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Flood emergency kit: stay warned, keep papers dry, never drive in

By the Plain Prepper editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

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Quick answer

A flood kit starts with warnings: Ready.gov recommends signing up for local alerts and using a NOAA Weather Radio. Pack several days of non-perishable food, water and cleaning supplies, keep documents in a waterproof container with password-protected digital copies, and add work gloves, boots and masks for cleanup. Most important, never walk or drive into flood water: Ready.gov says 6 inches of moving water can knock you down and 1 foot can sweep a vehicle away.

The flood kit checklist

Item	Why, per Ready.gov
NOAA Weather Radio and local alert sign-up	Emergency alerts, including flash floods that come without warning
Water and non-perishable food for several days	In case you must leave fast or services are cut off
Cleaning supplies	For after the water goes down
Documents in a waterproof container	Plus password-protected digital copies
Heavy work gloves, protective clothing, boots	For cleanup
Masks or face coverings	When cleaning mold or debris
Pet supplies	Ready.gov says to include pets in the household plan

See our bug out bag list for the rest of a go-bag.

Before the flood: protect the house

• Know your risk: check FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, but Ready.gov notes flooding does not follow lines on a map.
• Insurance: Ready.gov says homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a flood policy typically takes up to 30 days to take effect, so buy well before a storm.
• Move valuables up to higher floors.
• Clear drains and gutters, and install check valves.
• Sump pump with a battery: Ready.gov suggests considering one; see our generator for sump pump guide for backup options.
• Practice routes: learn evacuation routes, shelter plans and flash flood response.

During a flood: rules that save lives

• Turn Around, Don't Drown: do not walk, swim or drive through flood water.
• Bridges: stay off bridges over fast-moving water, which can wash away without warning.
• Barricades: never drive around them.
• Trapped in a car: stay inside if it is caught in fast water; get on the roof if water rises inside.
• Trapped in a building: go to the highest level; go on the roof only if necessary, and do not climb into a closed attic.
• Evacuate when told, or move to higher ground or a higher floor.

Keeping gear and papers dry

• Dry bags: Sea to Summit's Big River Dry Bag uses 420D nylon with a TPU laminate, tape-sealed seams and a roll-top closure, in sizes from 5 liters.
• Know the limit: Sea to Summit says roll-top dry bags of any brand are not designed to be submerged and are not completely airtight; they keep gear dry in rain and splashes.
• Double up: put documents in a zip bag inside the dry bag.
• Digital copies: Ready.gov recommends password-protected copies of important papers.

Water to store, and how much

Ready.gov's flood list calls for water for several days. Its general guidance is one gallon per person per day, so a household of four needs 12 gallons for three days. Ready.gov warns flood water can be contaminated, so store drinking water before the storm. A worked example for that household:

• 3 days: 4 people x 3 days x 1 gallon = 12 gallons.
• 7 days: 28 gallons.
• Pets: add extra water for each pet.

See our emergency water storage and water purification tablets guides for containers and treatment.

After the flood: cleanup safety

• Return only when authorities say it is safe, and avoid driving except in emergencies.
• Electricity: do not touch wet electrical equipment or stand in water near it; turn off power only if it is safe to do so.
• Flood water: it can be contaminated, hold debris, or be electrically charged by downed lines.
• Who stays out: Ready.gov says people with asthma, lung conditions or weakened immune systems should not enter buildings with visible or smelled mold, and children should not do cleanup.
• Animals: watch for snakes and other animals inside.
• Generators: use them only outdoors and away from windows.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

What should be in a flood emergency kit?

A NOAA Weather Radio, several days of food and water, cleaning supplies, documents in a waterproof container, and gloves, boots and masks for cleanup.

How much water can sweep away a car?

Ready.gov says one foot of moving water can sweep a vehicle away, and six inches can knock a person down.

Does homeowners insurance cover floods?

Ready.gov says no; a flood policy typically takes up to 30 days to start.

Are dry bags fully waterproof?

Sea to Summit says roll-top dry bags are not designed to be submerged.

Sources

• Floods, Ready.gov
• Big River Dry Bag, Sea to Summit
• Waterproof Dry Bags (FAQ), Sea to Summit
• WR400 Deluxe NOAA Weather Alert Radio, Midland
• Special CONNECT Battery Backup Pump, Basement Watchdog
• Water, Ready.gov

Sources checked 2026-10-15.