Survival Supplies for Your Home
This checklist includes the extensive supplies you would need if you can stay near
your home but need to live outside for up to two weeks. You may choose to store
some or all of these supplies in your home – but make sure they are located
together for easier access after an event like an earthquake.
Keep an inventory list of the supplies you collect. Check them every 6 months to
make sure everything is still in good shape; mark the date on the inventory as a
reminder.
Food and Water
Mark all items with the date stored; rotate supplies every 6 months.
□ Water (1 gallon per person per day)
□ Ready-to-eat meats, pastas, fruits, and vegetables
□ Canned or boxed juices, milk, and soup
□ High-energy foods such as peanut butter, jelly, low-sodium crackers, granola
bars, and trail mix
□ Vitamin, mineral, and protein supplements
□ Special foods for infants or people on special diets
□ Cookies, hard candy, dried fruit
□ Instant coffee, tea, drink mixes
□ Ready-to-eat cereals
□ Powdered and/or evaporated milk
□ Condiments (salt, pepper, sugar, catsup, mustard)
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Cooking Supplies
□ Manual can and bottle opener
□ Aluminum foil, plastic wrap
□ Resealable plastic bags or containers
□ Paper towels
□ Mess kits or paper plates, cups, and plastic eating utensils
□ All-purpose knife
□ Barbeque, camp stove, hibachi, Sterno stove, etc. (only use outdoors in an
area that is well-ventilated, when you’re sure there are no natural gas leaks)
□ Fuel for cooking equipment (propane, charcoal, kerosene, butane, white gas,
etc.)
□ Matches (waterproof, or store regular matches in a waterproof container)
Lighting
□ Flashlights; include extra batteries and bulbs
□ Lightsticks (single-use chemical safety lights do not require batteries or an
ignition source; available at many sporting goods stores)
□ Lanterns; include extra fuel and supplies (use only in a well-ventilated area,
when you’re sure there are no natural gas leaks)
□ Candles
(use only in a well-ventilated area, when you’re sure there are no
natural gas leaks)
Communication
□ Radio, battery-powered or hand crank (with extra batteries)
□ Whistle
□ Walkie-talkies (for short-range communication when cell service is down)
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Tools and Clean-up Supplies
□ Fire extinguisher (A:B:C type)
□ Work gloves for all family members
□ Dust masks
□ Gas shut-off wrench
□ Broom
□ Shovel
□ All-purpose knife
□ Hammer, nails
□ Screwdriver, screws
□ Wire cutters
□ Tape (duct, electrical, etc.)
□ Plastic bags and sheeting
□ Plywood
□ Rope
Shelter
□ Tarp and/or tent
□ Blankets and/or sleeping bags, pillows
Clothing
□ Sturdy shoes (keep one pair near your bed to protect your feet from debris)
□ One complete change of clothes for each family member, including
underwear, an extra pair of shoes and socks, long pants
□ Thermal underwear and warm outerwear for layering, hat, gloves
□ Rain gear
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Sanitation and Hygiene Supplies
□ Washcloths, towels
□ Soap, hand sanitizer, towelettes
□ Toothpaste, toothbrushes
□ Comb, brush, shampoo
□ Deodorant, sunscreen
□ Razor, shaving cream
□ Lip balm, insect repellent
□ Extra eyeglasses
□ Contact lenses, cases and solutions
□ Denture supplies
□ Mirror
□ Feminine supplies
□ Diapers, wipes
□ Toilet
Two water-tight containers with tight-fitting lids
Disinfectant, household chlorine bleach, or powdered chlorinated lime
Heavy-duty plastic garbage bags
Sealable plastic bags
Twist ties or rubber bands
Toilet paper
For solid waste, line one of the water-tight containers with two heavyduty plastic garbage bags. Add disinfectant, household chlorine
bleach, or powdered chlorinated lime to deodorize and disinfect.
o For urine, use a separate water-tight container. Do not urinate into
plastic bags as urine weakens the plastic.
o In an emergency, human waste can be buried. Dig a hole 2-3 feet
deep and deposit the waste. Add a thin layer of disinfectant and soil
each time it is used.
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Personal Items
□ Books, games, cards, toys
□ Paper and pencils/pens
□ Battery-operated travel alarm clock
□ Needles and thread
□ Sunglasses
□ Prescription and non-prescription medication
Pets
□ Carriers and/or portable kennels
□ Food and water bowls
□ Non-perishable pet food
□ Collars and leashes
□ Medication
Documents and Keys (keep in a water-tight container)
□ Personal identification
□ Cash and traveler’s checks for 3 days, and a roll of quarters for pay phones
□ Credit cards
□ Extra set of house and car keys
□ Emergency contact list and phone numbers
□ Map of the area and phone numbers of your possible family meeting places
□ Copies of the documents suggested in the attached article, “Protecting Your
Records”, or at least copies of the most important ones (with the originals in
a safe deposit box)
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