What should be in an earthquake emergency kit?

A comprehensive kit should include water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days), non-perishable food, a first aid kit, flashlight with extra batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, dust masks, plastic sheeting and duct tape, a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, a whistle, and copies of important documents. FEMA recommends building a kit that can sustain your household for a minimum of 72 hours.

How much water do I need in my earthquake kit?

FEMA recommends one gallon per person per day for at least three days, for both drinking and sanitation. A family of four should store at minimum 12 gallons. Ideally, aim for a two-week supply (56 gallons for a family of four). Don't forget water for pets.

Are pre-made earthquake kits worth buying?

Pre-made kits provide a convenient starting point but almost always need supplementing. They typically include basic supplies but lack prescription medications, enough water, personal documents, cash, and items specific to your family's needs. Start with a pre-made kit and customize from there.

Where should I store my earthquake kit?

Store kits in an easily accessible location — not in a room that could become blocked by fallen furniture. Many experts recommend keeping one kit by your bed, one in your car, and a larger supply in a garage or closet near an exit. Avoid storing in areas with extreme temperatures.

What's the difference between a 72-hour kit and a two-week supply?

A 72-hour kit is a grab-and-go bag with essentials for three days, designed to be portable. A two-week supply is a more comprehensive shelter-in-place stockpile stored at home, including larger water containers, more food, tools, and comfort items. Ideally, have both.

Best Earthquake Emergency Kits (2025): Pre-Made Kits vs. DIY Compared

Q: How often should I replace items in my earthquake kit?

Check your kit every six months. Replace water every 6-12 months, rotate food before expiration dates, check battery expiration dates, update medications, and verify that clothing and shoes still fit family members. Many people check their kits when daylight saving time changes.

Last updated: February 2025

Key Takeaways

Every household in an earthquake zone needs a 72-hour emergency kit — FEMA recommends enough supplies for at least 3 days per person, with 2 weeks as the ideal target.
Pre-made kits are a solid starting point, but almost all of them need supplementing with personal items like prescription medications, copies of important documents, and extra water.
Water is the heaviest and most important item — plan for 1 gallon per person per day for drinking and basic sanitation. A 4-person family needs at least 12 gallons for 72 hours.
Budget options start around $30-$50 for basic 1-person kits, while comprehensive family kits run $150-$350+.
Building your own kit costs roughly the same as a mid-range pre-made kit but lets you choose higher-quality individual components.
Don't buy a kit and forget it — check expiration dates on food and water annually, replace batteries, and update medications and documents every 6 months.

Why Earthquake Emergency Kits Are Non-Negotiable

When a significant earthquake strikes, you can't count on running to the store. Roads may be impassable, power could be out across the region, and water lines may be broken. After the 1994 Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles, some neighborhoods went without water service for days. Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand, parts of the city lacked running water for weeks.

FEMA and the American Red Cross both recommend that every household maintain at least a 72-hour supply of food, water, and essential gear. That three-day window is considered the minimum time it may take for emergency services to reach you and for basic infrastructure to begin recovering.

In reality, major earthquakes can leave you on your own for much longer. The ideal target is a 2-week supply of essentials, especially if you live in a region where a major seismic event — like a Cascadia Subduction Zone rupture or a large San Andreas fault earthquake — could affect millions of people simultaneously.

Complete earthquake preparedness checklist

What FEMA Says Your Kit Should Include

Before evaluating pre-made kits, it helps to understand the baseline. According to FEMA's emergency kit checklist, a basic emergency supply kit should include:

Water — 1 gallon per person per day for at least 3 days (drinking and sanitation)
Food — at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio — ideally a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
Flashlight with extra batteries
First aid kit
Whistle to signal for help
Dust masks — critical after earthquakes when buildings collapse and air fills with debris
Plastic sheeting and duct tape for shelter-in-place scenarios
Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities (especially important for gas shut-off after earthquakes)
Manual can opener for canned food
Local maps
Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Additional earthquake-specific items to consider: sturdy shoes near your bed, work gloves, a pry bar, and a fire extinguisher. The American Red Cross also recommends keeping copies of important documents in a waterproof container.

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Top 8 Pre-Made Earthquake Emergency Kits Compared

Kit	Persons	Items Included	Food/Water Duration	Weight	Price Range	Best For
Ready America 70080 (1-Person Tote)	1	~30+ items: food bars, water pouches, blanket, first aid, light stick, whistle	72 hours	~7 lbs	$25–$35	Budget starter kit
Ready America 70280 (2-Person Backpack)	2	~35+ items: food bars, water pouches, blanket, poncho, first aid, light sticks	72 hours	~9 lbs	$40–$55	Budget 2-person option
Ready America 70385 Deluxe (4-Person)	4	~65+ items: food, water, first aid, blankets, ponchos, wrench, light sticks, backpack	72 hours	~18 lbs	$85–$120	Affordable family kit
Sustain Supply Co. Essential 2 (2-Person)	2	~20+ items: Mainstay food bars, water, Sawyer MINI filter straw, lantern, SnapLights, first aid, whistle, knife	72 hours	~12 lbs	$65–$85	Quality gear on a budget
Sustain Supply Co. Comfort 4 (4-Person)	4	~35+ items: Wise Company food (24 servings), Sawyer Squeeze filter, lanterns, flashlights, portable stove, Morakniv knife, first aid, InstaFire tinder	72 hours	~25 lbs	$170–$230	Premium family kit
Earthquake Bag (4-Person)	4	107+ items: food, water, hand-crank radio/flashlight, first aid, hygiene kit, tools, solar blankets, water purification tablets	72 hours	~30 lbs	$180–$250	Earthquake-specific focus
Redfora Complete Earthquake Bag (2-Person)	2	65+ items: food, water, dust masks, work gloves, wrench, pry bar, hand-crank radio, first aid, whistle, headlamp	72 hours	~20 lbs	$140–$180	Earthquake-tailored kit
Stealth Angel Survival (4-Person)	4	72+ items: food, water, first aid, light sources, tools, ponchos, blankets, whistle	72 hours	~22 lbs	$100–$150	Mid-range family option

Prices are approximate ranges and fluctuate on Amazon, Walmart, and manufacturer direct sites. Verify current pricing before purchase.

Detailed Kit Reviews

Budget Tier: Under $60

Ready America 70080 (1-Person, 3-Day Tote) — The most affordable entry point for earthquake preparedness. Includes Mayday Industries food bars with a 5-year shelf life, emergency water pouches, an emergency blanket, poncho, basic first aid supplies, and a light stick. $25–$35. Best for: individuals on a tight budget or as a car/office kit.

The Ready America kits are widely available at Home Depot, Walmart, and Amazon, which makes replacement easy. The trade-off is that the individual components are basic — the food is calorie-dense bars rather than actual meals, and the first aid kit is minimal. You'll absolutely want to supplement this with your own flashlight, radio, extra water, and personal items.

Ready America 70280 (2-Person, 3-Day Backpack) — Steps up to a backpack format with enough food and water for two people for 72 hours. Adds a second blanket, poncho, and additional supplies. $40–$55. Best for: couples or as a grab-and-go bag.

The backpack itself is functional but not rugged — think basic school backpack quality. For the price, though, it's hard to argue. This kit checks off many FEMA checklist items and gives you something immediate while you build out a more complete setup.

Mid-Range Tier: $65–$150

Sustain Supply Co. Essential 2 (2-Person) — A meaningful step up in component quality. Instead of cheap light sticks, you get Cyalume SnapLights (the brand used by the military). Instead of basic water pouches alone, you get Sustain Survival filter straws that can purify water from streams or other questionable sources — a genuine advantage after an earthquake when municipal water may be contaminated. The Mainstay food bars and Aqua Literz water are reliable. $65–$85. Best for: people who want better gear without going premium.

The included Sawyer MINI water filter is a standout — it's rated to filter up to 100,000 gallons and removes 99.99999% of bacteria. After an earthquake, having the ability to purify water from any source is a significant advantage.

Stealth Angel Survival (4-Person) — Covers a family of four with food, water, first aid, lighting, and basic tools. The kit packs a reasonable amount of items for the price, though individual component quality is mixed. $100–$150. Best for: families wanting a mid-range all-in-one solution.

Premium Tier: $150+

Sustain Supply Co. Comfort 4 (4-Person) — The most complete pre-made kit on this list. Includes actual freeze-dried Wise Company meals (24 servings) instead of emergency bars, a portable stove for heating food and boiling water, a high-quality Swedish-made Morakniv knife, a Sawyer Squeeze water filtration system, LED lanterns and flashlights, InstaFire tinder, and a comprehensive first aid kit. $170–$230. Best for: families who want the closest thing to a complete 72-hour solution out of the box.

The real food is a notable upgrade — after a stressful earthquake, being able to prepare a hot meal does a lot for morale, especially for children. The Morakniv knife and ferrocerium fire-starting rod are tools with genuine utility, not filler items.

Redfora Complete Earthquake Bag (2-Person) — Specifically designed for earthquake scenarios, which means it includes items other kits miss: N95 dust masks, heavy-duty work gloves, a gas shut-off wrench, and a pry bar. Also includes a hand-crank radio/flashlight combo, food, water, and comprehensive first aid. $140–$180. Best for: earthquake-specific preparedness where building collapse and gas leaks are primary concerns.

The earthquake-specific tools are what make this kit stand out. After a quake, you may need to force open a jammed door (pry bar), shut off a gas line (wrench), or navigate through dust and debris (N95 masks and gloves). Most generic emergency kits skip these items entirely.

Earthquake Bag (4-Person) — Another earthquake-focused option with 107+ items including water purification tablets, a hand-crank radio with flashlight and USB charger, solar blankets, and a more extensive tool set. $180–$250. Best for: families in high seismic risk areas wanting earthquake-specific gear.

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Why Every Pre-Made Kit Needs Supplementing

No pre-made kit includes everything you need. Here's what you'll almost certainly need to add:

Personal medications — None of these kits can include your prescription drugs. Keep a rotating 7-day supply in your kit and swap it out every few months.

Extra water — The water included in pre-made kits is almost always insufficient. Most kits provide perhaps 1–2 liters per person total, while FEMA recommends 1 gallon (3.78 liters) per person per day. Buy additional sealed water or store your own.

Documents — Copies of IDs, insurance policies, medical records, and bank information in a waterproof bag or container.

Cash — Small bills. ATMs and card machines won't work without power.

Better flashlight and radio — The lighting in most kits is minimal. A quality headlamp and a hand-crank AM/FM/NOAA radio are essential upgrades.

Sturdy shoes and gloves — After an earthquake, broken glass and debris will be everywhere. Keep a pair of hard-soled shoes and work gloves accessible.

Pet supplies — Food, water, leash, carrier, and any medications for your animals.

Comfort items for children — A small toy, coloring book, or comfort item can make a stressful situation more manageable.

Best emergency food supply for long-term storage

DIY Kit Option: Build Your Own

Building your own kit lets you choose higher-quality components and customize for your specific needs. Here's an itemized breakdown for a 1-person, 72-hour kit:

Item	Approximate Cost
3-gallon water supply (sealed pouches or jugs)	$5–$10
3-day food supply (bars, freeze-dried pouches, or MREs)	$15–$30
First aid kit (Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7)	$15–$25
LED headlamp (Petzl Tikkina or Black Diamond Spot)	$20–$35
Hand-crank AM/FM/NOAA radio (multiple brands available)	$20–$40
Emergency blankets (2-pack)	$5–$8
Whistle	$3–$5
N95 dust masks (10-pack)	$10–$15
Work gloves	$8–$15
Multi-tool or utility knife	$15–$30
Gas shut-off wrench	$8–$12
Waterproof bag for documents	$5–$10
Portable phone charger/power bank	$15–$30
Duct tape (small roll)	$3–$5
Garbage bags (3–5)	$2–$3
Moist towelettes or hygiene wipes	$3–$5
Backpack to hold everything	$15–$30
Total Estimate	$167–$308

The DIY approach costs roughly the same as a premium pre-made kit ($170–$250) but gives you better individual components. The headlamp alone in a DIY kit will outperform any lighting included in a pre-made kit.

The main disadvantage of building your own is the time investment and the risk of forgetting something critical. A pre-made kit guarantees you have the basics immediately, even if the quality is moderate.

The best approach for most people: buy a pre-made kit now, then supplement and upgrade individual components over time. Getting something in place immediately is far more valuable than spending months assembling the perfect custom kit.

Buying Guide: What to Look For

Must-Have Features

5-year shelf life (minimum) on food and water — Shorter shelf lives mean more frequent replacement and a higher chance items expire unnoticed.
Backpack or duffel format — You need to be able to grab it and go. Totes and boxes are harder to carry if you need to evacuate on foot.
Water filtration capability — Stored water runs out. A filter straw or purification tablets let you use available water sources after an earthquake when infrastructure is damaged.
Real first aid kit — Not just a few bandages. Look for kits that include gauze, medical tape, antiseptic, pain medication, and ideally a first aid guide.

Earthquake-Specific Features to Prioritize

Dust masks or N95 respirators — Building collapses create enormous dust clouds. This is one of the most commonly overlooked items.
Heavy-duty work gloves — Debris cleanup and navigating broken glass requires hand protection.
Gas shut-off wrench — If you smell gas after an earthquake, you need to shut off the line immediately. A standard crescent wrench works, but a dedicated gas wrench is easier to use under stress.
Pry bar — Doors can jam shut after structural shifting. A small pry bar can save your life.

Red Flags to Avoid

Kits stuffed with dozens of tiny items to inflate the count — "150-piece kit" often means 100 small bandages and 50 items of value. Focus on the quality of core items, not item count.
No-name brands with no traceable manufacturer — You want components you can trust in an emergency.
Food with less than 3-year shelf life — You'll forget to replace it.
No water purification option — Stored water alone isn't enough for a serious earthquake scenario.

How to create an earthquake emergency plan

FAQ

How much does a good earthquake emergency kit cost?

Budget-friendly 1-person kits start at $25–$50 and cover the absolute basics. For a family of four, expect to spend $100–$250 for a pre-made kit, plus another $50–$100 to supplement with personal items, extra water, better lighting, and a radio. A well-stocked DIY kit for one person typically runs $170–$300 depending on component quality.

Should I buy a pre-made kit or build my own?

Both approaches have merit. A pre-made kit is faster — you can have a baseline of emergency supplies within days instead of weeks. But nearly all pre-made kits need supplementing. The practical recommendation is to buy a pre-made kit immediately (so you're covered starting now), then add personal medications, extra water, a quality flashlight, a hand-crank radio, and any earthquake-specific tools like a gas wrench and dust masks over the following weeks.

How often should I replace items in my earthquake kit?

Check your kit every 6 months. Replace any food or water that's within 6 months of expiration. Swap out prescription medications with fresh supplies. Test flashlights and replace batteries. Update document copies if anything has changed (new insurance policy, new address, updated medical information). Set a calendar reminder — many people check their kits when they change their clocks for daylight saving time.

Where should I store my earthquake emergency kit?

Keep it somewhere accessible that's unlikely to be blocked by fallen furniture — near an exterior door, in a hall closet on the ground floor, or in a garage near the exit. Don't store it in a basement that could flood or a room that requires going through the whole house to reach. If you live in an apartment, keep it near your front door. Consider a second smaller kit in your car.

Is a 72-hour kit really enough?

Three days is the minimum. After a major earthquake affecting a large urban area, infrastructure recovery can take much longer. FEMA increasingly recommends preparing for 2 weeks. At a minimum, have 72 hours of portable supplies you can grab and go, plus additional food, water, and essentials stored at home for an extended shelter-in-place period.

What about kits for the office or car?

A smaller kit in your car and at your workplace is smart. You may not be at home when an earthquake strikes. A basic car kit can be as simple as a Ready America 1-person tote, a pair of sturdy shoes, work gloves, a flashlight, and some extra water. At the office, keep comfortable walking shoes (in case you need to walk home), water, a snack, and a small flashlight in your desk or locker.

Sources

FEMA — Build a Kit: https://www.ready.gov/kit
American Red Cross — How to Prepare for Emergencies: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies.html
Ready America product specifications: https://www.readyamerica.com/
Sustain Supply Co. product specifications: https://sustain.com/
Redfora product information: https://redfora.com/
Earthquake Country Alliance — Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety: https://www.earthquakecountry.org/sevensteps/