A gear checklist is most useful when every item has a job. Prioritize water, food, medical needs, shelter, light, communications, power and sanitation before adding specialty equipment.
Functional checklist
| Function | Examples |
|---|---|
| Water | Storage containers, filtration/treatment appropriate to the situation |
| Food | Shelf-stable food, opener, preparation method |
| Medical | First-aid supplies and household-specific necessities |
| Light | Headlamp/flashlight, spare batteries or charging |
| Power | Power banks or larger backup power sized to critical loads |
| Communication | Charged phone, emergency information source |
| Shelter/weather | Clothing, blankets/sleep system, rain/weather protection |
| Sanitation | Hygiene supplies, waste handling |
Turn this into a household plan with the preparedness checklist, or build a portable layer with the 72-hour checklist.