Emergency kit checklist
Updated 6 October 2026
Plan for at least three days without power, running water or shops, and for a power cut or a blocked road near your home. Keep the kit where you can reach it quickly, and tell everyone in the house where it is.
In an emergency, call 000. HazAlerts is an information page, not an emergency service. Follow the instructions of your state or territory emergency services and the Bureau of Meteorology.
Basics for each person
- Drinking water: about three litres per person per day, and more in hot weather.
- Non-perishable food that needs little or no cooking, and a manual can opener.
- Prescription medicines for at least a week, and a list of the doses.
- A change of clothes, sturdy shoes and a warm layer.
- Toiletries, sanitary items and nappies if you have a baby.
Light, power and communication
- A battery or wind-up radio, with spare batteries, to hear emergency broadcasts.
- Torches or headlamps. Avoid candles, which are a fire risk.
- Power banks charged for your mobile phones, and charging cables.
- A printed copy of your emergency plan and contact list.
Health and safety
- A first-aid kit and a first-aid guide.
- Face masks (P2 or N95) if smoke is a risk, and sunscreen and insect repellent.
- Work gloves and a whistle.
- A fire extinguisher and fire blanket, kept in the house and checked as the label instructs.
Documents and money
- Copies of identity documents, insurance policies and bank details in a waterproof bag.
- Some cash in small notes, since card machines and ATMs may not work.
- A spare set of house and car keys.
Pets and special needs
- Pet food, water, bowls, leads, carriers and vaccination records.
- Baby formula, bottles and comfort items for infants.
- Spare glasses, hearing aid batteries or other aids, and the power supply for any medical equipment.
Car kit
- Water, a few snacks and a blanket for each person.
- A torch, a first-aid kit, a phone charger and a paper road map for your area.
- Jumper leads and a tyre repair kit or a working spare.
- A habit of keeping the fuel tank at least half full during storm, flood and fire seasons.
Remember "If it is flooded, forget it." Never drive into floodwater, even when it looks shallow.
Look after the kit
- Store it in a cool, dry place in a bag or tub that you can carry.
- Check it twice a year, for example when the clocks change, and replace anything that has expired.
- Rotate food and water so nothing sits past its date.