• Multi-tool or basic tool set1
• Wrench or shutoff tool for utilities, with training on safe use1
• Duct tape and plastic sheeting1
• Fire extinguisher, inspected1 per level

Your car may become a waiting room for many hours.

• Keep the tank at least half full in storm seasonOngoing
• Paper maps of Hampton Roads and your destination route1
• Jumper cables, tire inflator, warning triangle1
• Water and snacks in the vehicle1 set

One grab-and-go bag per person, stored where you can reach it in the dark.

• Packed go-bag2 total
• Document copies and cash inside the bag1 set
• Spare keys and chargers1 set

For staying put when going outside is the hazard.

• Interior room selected for your household1
• Plastic sheeting and tape for the selected room1 set
• Water, medications, radio and flashlight staged in that room1 set