Disasters can come in forms like tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes or flooding. In some cases, there may not be a lot of time to prepare before the disaster hits. And even with warning, having a plan and some items on hand will keep you and your family from being without the most basic necessities.

If you aren’t sure where to start with preparing for emergencies, that’s OK. We have compiled a list with the basics of what you would need in your home in the event of a disaster.

Water

In some emergencies, clean water may become unavailable. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends having at least one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation.

Also, the Department of Homeland Security's home preparedness tips suggest that you should have enough food and water to last your household at least 72 hours, which includes having three gallons of clean water per person in your family ready in case of any emergency. Children, pregnant or nursing women, and sick people may need even more water than the recommended minimum.

Different emergencies, like an earthquake or large storm, can also affect your water in unexpected ways, so it's important to have an emergency water supply or purification method in case of water contamination. Municipal water suppliers are required to notify local customers if their drinking water might not be safe and will let you know whether you need to boil your tap water or if the municipal water supply cannot be used at all.

Food and Nutrition

While water is the primary need because humans cannot go more than three days without it, you will also want to consider having a supply of food in case of emergencies. The best items to have for emergencies are dried food kits, which can be stored away for years.

Canned goods are also a good option too because of their long shelf life; however, they tend to be heavier and bulkier than dried foods. If you need to relocate during an emergency, having a minimal canned good stock is important.

Power and Communication

During an emergency, there is a chance you won’t have access to television or the internet for information. Your cellular device may work in some situations, so it's important to keep extra power banks in case you need to charge it.

But, in some disasters, the cellular network may go down or cellular traffic could be so high that you won't be able to communicate with anyone. This is where an emergency weather radio comes into play, and make sure to keep extra batteries around! There are also solar powered or hand crank options available.

Other Items to Have for Emergencies

Other items that are good to have packed for a moment’s notice are different lighting options (like candles, oil lamps and flashlights), extra batteries, extra blankets, sweaters and socks, as well as sleeping bags, especially if you have to relocate in an emergency. Keep in mind any medications a family member may need or items like baby formula, as well as a first-aid kit.

The last, but not least, part to your emergency preparedness kit is to make an emergency plan. For different types of emergencies, you need to know how you and your family will evacuate if you need to, where to go for safety and how to contact one another. Having planned meeting location will make this easier, especially if some communication methods are not available.

Emergencies or natural disasters can be stressful, but having a plan and emergency supplies ready to go ahead of time will help you feel more prepared.