TREMR

If a major earthquake struck your city tonight, how long could you survive on what you have at home? For most households, the honest answer is less than 24 hours. No stored water. Medications that can't be refilled for days. No cash, no flashlight with working batteries, no plan for where to meet if phones are down.

This isn't meant to alarm — it's meant to be useful. Earthquake preparedness is one of the few disaster scenarios where individual action genuinely makes a difference. A well-stocked kit doesn't require much money or space. It requires about two hours to assemble and the decision to actually do it before you need it.

Why 72 Hours?

The 72-hour figure comes from emergency management research on how long it typically takes for organised relief to reach affected neighbourhoods after a major urban earthquake. Roads are blocked by debris. Power is out. Emergency services are overwhelmed with the most critical cases. The first 72 hours after a large quake, most households will be essentially on their own.

In a well-prepared country like Japan, infrastructure is built to recover faster, and neighbourhood mutual aid networks (known as jishu bosai soshiki) help bridge the gap. In most of the western United States and much of the developing world, the gap between the quake and organised assistance can be considerably longer. Planning for 72 hours is a reasonable minimum. Planning for a week is better.

Water: The Non-Negotiable

Water is the single most important item in any emergency kit, and it's the one most people underestimate. The standard guidance is one gallon (about 3.8 litres) per person per day, for at least three days. That's three gallons per person minimum — more if you live somewhere hot, have children, or have anyone with medical conditions.

Commercial water bottles work, but purpose-made water storage containers with airtight seals are more reliable for long-term storage. Water in standard plastic bottles should be rotated every 6–12 months. A water filter or purification tablets can stretch your supply if you have access to untreated water sources. Store water in a cool, dark location — sunlight degrades plastic containers over time.

Food and Cooking

Emergency food should require little or no cooking, have a long shelf life, and not require refrigeration. The goal is calories and morale — this is not the time to optimise for nutrition. Some reliable options:

• Canned goods — beans, vegetables, tuna, sardines, chicken. Require a manual can opener (don't forget one).
• Peanut butter and crackers — calorie-dense, long shelf life, no cooking needed.
• Dried fruit, nuts, and jerky — high energy, compact, durable.
• Instant oats, rice, or pasta — if you have a way to boil water. A camping stove with fuel canisters is worth including.
• Protein bars and trail mix — easy to grab and go.

Check expiry dates when you build the kit and set a calendar reminder to rotate stock annually. Eating emergency food before it expires and replacing it is better than letting it silently age past usefulness.

Documents, Cash, and Contacts

After a major earthquake, ATMs may be offline for days. Banks may be inaccessible. Keep a small amount of cash — enough for a few nights in a motel and some meals — in your kit. Small bills are more useful than large ones when card readers aren't working.

Equally important is a waterproof folder or zip-lock bag containing copies of:

• Identification documents (passport, driver's licence)
• Insurance policies and agent contact numbers
• Medical information and prescription details
• Bank account numbers and emergency contacts
• Property records or rental agreements

Write down the phone numbers of your three most important contacts on paper. When your phone dies or is lost, you'll realise you don't actually know anyone's number from memory.

First Aid and Medications

A standard first aid kit covers cuts, burns, and minor trauma. For earthquakes specifically, also include:

• Prescription medications — at minimum a 7-day emergency supply, stored separately from your daily medications so you don't accidentally use them
• Over-the-counter pain relief, antihistamines, and anti-diarrhoeal medication
• Dust masks (N95 or equivalent) — earthquake debris creates hazardous fine particles
• Work gloves — for moving rubble without cutting your hands
• Sturdy shoes near your bed — most earthquake injuries in the immediate aftermath involve feet cut on broken glass

Communication and Light

Assume your phone will be functional for a limited time. Cell networks are often overwhelmed after a major quake, and charging infrastructure may be unavailable for days. A battery-powered or hand-crank AM/FM radio can receive emergency broadcasts when the internet is down. A hand-crank or solar-powered charger can extend your phone's usefulness.

Flashlights are essential — with extra batteries stored nearby. Head torches (hands-free flashlights) are far more useful than handheld ones when you're moving through a dark building or doing tasks that require both hands. Include at least one light source per bedroom.

A whistle is inexpensive and potentially life-saving: if you are trapped under debris, shouting exhausts your air supply quickly. A whistle carries further with less effort.

The Car Kit and Meeting Point

Keep a smaller version of your kit in your car: water, energy bars, a first aid kit, a blanket, a whistle, and a paper map of your city. If the earthquake strikes while you're away from home, this gives you a bridge.

Equally important: agree on a meeting point with your household before any emergency happens. Choose somewhere close to home (a specific corner or park) and somewhere further away if the neighbourhood is inaccessible. When phones are down and people are separated, having a pre-agreed meeting point removes one critical variable from a chaotic situation.

Preparedness doesn't need to be expensive or elaborate. A few containers of water, a week's worth of non-perishable food, a first aid kit, a flashlight, and a folder of documents already puts you in better shape than the majority of households in earthquake-prone cities. The hardest part is starting. Start today.