Emergency plan for medication and medical equipment
24 things to have ready for a household where someone relies on medication or medical equipment, with how much water and food to store for 2 adults.
For 2 adults, store 18 L of drinking water and about 56,484 kJ (13,500 Cal) of food for 3 days1, plus backup plan for powered equipment, essential medication, plan for medication that needs a fridge.
If someone relies on medication, medicine that needs a fridge or equipment that needs power, a little planning ahead makes a disruption much less stressful.
Who this plan is for
Two adults. SupKit's planning assumptions for this household:
| Who | Energy a day | Drinking water a day |
|---|---|---|
| Adult × 2 | 18,828 kJ (4,500 Cal) | 6 L |
Water and food for 2 adults
| 3 days | 7 days | |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking water | 18 L | 42 L |
| Food energy | 56,484 kJ (13,500 Cal) | 131,796 kJ (31,500 Cal) |
What a household where someone relies on medication or medical equipment should add
- Backup plan for powered equipment Essential
A backup power source or plan for equipment that needs electricity. - Essential medication Essential
A supply of any medication your household relies on. - Plan for medication that needs a fridge Essential
Know how you'd keep it cool during a power cut.
What official guidance in New Zealand says
- In NZ, people who rely on powered medical equipment should apply for 'medically dependent consumer' status with their power company.2
Also on New Zealand's official kit list
- NZ recommends keeping emergency items at home, in a grab bag, in your car and at work.3
Everything else every home needs
- Food: food for everyone, manual tin opener
- Water: drinking water
- Hygiene: hand sanitiser, wet wipes, toilet roll and bathroom products, personal hygiene supplies
- Power & warmth: torch, spare batteries, charged power bank, battery or wind-up radio, blankets or sleeping bags, camping stove, warm clothing
- Health & safety: first aid kit
- Plans & essentials: emergency contacts, meeting point, utility shut-offs, some cash, important documents, insurance details
See the full household checklist for what each one involves.
A sample shopping list for 3 days
One way to reach 56,484 kJ (13,500 Cal) with long-life food. SupKit estimate Swap in what your household likes.
| Item | How many |
|---|---|
| Tinned chilli | 7 |
| Tinned soup | 8 |
| Baked beans | 7 |
| Microwave rice pouch 250g | 4 |
| Tinned tuna | 6 |
| Crackers | 1 |
| Peanut butter | 1 |
| Dried fruit and nuts | 2 |
| Cereal bars | 1 |
| Tinned fruit | 4 |
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.
| Food | Typical allergens | Typically suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Tinned chilli | varies by recipe | check the label |
| Tinned soup | varies by recipe | vegetarian |
| Baked beans | none of the main allergens in its main ingredient | vegan |
| Microwave rice pouch 250g | none of the main allergens in its main ingredient | vegan |
| Tinned tuna | fish | check the label |
| Crackers | cereals containing gluten | vegan |
| Peanut butter | peanuts | vegan, gluten free |
| Dried fruit and nuts | tree nuts | vegan, gluten free |
| Cereal bars | varies by recipe | vegetarian |
| Tinned fruit | none of the main allergens in its main ingredient | vegan, gluten free |
Typical allergens and diets are SupKit's guide to the main ingredient, not a product's label.
- Under the joint Australia New Zealand code, labels must declare wheat, fish, shellfish, egg, milk, lupin, peanut, soy, sesame, named tree nuts, gluten cereals and added sulphites.4
- Allergens must be in bold in the ingredient list, plus a separate bold summary starting with 'Contains' near the ingredients.4
- 'May contain' statements are voluntary and not regulated by the Food Standards Code.4
Young children
Questions
How much water should a household where someone relies on medication or medical equipment store?
18 L for 3 days or 42 L for a week, for 2 adults, at 3 litres per person per day.
What extra does a household where someone relies on medication or medical equipment need?
Backup plan for powered equipment: A backup power source or plan for equipment that needs electricity. Essential medication: A supply of any medication your household relies on. Plan for medication that needs a fridge: Know how you'd keep it cool during a power cut.
Sources
- SupKit planning rules (SupScore 2026.5), SupKit. SupKit's own planning data.
- Power outages, Electricity Authority (New Zealand). Checked 28 October 2026.
- Home emergency checklist, Govt.nz (citing NEMA). Checked 28 October 2026.
- Allergen labelling for consumers, Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Checked 28 October 2026.
- SupKit household preparedness checklist (2026.3), SupKit. SupKit's own planning data.
We summarise official guidance in our own words. Always follow advice from your local authorities.
