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Keep a portable flood kit that covers water, food, alerts, light, medical needs, communications, documents, signaling, sanitation, and the people and animals in your household. FEMA’s baseline is one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days and at least three days of non-perishable food. These supplies buy time; they do not make floodwater safe or override an evacuation order.
How to use this flood-preparedness list
The ten entries below group related items from FEMA and Ready.gov guidance into a practical home checklist. They are not a FEMA ranking. Assemble the portable items where you can grab them quickly, then adapt quantities for infants, older adults, disabilities, medical conditions, pets, and the likely length of a local outage. Keep a second, smaller go-bag if your household may need to leave on short notice.
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FEMA’s Emergency Supply Kit Checklist and flood guidance support the categories below. Check supplies periodically, replace expired products, and make sure every adult knows where the kit is stored.
The 10 essentials
1. Water for people and pets
Store one gallon per person per day for at least three days. FEMA describes this amount as covering drinking and sanitation. Use sealed containers intended for water storage, label them with the fill or purchase date, and rotate them according to the container maker’s instructions.
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Plan separately for pets and for anyone who needs extra fluids or a special diet. A household with four people therefore starts with 12 gallons for three days, before adding pet water or an allowance for unusual heat, medical needs, or a longer power outage. Keep some water in a form that can be carried if an evacuation is ordered.
2. Non-perishable food and a manual can opener
Keep at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Choose items household members will actually eat and can open without electricity: ready-to-eat canned meals, shelf-stable protein, nut or seed products, dried fruit, crackers, and infant or medically required foods as applicable.
Include a manual can opener whenever the kit contains cans. Record allergies and special preparation needs on a card inside the kit. Store a few utensils, paper plates, and a way to prepare food without relying on a working kitchen appliance, while following local fire-safety rules.
3. NOAA-alert-capable emergency radio
FEMA recommends a battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, plus spare batteries. The tone-alert function can warn you when a compatible broadcast issues a severe-weather message, even when you are not constantly listening.
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When choosing a device, verify that it receives NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts in your area, has a clear battery compartment, and can be operated by the person most likely to use it. A hand-crank model can supplement batteries but still needs testing; practice tuning it before storm season. Do not assume any particular model has a specified range or reliability unless its manufacturer documents that for your location.
4. Flashlight and spare batteries
Flooding can cut power at night and make stairways, basements, and debris difficult to navigate. Keep a flashlight for each sleeping area or household group, with spare batteries stored in their original packaging or a protective case so loose terminals cannot short.
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Test every light twice a year and after any use. Headlamps can leave both hands free, but they are an optional format rather than a FEMA requirement. Never use candles near leaking fuel, damaged wiring, oxygen equipment, or other combustibles.
5. First-aid kit and essential medication
A basic first-aid kit belongs in the portable supplies. Stock bandages, sterile dressings, antiseptic, gloves, and any over-the-counter products your household normally uses, checking expiration dates and allergy concerns. The kit supports minor injuries; it does not replace emergency medical care.
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Flood planning must also cover prescription and medically necessary supplies. Keep an up-to-date medication list with doses, prescriber contacts, insurance information, glasses, hearing-aid supplies, mobility aids, and backup batteries where relevant. Ask a clinician or pharmacist how to maintain an emergency reserve legally and safely, especially for temperature-sensitive medicines.
6. A phone-charging option
Flood guidance calls for extra batteries and charging devices for phones and other critical equipment. Keep a charged power bank, vehicle adapter, or other compatible option with the kit, and include the cables for every essential device in the home.
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7. Waterproof document storage and protected digital copies
Put passports, identification, insurance policies, medical records, property documents, financial account information, and contact lists in a waterproof, sealable container. Keep originals where you can remove them quickly rather than in a basement or low cabinet.
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Create password-protected digital copies and store them on an encrypted drive or a reputable secure account that household members can access. Test that files open and that recovery information is available without relying on a device left inside the flood zone. Include a written list of policy numbers and emergency contacts in the waterproof container.
8. A whistle for signaling
FEMA lists a whistle as a basic-kit item for signaling for help. Choose a loud, durable whistle and keep it with the flashlight or on a lanyard that can be reached if visibility is poor. Teach children when to use it and establish a family meeting or check-in plan so a whistle is not mistaken for casual play.
9. Sanitation supplies
Pack moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation, as FEMA’s checklist recommends. Add toilet paper, hand sanitizer, soap, menstrual products, diapers, and cleaning wipes according to household needs. Double-bag waste, keep it away from food and drinking water, and follow local instructions for disposal.
Sanitation items are not a substitute for safe water. After flooding, do not assume tap or well water is drinkable; use sealed water or an officially approved treatment method until the local health department or utility says it is safe.
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10. Household- and pet-specific supplies
FEMA advises adapting a kit to unique family needs and keeping supplies for pets. Set aside several days of pet food and water, medications, a leash or carrier, waste bags, vaccination information, and a recent photo. Many emergency shelters do not accept animals, so identify pet-friendly evacuation destinations in advance.
For people in your home, add infant formula and feeding supplies, spare eyeglasses, hearing-aid batteries, mobility-device chargers, sensory supports, communication cards, and culturally or medically appropriate foods as needed. Keep copies of care instructions so another adult can help if the usual caregiver is unavailable.
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Useful home-specific additions
Some FEMA checklist items and Ready.gov flood measures are valuable but are not universal portable essentials. Add them when they fit your building, utilities, and local plan.
Utility shutoff and cleanup tools
A wrench or pliers can help turn off utilities if local authorities or a qualified professional instruct you to do so. FEMA also lists a dust mask, plastic sheeting, duct tape, and local maps among kit additions. Store tools where they remain accessible without entering a flooded area, and learn the location of gas, water, and electrical shutoffs before an emergency.
Battery-backed sump pump and property measures
Ready.gov suggests considering a sump pump with a battery for homes where groundwater or drainage is a concern. Suitability depends on the home’s drainage, electrical system, pump capacity, and maintenance plan. A pump protects property; it is not a reason to delay evacuation or enter rising water.
Before storm conditions worsen, clear leaves and debris from drains and gutters, move valuables and chemicals to higher storage, and elevate critical utilities where feasible. These measures reduce damage risk but cannot make a flood-safe route or guarantee that a basement will remain dry.
What to do when flooding threatens
- Monitor official alerts. Use the NOAA-capable radio, local emergency notifications, and instructions from emergency management. Confirm warnings with more than one power source when possible.
- Prepare to leave. Put the portable kit, medication, pet supplies, identification, and critical documents near an exit. When officials order evacuation, leave immediately using the designated route and take those critical supplies.
- Keep clear of floodwater. FEMA’s flood information sheet states, “Do not attempt to cross floodwaters.” Do not walk, swim, or drive through it: depth and current are difficult to judge, and water may hide debris, contamination, open drains, or energized equipment.
- Protect yourself from electricity. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. Leave inspection and re-energizing to qualified professionals and follow utility instructions.
- Use fuel-burning equipment safely. If backup power is necessary, FEMA says generators and other fuel-burning equipment must be used outdoors and at least 20 feet from building openings. Never run a generator in a home, garage, basement, crawlspace, or enclosed porch.
- Verify water safety after the event. Follow boil-water, do-not-drink, and well-testing notices from your local health department or water utility before using tap water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, or making ice.
Maintenance schedule that keeps the kit usable
- Every month, check water containers, radio and flashlight operation, power-bank charge, and the location of keys and documents.
- Every three months, rotate food, inspect medication dates, refresh pet supplies, and confirm that phone cables still fit current devices.
- At least twice a year, run a household drill: tune the radio, practice the evacuation route, identify the utility shutoffs, and have each person locate the whistle and flashlight.
- After a flood watch, warning, or near miss, replace anything opened, wet, contaminated, or taken from the kit.
For the full official checklists and flood-specific instructions, consult Ready.gov’s floods guidance, FEMA’s flood information sheet, and the additional-items checklist. Local emergency managers may set different evacuation zones, shelter rules, and water advisories, so their instructions control during an actual event.
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