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Put together an emergency kit

Every home should have an emergency kit in case you need to leave quickly, or if there is no electricity or running water. A waterproof bag or plastic storage container is recommended. Everyone in the household should know where to find the kit if they are home alone.

On this page

Items to pack now

The items on this list are suggestions for people living in various situations. Choose items that meet the needs of your individual household and aim to pack as little as possible at the last minute.

Food, water and essentials 

  • Your Emergency Plans, including plans for pets/ animals 

  • Emergency contact list 

  • Radio (battery powered or hand cranked) – with spare batteries 

  • First aid kit 

  • Non-perishable food & water (including a can opener) 

Important documents 

  • Photo ID 

  • Proof of address e.g. utility bill  

  • Insurance documents 

  • Rental lease and landlord contact details 

  • Passport, birth and marriage certificates 

  • Will 

  • Scan and save digital copies to the Cloud and/or USB 

Items to help you get away quickly 

  • Cash (ATMs & EFTPOS may not work) 

  • Maps (to navigate road closures) 

  • Spare keys (home and car) 

  • At least ¼ tank fuel 

Personal items 

  • Toiletries – soap, toothbrush & paste, toilet paper, sanitary items, sunscreen etc. 

  • Suitable clothing & footwear  

  • Spare underwear 

  • Protective equipment (thick gloves, face masks & safety glasses) 

  • Whistle (for signaling for help) 

  • Sleeping bags or blankets  

  • Short list of personal valuables to pack last minute (when it’s a struggle to think) 

In case of power outage 

  • Torch – with spare batteries 

  • Candles & waterproof matches 

Health and wellbeing 

  • Medical and ID bracelets for health conditions and/or people living with dementia 

  • Sensory items – noise-cancelling headphones & tactile items 

  • Communication tools & boards  

  • Kids toys & games- a comfort toy, emergency themed picture books and figurines for role play are helpful 

  • Items to support wellbeing for adults like walking shoes, crosswords, tennis ball etc.  

  • Spare mobile phone headphones/ ear buds. 

  • Eye mask 

Pet supplies 

  • Proof of ownership 

  • Microchip details 

  • A photo of your pet 

  • Pet food and water 

  • Bowl, lead & accessories* 

* Refer to the NSW SES website for a checklist of items for pets.

Download the NSW SES Emergency kit checklist

Make an emergency plan

Make your own emergency plan using the NSW SES Online Emergency Planning Tool.

Just before leaving, add these items to your kit 

  • Phones, laptops and devices 

  • Chargers, power banks & external storage drives 

  • Medications for 5 days and prescriptions.**  

  • A small esky and ice bricks for medications that need to be kept cool. (Wrap the meds to prevent direct contact with the ice) 

  • Medicare card  

  • Medical equipment & mobility aids  

  • Baby supplies - formula, nappies & wipes 

  • Personal valuables 

  • Perishable food 

**Talk to your pharmacist about eScripts.