What goes in a 72-hour kit (and what does not)

The first 72 hours after a disaster are when you are most likely to be on your own. Roads may be cut, shops shut, power and phones down, and emergency services stretched across a whole region. A 72-hour kit is what gets your household through that gap.

Here is what we think belongs in one, and what you can skip.

Water first

Water runs out before anything else. Plan on about 10 litres per person per day for drinking, cooking and basic washing, so 30 litres each for three days. Store some, and have a way to treat more: a filter like the LifeStraw Peak lets you make creek or tank water safe to drink.

Food that will not spoil

Choose food that needs no fridge, little or no cooking, and lasts for years. That way the kit is ready whenever you need it, not only when you last remembered to check it. Our high-energy biscuits have 475 calories each and are good until 2045. Add a few things your family actually likes eating, because stress is not the time to try something new.

First aid and medication

A proper first aid kit, plus a few days of any regular medication. Under Australian rules, pharmacists can supply many PBS medicines without a new script in an emergency, but do not count on reaching a pharmacy in the first three days. Keep a written list of everyone's medications and doses.

Light, power and information

• A torch or headlamp, with spare batteries.
• A battery or wind-up radio, so you hear warnings when the phone network is down.
• A power bank for your phone.

Documents and cash

Copies of ID, insurance papers and important phone numbers in a waterproof bag, and a small cash float for when EFTPOS is not working.

What you can skip

You do not need a 50-piece tactical knife set or a gas mask. Most of what is sold as "survival gear" was designed for American conditions or for camping trips, not for a household waiting out a flood in Australia. Buy for the hazards you actually face, and for the people in your house, including pets.

Ready-made, or build your own

You can build a kit yourself from this list, and many people do. If you would rather have it sorted in one go, our Ready Kit covers 72 hours of water treatment, food, first aid and basic tools, and our Battle Box packs it into a tough military ammo tin.

Not sure where to start? Our free Kit Finder asks four questions and suggests what suits your household.