Foundations · 5 min read
The 72-hour rule: preparing for the first three days
How to plan water, food, power and information for the first days of an emergency.
PrepKit · Updated on
Start with what you already have
Open the free checklist and mark the supplies you already have at home. You can start without buying anything or creating an account.
Open my free checklist →What 72 hours means
Emergency services first help people in immediate danger. A three-day household supply gives them time to restore access and reach isolated areas. This is practical preparation for outages, floods, wildfires and water interruptions—not a prediction of disaster.
Calculate the essentials
Count every person and include extra needs for infants, pets and medical care.
- Water: use the quantity recommended by your local authority and store it in manageable containers.
- Food: choose familiar items that can be eaten without cooking.
- Power: keep flashlights, spare batteries and charged power banks.
- Information: retain a battery or hand-crank radio and printed contacts.
Rotate rather than forget
Set a six-month reminder. Move food and water into normal use before expiry, replace medication according to professional advice and test lights, radios and chargers.
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