What should I pack in a 72-hour emergency go-bag?

Emergency managers recommend three days of supplies per person — a gallon of water a day, calorie-dense food, light, power, meds and documents — packed by the front door and refreshed every six months.

Emergency managers recommend a “72-hour bag” — enough to keep you alive and comfortable for three days — because most real disasters (hurricanes, wildfires, grid outages) strand you longer than a day but resolve within three. Pack per person: one gallon of water per day (three gallons, or a portable water filter plus a container), three days of calorie-dense food like energy bars, peanut butter, and dried fruit, a battery or hand-crank flashlight, a phone charger or power bank, a small first-aid kit, prescription meds, copies of IDs and insurance in a zip bag, a change of clothes in a sealed bag, and cash in small bills. Add a whistle, duct tape, a multi-tool, and pet supplies if you need them.

The key to actually having it when it counts: stash the bag by your front door, refresh the food and water every six months, and make one for every household member. A kit you can’t grab in 60 seconds is just a closet.