Short answer. Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) recommends an "alarm suitcase" (тревожный чемодан) holding what you need for three days, including 3-4 litres of water per person 1. The national e-government portal adds a "first-necessity kit", ideally two of them with one kept in the car, containing a first-aid kit, canned food, bottled water, a transistor radio and a torch with spare batteries 2.
How long should emergency supplies last in Kazakhstan?
Three days. The MChS "60 seconds of safety" earthquake issue of August 2026 says the alarm suitcase should contain the things needed for three days ("вещи, необходимые на трое суток"), starting with water: 3-4 litres per person 1. Food in the MChS list is canned and high-calorie products for the same three days 1.
The e-government recommendations do not set a separate duration; they describe what the first-necessity kit should contain 2.
What are the two official lists?
Kazakhstan publishes two complementary lists:
| Source | Name | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| MChS, "60 seconds of safety", Aug. 2026 1 | Alarm suitcase (тревожный чемодан) | Grab-and-go bag for three days: water, food, medicines, signals, documents, hygiene, warm clothing, radio, children's items |
| e-government portal, updated Nov. 2025 2 | First-necessity kit | Fuller household kit: tinned food, bottled water, radio and torch with batteries, fire-lighting, tools and tableware, regular medicines, clothing per person; a second bag in the car |
The full line-by-line list is on the kit page.
What goes into the MChS alarm suitcase?
According to MChS 1:
- drinking water, 3-4 litres per person;
- canned and high-calorie food;
- medicines and a first-aid kit;
- a whistle and a torch, for sound and light signals;
- documents;
- personal hygiene items (towel, soap, etc.);
- warm clothing (spare jacket, blanket, etc.);
- a radio receiver;
- items needed for children, and a family photograph.
What does the e-government kit add?
The e-government portal recommends canned food in tins and drinking water in plastic bottles (optionally a tin of coffee, a pack of tea and a box of salt), a transistor radio and an electric torch with a set of spare batteries, matches in a sealed box, a lighter and paper for lighting a fire 2. It also lists a folding knife, spoons, forks, two or three bowls and mugs, a can opener and a light hatchet, the regular medicines of family members if they do not need refrigeration, and a set of clothing and footwear for each family member, waterproof for summer and warm for winter. A tent and sleeping bags are described as desirable 2.
The portal recommends keeping a second kit bag in the car boot 2. Our winter car kit guide covers what to consider for a vehicle.
Where should I keep the kit?
The MChS list is designed as a bag you can take with you, as its name "alarm suitcase" suggests 1. Because the August 2026 issue is about earthquake preparedness, our earthquake preparedness guide is a useful companion. For the documents to include, see important documents.
How does this compare with other guidance?
The Kazakh water figure is expressed as 3-4 litres per person for the three-day bag 1. Our guide on water per person compares water recommendations across agencies, and 72-hour kit explains the logic of a three-day bag. For a longer stay at home, see two-week supplies and food shelf life.
Frequently asked questions
How much water does Kazakhstan recommend?
MChS recommends 3-4 litres of water per person in the alarm suitcase, which holds what is needed for three days 1.
Should I have one kit or two?
The e-government portal recommends a first-necessity kit, ideally two, with one kept in the car boot 2.
Is a radio on the Kazakh list?
Yes. MChS lists a radio receiver 1, and the e-government portal lists a transistor radio with a set of spare batteries 2. When sirens sound, official instructions are given by radio and television 2.
Which medicines should I pack?
MChS lists medicines and a first-aid kit 1. The e-government portal adds the regular medicines taken by family members, if they do not need refrigeration 2. See our first-aid kit guide.
Sources
- Министерство по чрезвычайным ситуациям Республики Казахстан — 60 секунд безопасности: Готовы ли вы к землетрясению? (24 Aug. 2026) — https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/emer/press/news/details/1278772?lang=ru (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Электронное правительство Республики Казахстан (egov.kz) — Рекомендации населению при чрезвычайных ситуациях (updated 12 Nov. 2025; read from the Internet Archive snapshot of 26 Nov. 2025) — https://egov.kz/cms/ru/articles/emergency_situations/recomend (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
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Sources
- Министерство по чрезвычайным ситуациям Республики Казахстан · 60 секунд безопасности: Готовы ли вы к землетрясению? checked 2026-10-20
- Электронное правительство Республики Казахстан (egov.kz) · Рекомендации населению при чрезвычайных ситуациях checked 2026-10-20