An RV is already halfway to an emergency kit: it carries its own water, food, beds and power. That makes it easy to assume you're covered, until a storm knocks out the campground's power, a tire blows on a remote road, or an evacuation order comes with an hour's notice. A dedicated kit closes the gaps. This checklist builds on Ready.gov's basic disaster supplies list and adapts it for life on the road.
Why an RV needs its own kit
- You're often far from help. Boondocking, forest roads and long desert stretches can put you hours from a town, sometimes with no cell signal.
- Weather hits harder. An RV is not a storm shelter. You need early warning so you can move or get to a sturdy building in time.
- Your systems can fail together. A dead house battery can take the water pump, furnace fan and lights with it.
Ready.gov suggests planning to be on your own for several days. On the road, that's a sensible target too.
1. Water and food
- Water: Ready.gov recommends one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation. Don't count on the fresh tank alone. Keep some sealed drinking water that you can carry away from the rig.
- Water treatment: backup tablets such as Aquatabs 49 mg purification tablets, and a filter bottle like the Katadyn BeFree 1L for refilling from other sources.
- Food: a several-day supply of non-perishable food that needs no cooking, plus a manual can opener.
2. Weather alerts and communication
Ready.gov lists a battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert. When the cell network is down or overloaded, a weather radio still brings in warnings.
- Weather radio: the hand-crank Midland E+READY ER310 is our best-selling emergency radio. The lower-cost Midland ER40 suits a second kit or a second vehicle. Neither needs a license, because they only receive. Compare both on our Midland page.
- Two-way radios: if you travel with another rig, or need to talk to someone outside while you deal with a problem, a pair of two-way radios works with no cell signal at all. See GMRS vs FRS to pick a type, and our caravan radio guide for group travel.
- Phone power: chargers and a backup battery, as Ready.gov recommends.
- A whistle to signal for help.
- Paper maps of the area you're traveling through. Navigation apps fail when the signal does.
3. Power and light
- Flashlights and lanterns: one per person, plus spare batteries. Rechargeable lights such as the collapsible solar LED lantern or this rechargeable flashlight 2-pack can be topped up from the RV or a power station.
- Backup power: a portable power station keeps phones, radios, lights and medical devices running when shore power and the house battery are gone, and it can go with you if you leave the RV.
4. Fire, smoke and gas safety
Most RV emergencies you can prevent start inside the rig. Test every alarm before each trip.
- Smoke alarms: check that yours works and has fresh batteries. Battery units like this photoelectric smoke detector 4-pack are an easy replacement.
- Carbon monoxide and propane alarms: generators, furnaces and propane appliances all make CO a real risk in a small space. The 12 V Safe-T-Alert 45-742 CO and propane alarm is built for RVs, and the Kidde COBD10 runs on a sealed 10-year battery. Our CO detector guide covers the rules.
- Fire extinguisher: Ready.gov includes one in its kit list. Keep it near the exit and check the gauge. Black Series HQ owners can replace theirs with the Black Series cabin fire extinguisher.
- A wrench or pliers to shut off the propane at the tank.
5. First aid and medications
- A first aid kit, restocked after every use.
- Several days of prescription medications, plus pain relievers, antacids and other over-the-counter basics.
- Spare glasses or contact lens supplies.
- Hand sanitizer, wet wipes, garbage bags and plastic ties for sanitation.
- Dust masks, for smoke or debris.
6. Roadside and breakdown gear
- Reflective triangles or flares, and a reflective vest.
- A tire gauge, and the jack and lug wrench sized for your RV, not just the tow vehicle.
- Jumper cables or a jump starter.
- Duct tape, zip ties, a basic tool set, spare fuses and work gloves.
- Off-road travelers should also carry recovery gear. See our trailer recovery kit guide.
7. Documents, cash and comfort
- Copies of ID, insurance, registration and roadside assistance details, in a waterproof bag or saved electronically.
- Some cash, in case card readers are down.
- A warm blanket or sleeping bag for each person, and a change of clothes and sturdy shoes.
- Pet food, water, leashes and records, if pets travel with you.
Where to keep it
Ready.gov suggests packing a kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers, like a plastic bin or a duffel bag. In an RV that matters: if you have to leave the rig, you want to grab one bag, not search five cabinets. Keep a go-bag near the door with water, the weather radio, a light, first aid, medications, documents and phone power. Keep bulkier supplies, like extra water and roadside gear, in a pass-through or the tow vehicle.
Keep it ready
- Before each trip: test smoke, CO and propane alarms, check the extinguisher gauge, and charge lights, radios and power stations.
- Each season: rotate water and food, and replace expired medications and batteries.
- Every year: as Ready.gov advises, rethink what your household needs and update the kit.
- Know your weather: learn the NOAA weather radio channel for the area you're staying in, and know where the campground's storm shelter is.
Printable RV emergency kit checklist
| Category | Items |
|---|---|
| Water and food | 1 gallon per person per day for several days, purification tablets, filter bottle, non-perishable food, can opener |
| Communication | NOAA weather radio (hand-crank), two-way radios, phone chargers and backup battery, whistle, paper maps |
| Power and light | Flashlights, lanterns, spare batteries, portable power station |
| Safety | Working smoke, CO and propane alarms, fire extinguisher, wrench for the propane valve |
| Health | First aid kit, medications, glasses, sanitizer, wipes, dust masks |
| Roadside | Triangles or flares, vest, tire gauge, jack and lug wrench, jump starter, tools, fuses, gloves |
| Documents and comfort | ID and insurance copies, cash, blankets, clothes, shoes, pet supplies |
FAQ
What should be in an RV emergency kit?
Water and food for several days, a NOAA weather radio, lights and backup power, working smoke, CO and propane alarms, a fire extinguisher, first aid and medications, roadside gear, and copies of your documents.
How much water should I keep in my RV for emergencies?
Ready.gov recommends one gallon per person per day for several days. Keep some sealed and portable, not only in the fresh tank.
Do I need a weather radio if I have a phone?
Yes. Cell service is often weak or missing at campgrounds, and networks can go down in a disaster. A hand-crank NOAA weather radio like the Midland ER310 keeps alerts coming.
Where should I keep the kit in the RV?
Keep a go-bag by the door so you can leave fast, and store bulky backup supplies in a pass-through or the tow vehicle.
How often should I check my RV emergency kit?
Test alarms and charge devices before each trip, rotate food, water and batteries each season, and review the whole kit once a year.