The Philippines experiences an average of 20 typhoons per year, with five to seven making landfall. For Filipino families, typhoon preparedness is not optional — it is a basic life skill. A well-stocked emergency kit can mean the difference between a difficult few days and a genuine crisis. This guide covers everything you need, organised by priority.

The Go Bag: Your 72-Hour Survival Kit

A Go Bag is a backpack or bag that you can grab in under two minutes and carry out of your home during an emergency evacuation. It should contain everything your family needs to survive for at least 72 hours (three days) without access to shops, electricity, or running water. Prepare one Go Bag per family member, or a shared bag for the whole household if individual bags are not practical.

Water and Food

Water is your most critical supply. Store a minimum of three litres per person per day — more in hot weather or for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children. Sealed bottled water is the safest option. Water purification tablets or a portable filter are useful backups. For food, choose items that require no cooking, no refrigeration, and minimal water to prepare. Good options include canned goods (sardines, corned beef, beans), instant noodles, biscuits, dried fruit, nuts, and energy bars. Include a manual can opener. Rotate your food stock every six months to keep it fresh.

First Aid and Medicines

A basic first aid kit should include adhesive bandages in multiple sizes, sterile gauze pads, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, scissors, tweezers, and disposable gloves. Include a digital thermometer and a basic first aid manual. Critically, include a minimum seven-day supply of any prescription medicines your family members take regularly — for hypertension, diabetes, asthma, or other chronic conditions. Typhoon disruptions can last far longer than most people expect, and pharmacies may be closed or inaccessible for days.

Documents and Money

Keep waterproof copies (or originals in a waterproof pouch) of the following: national ID cards, birth certificates, passports, land titles or lease agreements, insurance policies, bank account information, and medical records. Include enough cash in small denominations to cover three to five days of expenses — ATMs and card payment systems often fail during and after typhoons. A USB drive with digital copies of all documents is a useful addition.

Communication and Power

A battery-powered or hand-crank AM/FM radio is essential for receiving official updates when mobile networks and the internet are down. Keep a fully charged power bank for each mobile phone. Pack spare batteries in the correct sizes for your flashlights and radio. A good-quality waterproof LED flashlight — or a headlamp, which leaves your hands free — is far more useful than a candle, which is a fire hazard in a crowded evacuation centre.

Clothing and Shelter

Pack at least two changes of clothing per person, including a rain poncho or waterproof jacket. Include sturdy closed-toe shoes — flip-flops offer no protection against debris in floodwater. A lightweight sleeping bag or emergency thermal blanket is useful if you end up in an evacuation centre with limited bedding. Include a small tarpaulin or plastic sheeting, which has dozens of uses in an emergency.

Sanitation and Hygiene

Include toilet paper, hand sanitiser, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, and baby supplies (nappies, formula, wipes) if applicable. A small bottle of chlorine bleach can be used to disinfect water (eight drops per litre, wait 30 minutes) and to sanitise surfaces. Wet wipes are invaluable when water is scarce.

Special Needs Items

Think carefully about the specific needs of every member of your household. Infants need formula, bottles, and nappies. Elderly family members may need mobility aids, hearing aid batteries, or special foods. Persons with disabilities may need specific equipment or medications. Pets need food, water, a carrier, and any medications. Plan for these needs in advance — do not try to improvise during an evacuation.

Home Emergency Supplies (Beyond the Go Bag)

In addition to your Go Bag, keep the following at home: a 15-litre or larger water container filled and ready, a two-week supply of non-perishable food, a fire extinguisher, a wrench or pliers to shut off utilities, and a basic toolkit. Know where your main electrical breaker, water shut-off valve, and gas shut-off are located, and how to operate them.

Review and Refresh Annually

Set a reminder every year — ideally in May, before typhoon season begins in June — to check and refresh your emergency kit. Replace expired food and medicines, test your flashlight and radio, and update your documents. Run a family drill so that every member knows where the Go Bag is, what the evacuation plan is, and where to meet if you are separated.