🇦🇺 Australia

What your government recommends

Be ready for 3 days (Queensland advice)^[1][2]

“Get Ready Queensland: think about what everyone in the house might need 'if you had to stay at home for three days'; the kit checklist lists 'Water for three days' and 'Non-perishable food for three days'. If you are in a rural or remote area, or at risk of extended periods of isolation, pack supplies for more days.”

Water: At least 3 litres per person per day (Queensland)^[3][2][1]

Food: Non-perishable food for three days, plus a can opener and cooking equipment (e.g. a gas stove with a spare canister). Have enough baby food, nappies and wipes for at least three days, and pet food and water. Review your kit at least twice a year.^[1][2]

Recommended items

• ✓Drinking water for three days (at least 10 litres per person)^[1][2]
• ✓Non-perishable food for three days and a can opener^[1][2][3]
• ✓Gas-powered stove with spare canister, and basic cooking equipment^[2]
• ✓First aid kit and face masks^[1][2]
• ✓Essential medication (a week's supply of prescription and over-the-counter medicines)^[2]
• ✓Torch with spare batteries for at least three days^[1][2]
• ✓Battery-powered radio with spare batteries for at least three days^[1][2]
• ✓Mobile phone, chargers and power bank^[1][2]
• ✓Essential toiletries (toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, personal hygiene products, sunscreen, insect repellent, tissues, hand sanitiser)^[2]
• ✓Important documents (paper copies or scans on a USB): ID, insurance, passports, legal documents, birth and marriage certificates^[1][2]
• ✓Thick work gloves and disposable gloves^[2]
• ✓Rubbish bags^[2]
• ✓Emergency whistle^[2]
• ✓Wrench, pliers, screwdriver (to turn off power, water and gas)^[2]
• ✓Tarpaulin and ropes^[2]
• ✓Spare clothes, waterproof jackets and sun hats; sleeping bags or warm blankets^[2][3]
• ✓Spare glasses and hearing aid batteries, if needed^[2]
• ✓Baby supplies (formula, bottle, nappies, wipes for at least three days)^[2]
• ✓Pet supplies (dry food, water, bowls)^[2]
• ✓Spare cash (in case payment systems are down)^[2][4]
• ✓Activities to keep children entertained (books, cards, glow sticks)^[2][4]

Good to know

• • In Australia, household preparedness advice is given by each state and territory, mainly for natural hazards (bushfires, floods, cyclones, storms, heatwaves). The figures shown here are from Queensland's Get Ready programme; check your own state's emergency service website.
• • Queensland recommends at least 10 litres of drinking water per person for three days in total (its multilingual material says at least 3 litres per person per day). Rural and remote households should pack supplies for more days.
• • If you need to leave: take your mobile phone and charger, important documents, valuables, cash and bank cards, and medicine.
• • Australian Red Cross offers a free emergency plan template (RediPlan) and a Get Packing checklist: https://www.redcross.org.au/emergencies/prepare/packing/
• • No Australian Government household guidance on war, nuclear or air-raid sheltering was found.