Hurricane Emergency Kit: Power Outage & Evacuation List

A hurricane emergency kit for power outages and evacuation should contain seven days of water and non-perishable food, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlights with extra batteries, a first-aid kit, medications, cash, important documents, and personal hygiene items. This article details exactly what to pack, how to store it, and how to maintain it so you are ready when a storm threatens.

Formula

The calculator above estimates the minimum water and meal requirements for a household during a hurricane emergency. The water formula is:

Water (gallons) = people × days × 1 gallon per person per day

The food formula is:

Meals = people × days × 3 meals per person per day

Variables: people = number of people in the household, days = number of days you plan to be self-sufficient. The 1 gallon per person per day figure is the standard emergency planning guideline from FEMA and the American Red Cross. Half of that gallon is for drinking, the other half for basic sanitation and food preparation.

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator: 4 people, 7 days.

• Water: 4 × 7 × 1 = 28 gallons
• Meals: 4 × 7 × 3 = 84 meals

So a family of four preparing for a week without power or water should store at least 28 gallons of water and enough food to make 84 meals. In practice, you may want extra water for pets, cooking, or hot weather.

Why a Hurricane Kit Is Different

A hurricane kit differs from a general emergency kit because it must serve two distinct scenarios: staying home through a multi-day power outage and evacuating to a shelter or another location. Hurricanes are forecast days in advance, so you have time to prepare, but the storm can knock out power, water, and roads for a week or more. Your kit must be portable enough to grab quickly if evacuation is ordered, yet comprehensive enough to sustain you at home if you stay. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross both recommend preparing for at least 72 hours, but for hurricanes, a seven-day supply is safer because storm recovery can be slower than other disasters.

Core Supplies for Power Outages

When the power goes out, your immediate needs are light, information, and communication. Pack these items in a waterproof container or backpack:

• Flashlights – one per person, plus extra batteries. Avoid candles; they are a fire hazard during a storm when emergency services may be delayed.
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio – a NOAA Weather Radio is ideal because it broadcasts official warnings and updates.
• Power banks – pre-charged phone chargers. A 20,000 mAh power bank can charge a typical smartphone about three to four times.
• Extra batteries – in multiple sizes (AA, AAA, C, D) for all your devices.
• Manual can opener – electric openers are useless without power.
• Cooler and ice – for keeping perishables cold for the first day or two, but plan to use non-perishable food after that.

Food and Water: The Seven-Day Rule

Store at least one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. For a family of four for seven days, that is 28 gallons – about seven 5-gallon jugs or several cases of bottled water. Food should be non-perishable, require no cooking, and need little or no water to prepare. Good choices include:

• Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables
• Protein or granola bars
• Peanut butter, nuts, and dried fruit
• Crackers and cookies
• Instant coffee, tea, and powdered milk
• Baby food and formula if you have an infant
• Pet food for at least seven days

Rotate your food and water every six months. Write the date on each item and replace anything that is expired or damaged. If you have space, freeze some water in jugs – they keep the freezer cold during an outage and provide drinking water as they melt.

Evacuation-Specific Items

If you must leave, you need a smaller

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in t | Days of supplies | days | 7 | 1 | 14
in p | People in household | people | 4 | 1 | 20
out water | Water needed (gallons) | gal | p * t * 1 | 0
out food | Food needed (meals) | meals | p * t * 3 | 0