Australia's emergency kit: what to pack for bushfire, flood and cyclone
Australia has no single national day count; your state emergency service sets the advice. Most state guidance says 3 days, and Queensland's SES says 3 to 7 days. One Queensland guide suggests 10 litres of drinking water per person for 3 days, and another Queensland household plan asks for at least 5 days.
What this means for your household
Set your household size to see the days, water and food the Australia advice adds up to.
Most state guidance says 3 days. Queensland SES says 3 to 7 days.
Drinking water for 2 people. Official figure: Varies by state, commonly 3 L per person per day.
Person-days of food to cover (2 × 7). Pick food that needs no fridge and little or no cooking.
We found no single national day count. Follow your state emergency service.
What state emergency kits include
A kit holds what you need if a flood, storm, cyclone, bushfire or heatwave forces you to leave in a hurry, go without power or water, or stay inside.
- Drinking water for at least 3 days
- Non-perishable food
- A battery radio and a torch, with spare batteries
- A first aid kit and prescription details
- Copies of key documents
- Cash
- A charged phone and power bank
How Australia warns you
- The Australian Warning System has three levels: Advice, Watch and Act, and Emergency Warning.
- Emergency Alert calls and texts come from +61 444 444 444. If that number shows, the message is genuine.
- Delivery is not guaranteed because it relies on the phone networks. If you live in a mobile blackspot, keep a landline that doesn't depend on mains power.
- AusAlert, the new national cell broadcast system, sends alerts to compatible phones without needing your number or location. A national test went out on 27 July 2026.
Hazard-specific steps (Queensland guidance)
- Cyclone: shelter in the strongest internal room, usually a bathroom, toilet or hallway, away from windows. A Cyclone Watch comes about 48 hours before landfall and a Cyclone Warning when winds are expected within 24 hours.
- Flood: never drive into floodwater, and move valuables up high if flooding is likely.
- Bushfire: before the season, decide whether you will leave early or stay and defend, and write a bushfire survival plan.
- Write a household plan with contacts, evacuation routes that avoid flash flooding, how to turn off utilities, meeting places and medical information, and rehearse it.
Go beyond the minimum: what we recommend
Official lists cover the basics. These are the gaps we see most often when an emergency lasts longer than expected.
- Rotate a long supply: eat the oldest first and replace it, so a week or more of food and water stays in date.
- Keep paper and digital copies of IDs, insurance and prescriptions, so you can prove who you are and get medicines.
- Write the expiry date on everything and check the kit every 6 months, so it doesn't quietly go out of date.
- Plan for phone power: a charged power bank, plus a solar panel or car charger for longer outages.
- Save offline maps of your area and agree a meeting point, in case the mobile network is down.
- An offline survival guide on your phone: HAVEN tracks your kit and expiry dates and works with no signal.Download HAVEN free
Numbers to write down
- 000 · Life-threatening emergencies
- 132 500 · SES flood and storm help
- +61 444 444 444 · Genuine Emergency Alert number
Keep a paper copy: your phone may be flat when you need it.
Your kit, ready when the network isn't
HAVEN keeps your kit and household plan on your phone with offline maps and guides, so they work in a blackspot or when the towers are down.
- Coverage in days for your household
- Expiry reminders
- Offline guides and AI
- Free to start, no account needed
How Australia compares
Australia: 3 to 7 days. Across the 25 governments we checked, most ask for 3 days, a growing group asks for a week, and Austria asks for the most, at 10 to 14 days. See every country's advice.
Australia preparedness FAQ
How many days of supplies should I have in Australia?
There is no single national figure. Most state guidance says at least 3 days, and Queensland's SES says 3 to 7 days. Follow your state emergency service.
How much water should I store?
One Queensland guide suggests 10 litres per person for 3 days. Store more in hot weather and for longer outages.
Is a text from +61 444 444 444 genuine?
Yes. Official Emergency Alert calls and texts come from +61 444 444 444.
What do the Australian warning levels mean?
Advice means stay informed. Watch and Act means conditions are changing and you should act now to protect yourself. Emergency Warning is the highest level: you are in danger and must act immediately.
Who do I call for flood or storm damage?
Call the SES on 132 500. For any life-threatening emergency, call 000.
Official sources
- Plan and prepare (NSW SES)
- Pack an emergency kit (Queensland Government)
- Get Ready Queensland: make a plan
- Emergency Alert (Australian Government)
- AusAlert (NEMA)
This page summarises official advice and is not a substitute for it. Always follow the instructions of your local emergency services. Last checked 2 November 2026.