Emergency kit for apartments: a 72-hour plan for small flats
A 72-hour kit for two people fits in one storage box of about 50 litres (13 US gal) plus a stack of water bottles. Flats have their own risks, so add three things houses often skip: extra stored water (pumps to upper floors need power), an emergency toilet solution and safe, flame-free light and cooking.
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What fits in one box
You don’t need a spare room. This kit for two people fits in a 50-litre (13 US gal) box, with the water stacked beside it.
| Item | For 2 people | Space |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking water | 18 L (4.8 US gal): 12 × 1.5 L bottles | Two stacked packs, ≈ 40 × 30 × 35 cm (16 × 12 × 14 in) |
| Long-life food | 6 days of meals in total | A shoebox-sized crate |
| Head torches and LED lantern | 2 + 1 | Small bag |
| Battery or crank radio | 1 | Palm-sized |
| Power bank, 20,000 mAh | 1 | Phone-sized |
| First-aid kit and 7 days of medicines | 1 | Small pouch |
| Hygiene and toilet bags | 3 days | Bag-sized |
| Documents and cash | 1 waterproof pouch | A5 envelope |
| Blankets or sleeping bags | 2 | Compressed under the bed |
Food and kit go in the box; the box goes under the bed or in a wardrobe. Keep a small grab bag by the door with keys, ID copies, cash, a torch and a water bottle.
Water in a flat: store more, earlier
Water usually reaches upper floors thanks to electric booster pumps. Amsterdam’s water company, Waternet, warns that if you live on the second floor or higher, a power cut can reduce water pressure. So:
- Store at least 3 litres (0.8 US gal) per person per day, and more if you have space.
- Keep a collapsible water container that folds flat. Fill it, pans and the bath as soon as an outage begins.
- Bath water is for flushing and washing; drink from your stored bottles.
- Keep a clean bucket with a lid to collect water from an emergency distribution point.
The toilet question
It is the least glamorous part of preparedness and the one people regret skipping. If the water stops but the sewer works, flush with a bucket of bath or grey water. If the sewer is also out, or authorities ask you not to flush, use the bag method:
- Line the toilet bowl or a camping toilet bucket with a strong bin bag.
- After each use, add a gelling agent, cat litter or sawdust.
- Tie the bag off and store it in a second bag on the balcony or outside until collection resumes.
- Keep hand gel and wet wipes next to it.
Ready-made emergency toilet bags with gelling powder are compact and cheap, and they take up less space than a bag of cat litter.
Light and heat without flames
Small rooms fill with smoke and fumes quickly. Use LED lanterns and head torches rather than candles, and never bring a camping stove, barbecue, patio heater or generator indoors, not even with a window open. Carbon monoxide is invisible and has no smell. If you ever use a fuel appliance designed for indoor use, fit a battery carbon monoxide alarm.
To stay warm, choose one room, close the curtains and doors, and use layers, blankets and sleeping bags. Our guide on keeping warm without heating has the details.
Lifts, stairwells and doors
- Use the stairs in a blackout or fire. Walk the escape route once in daylight so you know it.
- Stairwells may be dark. Emergency lighting often lasts only a limited time. Carry a head torch.
- Electric doors and intercoms stop. Know how to open the main door and garage manually and keep physical keys.
- Help neighbours. Check on older people and anyone who can’t manage stairs; swap phone numbers before you need them. The UK’s Be Ready campaign specifically encourages this.
Cooking on a balcony
A small camping stove can be used on an open balcony if your building rules allow it, well away from walls, awnings and anything flammable, with the gas cartridge stored outside the flat. If your building forbids it, plan food that needs no cooking and a vacuum flask you fill with hot water while you still have power.
Budget
| Product | Best for | Key spec | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collapsible water container | Filling up fast, little space | Folds flat when empty | Check price on Amazon |
| Emergency toilet bags | When water or sewer fails | Gelling powder included | Check price on Amazon |
| LED lantern | Room light without flames | Battery-powered | Check price on Amazon |
| 20,000 mAh power bank | Phones for several days | USB-C | Check price on Amazon |
| Carbon monoxide alarm | Any home with fuel appliances | Battery-powered | Check price on Amazon |
| 2 kg (4.4 lb) fire extinguisher | Kitchen fires | Check the rating for your home | Check price on Amazon |
We don’t list prices because they change often. Use the button to see the current price on Amazon.
Start with the basic 72-hour kit and the printable checklist; most flats already have half of it.
Questions people ask
Where do I store an emergency kit in a small flat?
Under a bed, at the top of a wardrobe or in a hallway cupboard. Keep the water low and close to the kitchen, the kit somewhere you can reach in the dark, and a small grab bag near the door.
Will water keep running in an apartment during a power cut?
Not always. Buildings above a few floors often rely on electric pumps, so upper floors can lose pressure quickly. Fill containers and the bath as soon as a long outage starts.
How do I use the toilet if the water stops?
Flush with stored non-drinking water if the sewer still works. If it doesn’t, line the toilet or a bucket with a strong bag, add a gelling agent or cat litter, tie it off and store it outside or on the balcony.
Can I cook on my balcony?
Only if your building rules allow it and you use the stove outdoors with good airflow, away from walls and anything flammable. Never cook with gas or charcoal inside, even with a window open.
Should I use the lift during a power cut?
No. Use the stairs. If someone is stuck in a lift, call the emergency number on the lift panel or 112 and reassure them; lifts are designed to stop safely.
Keep reading
- How much water to store for 72 hours
- How to keep warm without heating in a power cut
- Best emergency torch and headlamp
- /kits/basic-72-hour-kit/