Household emergency kit checklist

Every home needs the same core kit: water, food, light, warmth, information and a plan. This is the full list, sized here for two adults, with notes for people living alone and older households.

Who this plan is for

Two adults. SupKit's planning assumptions for this household:

Water and food for 2 adults

Also on Ireland's official kit list

• Irish kit items include a battery, wind-up or solar radio, power banks, and a paper road map in case GPS fails.²
• Ireland advises keeping important documents in a resealable waterproof bag.²
• Irish households should know how to turn off gas and electricity and note their MPRN and GPRN from their bills.²

Food

• Food for everyone Essential
  Non-perishable food that will last your household for your chosen number of days.
• Manual tin opener
  A tin opener that doesn't need electricity.

Water

• Drinking water Essential
  3 litres per person per day for drinking is the commonly recommended amount.

Hygiene

• Hand sanitiser
  For when running water isn't available.
• Wet wipes
  Useful for cleaning when water is limited.
• Toilet roll and bathroom products
  Toilet roll, bin bags and other bathroom basics.
• Personal hygiene supplies
  Toothpaste, soap, period products and anything else your household uses daily.

Power & warmth

• Torch Essential
  A torch for each part of the home you'd need to move around in the dark.
• Spare batteries
  The right sizes for your torch and radio.
• Charged power bank
  To keep a phone charged during a power cut.
• Battery or wind-up radio
  To hear updates if mobile networks are down.
• Blankets or sleeping bags
  To keep everyone warm if the heating is off.
• Camping stove
  A way to heat food and water without mains power, with spare fuel. Only use it outdoors or somewhere well ventilated.
• Warm clothing
  Layers, hats and gloves that are easy to find.

Health & safety

• First aid kit Essential
  A stocked first aid kit that everyone knows where to find.

Plans & essentials

• Emergency contacts Essential
  Important numbers saved where you can reach them without the internet.
• Meeting point
  Somewhere your household agrees to meet if you're separated.
• Utility shut-offs
  Where to turn off water, gas and electricity.
• Some cash
  Card machines and cash points may not work in a power cut.
• Important documents
  Know where your important documents are kept. SupKit never asks you to upload them.
• Insurance details
  Policy numbers and claim lines for home and contents insurance.

A sample shopping list for 3 days

One way to reach 13,500 calories with long-life food. SupKit estimate Swap in what your household likes.

Allergies, dietary needs and children

Plan around everyone at home: allergies, intolerances and diets come first, and familiar food matters most for children. Recipes vary between brands, so always read the label of the product you buy.

Typical allergens and diets are SupKit's guide to the main ingredient, not a product's label.

• Irish (EU) law names 14 allergens: gluten cereals, crustaceans, eggs, fish, peanuts, soybeans, milk, tree nuts, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphites, lupin and molluscs.³
• On packaged food, allergens must stand out in the ingredient list, for example through font, style or background colour.⁴
• For unpackaged food, allergen information must be in writing and easy to find before you buy.³
• 'May contain' warnings are optional, used only where cross-contamination can't be ruled out, and can't replace good manufacturing practice.⁴

Young children