How much emergency supplies should you keep in Indonesia?

Short answer. BNPB asks every Indonesian family to keep a 72-hour emergency bag (Tas Siaga 72 Jam) with at least 2 litres of drinking water per person per day ¹. Keep it near the exit, visible and unlocked, ready to grab in 10 seconds, and check it at least every 6 months ¹. BNPB warns that families may have to cope alone for the first 24 to 72 hours ¹.

Why 72 hours?

BNPB's 2026 family guide explains that help does not always arrive within minutes: "Ketika bencana terjadi, bantuan tidak selalu datang dalam hitungan menit. Dalam banyak kasus, keluarga harus bertahan sendiri selama 24–72 jam pertama." In English: when disaster strikes, help does not always come within minutes; in many cases families must survive on their own for the first 24 to 72 hours ¹. The bag is sized for that window. For a longer stay at home, see /guides/two-week-supplies.

How much water does BNPB recommend?

At least 2 litres of drinking water per person per day ("Air minum (minimal 2 liter/orang/hari)") ¹. For a 72-hour bag, that is at least 6 litres per person. This figure covers drinking only; see How much water per person per day? and /guides/water-storage-containers for storage.

Where should the bag be kept?

BNPB gives clear placement rules ¹:

• near the exit, visible, not locked and easy to reach;
• ready to take in 10 seconds ("Siap diambil dalam 10 detik");
• light but complete;
• checked at least every 6 months ("Diperiksa minimal 6 bulan sekali").

Ideally a family keeps one main bag plus one small extra bag. In a multi-storey home, consider a bag upstairs as well. Keep a small torch and shoes by the bed ¹.

What goes in the bag?

The full BNPB list is on the kit page. In short: water and long-life ready-to-eat food, a torch with spare batteries, a power bank and a portable radio, a whistle, masks and gloves, medication and first-aid items, photocopies of key documents in a waterproof plastic bag, a printed list of phone numbers, clothes, a thin blanket, a raincoat and cash ¹. BNPB adds items for older people and a small bag for children ¹.

What if money is tight?

BNPB says a bag can start with what is cheap or already at home: bottled water, instant noodles, a simple torch, a plastic folder for documents and medicines you already have ¹. Build it up over time.

Is there an official booklet?

Yes. The 72-hour bag checklist is part of Keluarga Siaga Bencana, published by BNPB in 2026, which also contains a family emergency plan and procedures for earthquakes, tsunamis and floods ¹. It follows BNPB's 2012 pocket guide Tanggap Tangkas Tangguh Menghadapi Bencana ². For a written household plan, see /guides/family-plan.

Frequently asked questions

How long should my supplies last in Indonesia?

72 hours, according to BNPB ¹. Families may have to cope alone for the first 24 to 72 hours ¹.

How often should I check the bag?

At least every 6 months ¹. Replace expired food, water and medicines, and recharge the power bank.

Should each person have a bag?

BNPB suggests one main family bag plus one small extra bag, a bag upstairs in multi-storey homes, and a small bag for each child ¹.

Which documents should I pack?

Photocopies of the ID card (KTP), family card (KK), house certificate and savings book, in a waterproof plastic bag ¹. See /guides/important-documents.

Sources

1. BNPB (Pusat Data, Informasi dan Komunikasi Kebencanaan) — Keluarga Siaga Bencana – Panduan Anti Panik Saat Gempa, Banjir & Krisis Darurat — https://perpustakaan.bnpb.go.id/inlislite/uploaded_files/temporary/DigitalCollection/OThjMzRiZDFlMDU2OWYzNzQ5ZjliYWI0Nzg3ODkxMTQxNTE0NDIzNg==.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. BNPB — Buku Saku Tanggap Tangkas Tangguh Menghadapi Bencana, Edisi 2012 — https://www.bnpb.go.id/storage/app/media/uploads/migration/pubs/478.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)