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Your 72-hour starter checklist
Don’t panic. Prepare. Three days is a starting point—not a guarantee. Follow local evacuation orders and plan for longer disruptions when practical.
SURVIVAL ACE / OLD HANK • PRINTABLE CHECKLIST
Your 72-hour starter checklist
Don’t panic. Prepare. Three days is a starting point—not a guarantee. Follow local evacuation orders and plan for longer disruptions when practical.
Household: __________ People: ____ Pets: ____ Reviewed: __________
Water & food
- Water: baseline 1 gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation. For 3 days: people × 3 = ____ gallons. Add for pets and individual needs.
- At least a 3-day supply of nonperishable food matched to dietary needs.
- Manual can opener, utensils and simple serving supplies.
- Pet food, infant feeding supplies and extra water as needed.
Light & information
- Flashlight for each person; working spare batteries.
- Battery or hand-crank radio; NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert where available.
- Charged phone, cables and backup battery.
- Official local alerts enabled; paper map and written contacts.
Health & hygiene
- First-aid kit; prescriptions organized with clinician/pharmacist guidance.
- Glasses, hearing-aid batteries and accessibility supplies.
- Soap, wipes, trash bags, menstrual and sanitation supplies.
Warmth & essentials
- Climate-appropriate clothes, sturdy shoes and blankets.
- Whistle, dust mask and basic shelter-in-place supplies as appropriate.
- Cash and copies of identification/insurance in a waterproof portable pouch.
- Tools for your household plan; learn utility procedures from the utility before an emergency.
The family plan
- Meeting place: _______________________
- Out-of-area contact: __________________
- Evacuation route / destination: __________
- Transport and accessible shelter plan for everyone, including pets.
- Know where supplies are; keep a grab-and-go version ready.
Check, don’t guess
- Inspect dates and batteries; replace expired items.
- Review needs at least yearly and when the household changes.
- Never run a generator or fuel-burning camp stove indoors or in an attached garage. Follow official guidance.