​Why 2 weeks?
Help may take a while. After a large disaster, Washington's Emergency Management Division (WA EMD) says, "it may take a while for emergency help and resources to arrive." That's why its 2 Weeks Ready guidance asks households to "gather supplies at home to last at least 2 weeks": food, water, pet food, warm clothes, medical supplies and sanitation materials.
The store may not be an option. In rural areas, roads, power and wells can be out for a long time, and the store may be far away or closed. Ready.gov notes a long power outage can also disrupt communications, water and transportation, and close grocery stores, gas stations, ATMs and banks. Two weeks of supplies buys your household time.
Don't be overwhelmed. WA EMD's advice is to "make 2 weeks your goal and continually work towards it." Even adding one can of food to your cart each time you shop counts.
Build it up a little at a time
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Start with what you have. WA EMD says you likely already have many of these supplies at home, so you don't need to spend lots of money. Gather them in one place first.
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Think about what you use every day. You'll want those same items during a disaster.
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Shop over time. Buy items at discount or dollar stores over multiple trips, and watch for sales over the holidays.
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Buy food you already eat. It's easier to rotate, so nothing goes to waste.
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One step a month. WA EMD's free Prepare in a Year guide breaks it into one activity a month, and step one, a family communication plan, costs nothing.
Some communities recommend even longer than 2 weeks. Check with your county emergency management office.
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KBT-ESF is an independent nonprofit. This page follows WA EMD's published 2 Weeks Ready guidance; it is not a WA EMD page.
Two kits, two jobs
You need both. The go-bag is the bare minimum. The 2-week supply is the goal.
Go-Bag (your 72-hour kit)
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For: leaving fast, in an evacuation, or when you're away from home
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Where: by the door or in the car, one per person and one per pet
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What: something you can carry, like an old backpack or duffel
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Think: enough to get you to more help
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Water: WA EMD suggests drinking water only, about 1 quart per person per day for the go-bag, so it stays light
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Tip: keep it close to the door you use most. You may have to find it in the dark.
2-Week Home Supply (the goal)
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For: staying home when power, water, roads or stores are down
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Where: a closet, garage or shed you can reach
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What: bins and shelves you fill over time
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Think: what your household uses in 2 weeks
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Water: 1 gallon per person, per day: 14 gallons per person and pet
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Tip: your go-bag can be "a starter kit for home." Keep adding until you're 2 weeks ready.
If you have to leave
Grab your go-bag and follow local officials' instructions. A few tips from Ready.gov and WA EMD:
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Keep at least a half tank of gas, and a full tank if an evacuation seems likely. Gas stations may be closed or unable to pump during power outages.
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Leave early enough to avoid being trapped. Some evacuations, like a tsunami, may need to be on foot.
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Know where you'd go: a friend's or relative's home or a motel, in different directions. Most public shelters allow only service animals, so plan ahead for pets.
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If there's time: lock up, leave a note saying when you left and where you're going, and check on neighbors who may need a ride.
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Don't take shortcuts or drive into flooded areas. Follow marked evacuation routes.
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Pack your go-bag with essentials and anything else relevant to your specific needs.
Your 2-week checklist
Start with the basics, then make it yours. Every household is different, so treat this as a starting point, not a complete list. Pack these, and anything else relevant to your specific needs.
Water
Pack 1 gallon per person, per day: that's 14 gallons for each person and each pet for 2 weeks. Add a way to filter or purify water, and extra water for anything else your household needs, such as hot weather, illness, nursing or livestock.
Tips: Store-bought, factory-sealed water is best; check its date. Filling your own? Use clean food-grade jugs or soda bottles, never a container that held chemicals, and skip milk jugs. Label "Drinking Water," date it, and keep it cool and dark. Short on space? Store it in more than one spot, and lean on foods that need little or no water.
Food
Pack 2 weeks of food your household actually eats, including some that need no cooking, a manual can opener, pet food, and anything else your diet, allergies or little ones need.
Tips: Think canned meats, fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal or granola, dried fruit, and a few comfort foods. Foods that need little or no water help your water last. Skip any can that's swollen, dented or corroded.
Medications and health
Pack prescriptions (ask your doctor and pharmacy about a backup supply), first aid supplies, glasses, hearing aid batteries, mobility aids, and anything else your health depends on, including a power plan for any medical device.
Tips: Add over-the-counter basics you use, like pain relievers and antacids, plus contact lens solution. Ask your provider how long your medicines can be stored at higher temperatures, and what to do with refrigerated ones in an outage.
Light, power and warmth
Pack flashlights or battery lanterns (skip candles), extra batteries, power banks, a battery or hand-crank radio, warm clothes, blankets, and anything else you'd miss in a winter outage.
Tips: One flashlight per person. A battery NOAA Weather Radio brings National Weather Service warnings 24/7. For warmth: sleeping bags, hats, gloves, warm socks and sturdy shoes.
Sanitation and hygiene
Pack a bucket toilet with heavy-duty bags, toilet paper, hygiene items, garbage bags, and anything else that keeps your household clean for 2 weeks.
Tips: If water lines may be damaged, don't flush. Line the toilet or a bucket with a heavy-duty bag, add a little disinfectant, tie it off, and put it in a lidded trash can. Add soap, hand sanitizer, wet wipes and feminine supplies.
Documents and cash
Pack copies of IDs, insurance and medical information in a waterproof bag, some cash in small bills, a printed list of important phone numbers, and anything else you'd need to prove who you are or what you own.
Tips: Add bank account numbers and family records. Take photos or video of your valuables for insurance, and keep a password-protected digital copy too.
Tools and extras
A whistle, a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, a dust or N95 mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape, a fire extinguisher, local maps, a phone charger, and anything else relevant to your specific needs.
Plan for your household's specific needs. If it matters to someone in your home, it belongs on your list.
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Plan for every hazard, not just one
Washington faces floods, earthquakes, wildfires, winter storms, extreme heat and more, and one disaster can trigger another. Build your 2-week supply first, then add what each hazard needs. Check which risks apply where you live, and plan for every one.
Flood
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A watch means flooding is possible; a warning means it's happening or about to.
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Plan where you'd go and more than one route.
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Keep medications, documents in a waterproof container, and anything else your household needs ready to grab.
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Never walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Turn Around, Don't Drown.
Watch: Flood
Earthquake
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Secure heavy furniture, water heaters and TVs. Practice Drop, Cover and Hold On.
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Add sturdy shoes, a whistle, a wrench for the gas valve, and anything else your household needs.
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Suspect a gas leak? Get everyone out, turn off the gas at the main valve if you can, and call the gas company from a safe place. Let them turn it back on.
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Near the coast? Strong shaking is your tsunami warning. When it stops, walk to high ground or inland. Don't wait for an alert.
Watch: Earthquake | Tsunami
Wildfire and smoke
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Know the evacuation levels; leave when told.
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Clear anything that burns within 30 feet of your home.
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Set up a cleaner-air room with a HEPA air cleaner or MERV 13 box fan filter.
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Sign up for air quality alerts. Store well-fitting N95 masks and anything else your household needs.
Watch: Wildfire Smoke | Evacuation Levels
Winter storm and power outage
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Plan for days without power: batteries, warm layers, and anything else your household needs.
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Car kit: jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks.
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Run generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages. Never heat with a gas stove or oven.
Watch: Winter Storms
Extreme heat
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Know where to cool off (dial 2-1-1 for cooling centers), and plan for anything else your household needs.
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Don't count on a fan as your main way to cool down.
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Drink plenty of fluids; check on older adults and neighbors.
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Never leave people or pets in a closed car.
Watch: Extreme Heat
Volcanic ash
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Sign up for USGS Volcano Notification Service alerts.
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Store N95 masks, plastic sheeting and tape to seal doors, windows and vents, and anything else your household needs.
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Avoid driving in heavy ash; it can clog engines.
Watch: Volcanic Ash
Landslide
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Plan at least two routes out in case roads are blocked, and keep anything else your household needs ready.
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Watch for new cracks, doors that suddenly stick, or a growing rumble.
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Stay alert in heavy storms; leave if you feel unsafe. Burned slopes stay at higher risk for years.
Watch: Landslides
Who in your home is counting on you?
Think about each person and animal in your household, and what they would need for 2 weeks. A few to consider:
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Pets: food, water, medications, extra leash and tags, and a printed photo of you with your pet. Add bowls, litter, a carrier and your vet's information. Most public shelters allow only service animals, so plan a pet-friendly place to go.
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Babies and kids: diapers, formula, comfort items, games, and a printed contact card. Let kids help: WA EMD suggests a scavenger hunt around the house for useful supplies.
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Older relatives: medications, mobility help, and staying warm.
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Medical devices or mobility aids: backups, chargers and a power plan. Ask your provider about a power outage plan, and pack backups for assistive devices.
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Livestock: feed, water, and a plan if roads close.
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Neighbors: who nearby might need a ride or a check-in?
This isn't a complete list. Pack what your household needs, and anything else relevant to your specific needs.
Keep it safe and keep it fresh
Stay safe
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Generators and camp stoves: use them outdoors only. The CDC says to run a generator more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents, never in your home or garage, and to use a battery or battery-backup CO alarm inside. Never use a camp stove or charcoal grill indoors.
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Know the signs. The CDC says carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, and its symptoms are often described as "flu-like": headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.
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No gas oven for heat. Never heat your home with a gas stove or oven.
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After an earthquake, don't use the fireplace until the chimney and flue have been inspected for cracks.
When the power goes out
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Keep the fridge and freezer closed. The CDC says food stays safe up to 4 hours in the fridge, 48 hours in a full freezer, and 24 hours in a half-full freezer.
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Keep a thermometer in each. The fridge should be 40°F or below. When in doubt, throw it out.
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Unplug electronics so a power surge doesn't damage them.
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Go to a community location with power if heat or cold is extreme.
If your water may be unsafe
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Drink your stored water first.
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Boil water at a rolling boil for at least one minute, then let it cool.
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Can't boil? Follow EPA's bleach steps exactly, using plain, unscented bleach only.
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If water may have chemicals, oil, sewage or other contaminants in it, or is dark, smelly or has solids in it, don't drink it. WA DOH warns that boiling and bleach won't remove chemical pollutants.
Keep it fresh
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Check and rotate: WA EMD suggests picking two dates about 6 months apart, such as your birthday and half-birthday, to check dates and rotate what you've stored.
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Replace water you bottled yourself every 6 months.
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Keep canned food cool and dry, and boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.
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Test smoke and CO alarms monthly, and replace their batteries every six months. Your two rotation dates are a good reminder.
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Rethink your needs every year as your household changes, and replace anything expired.
More ways to get ready
WA EMD's 2 Weeks Ready guidance
Official guidance from Washington's Emergency Management Division.
Community Resources
State and county emergency resources for your area.
Preparedness Videos
Short videos on the go-bag vs. the 2-week supply, water and food, power outages, and planning for your household.
Join your region's Facebook group
Local alerts and preparedness tips.
Southwest WA Group: Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce, Skamania, Thurston, Wahkiakum
Northwest WA Group: Clallam, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Mason, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Whatcom
Volunteer or donate
Help your neighbors get 2 Weeks Ready.
Start today. Progress beats perfect.
Pick one thing this week: a case of water, a can opener, a copy of your prescriptions. Then add a little each time you shop until you're 2 Weeks Ready.
Start this week
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Turn on alerts. Check that Emergency Alerts are on in your phone settings, and sign up for your county's opt-in alerts.
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Make a family communication plan. It's free, and it's WA EMD's step one.
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Pick your two rotation dates, like your birthday and half-birthday.
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Store some water, as much as your space allows.
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Put a flashlight where each person can find it in the dark.
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Ask your pharmacy about a backup supply of your prescriptions.