Printable Checklist - 72-Hour Basics

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Apartment-friendly • Budget-aware • No fear porn
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Goal: Build a complete 72-hour baseline first: water → light/power → food → first aid → info/plan.

WATER (Priority #1)

  • Store drinking water (store what you realistically can)
  • Plan for minimal hygiene water (wipes / sanitizer if needed)
  • Have one method to make questionable water safer (that you understand)
  • Containers to fill quickly if an outage is expected

LIGHT + POWER

  • Headlamp (hands-free)
  • Flashlight (backup)
  • Extra batteries OR rechargeable plan you maintain
  • Battery bank for phone
  • Charging cables (phone + other devices)

FOOD (3 days)

  • 3 days of shelf-stable foods you actually eat
  • No-cook options for day 1
  • Manual can opener (if you store canned food)

FIRST AID

  • Bandages + gauze + tape
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Elastic wrap
  • Gloves
  • Personal medications (rotate)

INFORMATION + SIMPLE PLAN

  • Printed emergency contacts
  • Local alerts set up on phone
  • Family check-in plan (who calls/texts who)
  • Meeting point plan (if separated)
  • Small notebook + pen

COMFORT + SANITATION (high value)

  • Blanket
  • Extra socks
  • Hygiene wipes / hand sanitizer
  • Trash bags
  • Cash (small bills)

Principle: A small complete kit beats random gear every time.