Home Emergency Kit Essentials

Building a home emergency kit

The checklist is free to read on gov.ie. It makes the point that most households own part of it already, so the useful question is what is missing. These are the details worth knowing in each area.

Light and power

A headtorch leaves both hands free, which suits a house in the dark better than a hand torch. Some run on a rechargeable battery or standard AAAs, which covers the spare batteries on the checklist. A lantern lights a whole room, and a power bank keeps a phone and a USB torch going.

Warmth

The checklist's plan is one warm room, with blankets, sleeping bags and emergency thermal blankets to hand. A thermal blanket reflects body heat back to you and packs smaller than a paperback. Hand warmers add heat with nothing to charge.

Water

The checklist figure is 2 to 3 litres of drinking water per person per day, which is 24 to 36 litres for four people over three days. A folding carrier adds storage when a storm is forecast, and purification drops or a filter bottle are a backup for water you are unsure of.

Cooking

A single-burner camping stove and spare gas mean hot food and drinks without mains power. Camping stoves are for outdoor use only. Check that the gas cartridge matches the stove before you buy, as fittings differ between stoves.

First aid, hygiene and documents

A ready-made first aid kit saves assembling one, and waterless hand gel keeps drinking water for drinking. Passports, insurance details and a phone belong in a waterproof pouch, which is what the checklist asks for.