Short answer. Costa Rica's national emergency commission (CNE) asks every household to keep an emergency case (maletín para emergencia) that is light, waterproof and easy for any family member to carry during an evacuation 1. It sustains the family until the emergency committee arrives. No overall duration is set; only medicines for medical conditions are set at 72 hours minimum 1.
What is the CNE emergency case for?
The case is an evacuation bag. The CNE family plan describes it as a kit to take when the family leaves home, to cover its needs until the community or municipal emergency committee takes over 1. In the CNE's words: "El maletín debe ser ligero, impermeable, cómodo y fácil de transportar por cualquier integrante de la familia" (the case must be light, waterproof, comfortable and easy for any family member to carry) 1.
How long should the supplies last?
| Point | Costa Rica (CNE) |
|---|---|
| Duration of the kit as a whole | not specified 1 |
| Medicines for a member with a particular condition | at least 72 hours 1 |
| Drinking water in the case | one bottle, half a litre 1 |
| Bottled water at home (FAQ) | "considerable", no figure given 2 |
The half-litre bottle is what fits in a grab bag; it is not a daily ration. The CNE does not publish a litres-per-person-per-day figure. For the figures other agencies use, with their own sources, see /guides/water-per-person and /guides/water-storage-containers.
What goes in the case?
The full list, item by item, is on the kit page. In outline, the CNE family plan (Annex 2) and the CNE FAQ list 12:
- Basics: a small blanket, a flashlight, a small radio with batteries, a rope, a rain cape, a whistle, pencils or pens.
- Food and water: canned food that opens easily (tuna, condensed milk, granola, dried fruit), a half-litre water bottle, and a manual can opener.
- Documents: personal documents and a list of family phone numbers and first-response institutions.
- Hygiene: soap, toilet paper, toothbrushes and toothpaste, sanitary towels, tissues, hand sanitiser gel.
- First aid: a detailed list with quantities, from 50 g of cotton wool to 5 sachets of oral rehydration salts.
- Clothing: personal clothing.
What about people with special needs?
The CNE adds items for specific family members 1:
- A member with a particular condition: medicines for at least 72 hours, copies of prescriptions and treatment information.
- Anyone concerned: a laminated ID card to hang around the neck, listing allergies, illnesses, disability, blood group, medicines and assistive products needed.
- Pregnancy or infants: the updated prenatal care card, nappies, and formula milk as the child needs.
See also /guides/vulnerable-people and /guides/infant-supplies.
How often should I check the kit?
The CNE FAQ says kit items must be checked and replaced when they expire: "Es importante recordar que los artículos del kit de emergencias tienen que ser revisados para ser actualizados en caso de caducidad" 2. The family plan also asks for a checklist reviewed periodically 1. For shelf-life figures, see /guides/food-shelf-life.
Frequently asked questions
Does Costa Rica recommend a 72-hour kit?
Not for the kit as a whole: the CNE sets no overall duration. The 72-hour figure applies only to medicines for family members with a medical condition 1.
How much water does the CNE recommend?
One half-litre bottle in the emergency case 1. The CNE FAQ mentions "considerable" bottled water without a figure 2.
Where does the list come from?
From Annex 2 of the CNE's family risk management plan guide, completed by the CNE's frequently asked questions 12.
Sources
- Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) — Guía para la Elaboración del Plan Familiar de Gestión del Riesgo (Plan Familiar de Gestión de Riesgo) — https://moravia.go.cr/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/plan-familiar-17-19-CM.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20; CNE 2019 edition hosted by the Municipality of Moravia, emergency case in Annex 2)
- Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) — Preguntas frecuentes — https://www.cne.go.cr/contactenos/preguntas_frecuentes.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20; read via Web Archive capture of 19 June 2024)
Turn this into action
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Sources
- Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) · Guía para la Elaboración del Plan Familiar de Gestión del Riesgo (Plan Familiar de Gestión de Riesgo) checked 2026-10-20
- Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) · Preguntas frecuentes checked 2026-10-20