Short answer. Israel's Home Front Command asks every household to prepare emergency equipment that will last 72 hours, for situations such as a prolonged power cut or a shortage of essential goods 1. The official flyer lists bottled water and sealed food, a flashlight, a radio with batteries, a phone charger, a first-aid kit and medications, cash and copies of documents, but gives no per-person quantities 1.
How long should Israeli households be ready for?
Seventy-two hours. The Home Front Command flyer "A prepared family is a safe family" (משפחה מוכנה היא משפחה בטוחה) says, in Hebrew: "Prepare equipment that will serve you for 72 hours in cases such as a prolonged power outage or a shortage of essential products" 1. The PDF on the government site is dated May 2022 1.
What does the official list contain?
The flyer groups the kit into categories rather than quantities 1.
| Item | Quantity given by the flyer |
|---|---|
| Bottled water and food in sealed packaging | Enough for 72 hours; no per-person figure 1 |
| Flashlight and emergency lighting | Not specified 1 |
| Radio, batteries and a portable (phone) charger | Not specified 1 |
| First-aid kit and medications | Not specified 1 |
| Cash and important documents (copies) | Not specified 1 |
| Essential equipment according to the family's needs | Not specified 1 |
| Emergency communication means; the flyer lists the emergency numbers | Not specified 1 |
The same list is laid out line by line on the official kit list page.
How much water per person does Israel recommend?
The official flyer does not give a per-person figure: it asks for bottled water sufficient for 72 hours 1. A figure of 3 litres per person per day appears in Israeli press summaries of Home Front Command guidance, but it could not be confirmed on an official page for this guide, so it is not presented here as an official recommendation. For the figures other agencies publish, see our guide on how much water to store per person.
What else does the flyer ask families to prepare?
Besides the equipment, the flyer asks families to make sure their protected space is ready and to consider moving children's beds into it 1. It also covers a family plan, life-saving instructions during rocket fire, the alert channels and the emergency numbers 1. A separate Home Front Command letter to residents describes family preparations in case of missile strikes 2. Where the protected space fits in the official order is explained on the public shelters page.
How should I adapt the list to my household?
The flyer's own wording, "essential equipment according to the family's needs", leaves the details to each family 1. Medications are on the list 1; households with people on regular treatment, young children or older relatives should adapt the list to them. Our guides on vulnerable people, pets and food shelf life cover these points with their own sources. The general 72-hour kit guide compares lists from several agencies.
Frequently asked questions
Does Israel publish quantities for food?
No. The flyer asks for food in sealed packaging sufficient for 72 hours, without quantities per person 1.
Why does the list include a radio?
The flyer lists a radio with batteries and a portable charger 1; TV, radio and websites are among the official alert channels, alongside sirens and the Home Front Command app 1. See alerts.
Should the kit be kept in the protected space?
The flyer asks families to make sure the protected space is ready 1. It does not say, in the version used here, where the equipment must be stored.
Where do I find the emergency numbers?
They are printed on the flyer: 100 police, 101 Magen David Adom, 102 fire and rescue, 104 Home Front Command, 106 local authority 1. See emergency contacts.
Sources
- Home Front Command (פיקוד העורף) / National Emergency Portal, hosted on gov.il — משפחה מוכנה היא משפחה בטוחה – ציוד לחירום; הנחיות מצילות חיים בעת ירי רקטות וטילים — https://govextra.gov.il/media/utja2pbm/%D7%A2%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%97%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%9D.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Home Front Command (copy hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria) — My family's preparations in case of missile strikes — https://mfa.bg/upload/45281/Home_Front_Command_Preparedness_Information%20(1).pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Israel, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Home Front Command (פיקוד העורף) / National Emergency Portal, hosted on gov.il · משפחה מוכנה היא משפחה בטוחה – ציוד לחירום; הנחיות מצילות חיים בעת ירי רקטות וטילים checked 2026-10-20
- Home Front Command (copy hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria) · My family's preparations in case of missile strikes checked 2026-10-20