Emergency gear

Gear worth owning before you need it

Built from the FEMA/Ready.gov, CDC, Red Cross, and NWS kit lists, extended with expert consensus. One pick per item, chosen on merit — and where what you already own will do, we say so.

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Water: Storage, Filtration & Treatment

Water is the #1 kit item in every authoritative list — you need 1 gallon per person per day, and municipal supplies can be down or contaminated for days.

Water storage containers

Store 1 gal/person/day: 3-day supply minimum for evacuation, 2-week supply at home (Red Cross/CDC). Look for food-grade HDPE, stackable 5-7 gal containers with a spigot — small enough to carry when full (7 gal = ~58 lb). Rotate stored tap water every 6-12 months.

Examples: Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-gal, ~$20-25; WaterBrick 3.5-gal stackable, ~$20-30 each

Recommended by Ready.gov/FEMA, Red Cross, CDC

Portable water filter

Hollow-fiber 0.1-micron filter removes bacteria and protozoa (not viruses or chemicals). Look for high rated lifetime (100,000+ gal), bottle-thread compatibility, and gravity/inline versatility. Protect from freezing — a frozen filter is ruined.

Examples: Sawyer Squeeze, ~$30-40; HydroBlu Versa Flow, ~$20-25

Recommended by The Prepared (top pick: HydroBlu Versa Flow), expert consensus

Chemical treatment (purification tablets + unscented bleach)

Tablets back up the filter and kill viruses filters miss. NaDCC tablets (Aquatabs) have ~5-year shelf life. Also keep plain unscented household bleach + medicine dropper: CDC/EPA dose is ~8 drops (1/8 tsp) per gallon of clear water, wait 30 min; note bleach itself degrades after ~1 year.

Examples: Aquatabs 100-pack, ~$10-12; Potable Aqua iodine tablets, ~$10

Recommended by CDC, EPA, expert consensus

Food & Off-Grid Cooking

Every agency list requires several days of non-perishable food (2 weeks at home per CDC/Red Cross), and a way to prepare it when the power is out.

Long-term emergency food (freeze-dried/dehydrated buckets)

Check real calories per day, not 'servings' — many kits pad serving counts; aim for 1,500-2,000+ kcal/person/day. Freeze-dried (25-30 yr shelf life) tastes better and rehydrates faster; dehydrated is cheaper per calorie. Common strategy: bulk calories from budget brand + premium pouches for taste.

Examples: Augason Farms 30-day bucket, ~$100-150; Mountain House 3-day supply, ~$50-60

Recommended by TruePrepper, The Prepared, r/preppers consensus

Ready-to-eat pantry food + manual can opener

Foods needing no cooking or refrigeration: peanut butter, canned meat/beans/fruit, energy bars, ready-to-eat soups. Ready.gov explicitly lists a manual can opener — electric openers fail with the grid. Rotate stock every 6 months.

Examples: Any grocery staples; dedicated manual can opener (OXO Good Grips, ~$10-15)

Recommended by Ready.gov/FEMA, Red Cross, CDC

Camp stove + fuel

Butane or propane canister stove for cooking when power is out — OUTDOORS or by a well-ventilated window only, never fully indoors (CO risk). Dual-fuel (butane/propane) models add flexibility; store several fuel canisters. A backpacking stove covers evacuation kits.

Examples: Gas One GS-3400P dual-fuel stove, ~$30-40; Jetboil Flash, ~$110-130

Recommended by Expert consensus (The Prepared, Wirecutter emergency guides); CDC warns against indoor use

First Aid & Trauma

Medical help can be hours or days away in a disaster; a first aid kit is on every agency list and bleeding control is the top preventable cause of trauma death.

Comprehensive first aid kit

Match the Red Cross 'anatomy of a first aid kit' contents: assorted bandages, gauze, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, tape, gloves, tweezers, CPR breathing barrier, emergency blanket. Prebuilt kits are fine but audit and supplement them — cheap kits are mostly adhesive bandages.

Examples: First Aid Only 299-piece, ~$20-25 (budget); My Medic MyFAK, ~$100-150 (premium)

Recommended by Red Cross, Ready.gov/FEMA, CDC

Trauma/bleeding-control kit (tourniquet + hemostatic gauze)

Look for a CoTCCC-recommended tourniquet (CAT Gen 7, SOFTT-W, SAM XT) — buy ONLY from authorized dealers (e.g. North American Rescue direct); Amazon counterfeits fail under load. Add hemostatic gauze, pressure (Israeli) bandage, trauma shears, gloves. Take a Stop the Bleed class.

Examples: CAT Gen 7 tourniquet, ~$30-35; QuikClot Combat Gauze, ~$20-40

Recommended by CoTCCC/TCCC standard, The Prepared, Stop the Bleed (DHS)

OTC medication assortment

CDC lists pain relievers, anti-diarrheal, antacids, laxatives; add antihistamines and electrolyte packets. Store in original labeled packaging and rotate by expiration date.

Examples: Grocery/pharmacy staples, ~$20-40 total

Recommended by CDC, Red Cross

Light & Power

Power outages are the most common disaster effect; every agency kit lists a flashlight and extra batteries, and modern life adds phones and medical devices that must stay charged.

Headlamp (one per person)

Hands-free light is the #1 pick of expert reviewers over flashlights. Look for AA/AAA compatibility (shared battery logistics) or USB-C rechargeable with battery backup, 200+ lumens, red-light mode, and a lockout to prevent pocket activation. IPX4+ water resistance.

Examples: Black Diamond Spot 400, ~$40-50; ThruNite TH20, ~$25-30

Recommended by The Prepared (if you own one light, make it a headlamp), TruePrepper

Flashlight + area lantern

Ready.gov lists a flashlight in the basic kit. A quality single-AA or 18650 LED handheld plus an LED lantern for room lighting; avoid candles as primary lighting (fire risk).

Examples: ThruNite Archer 2A / Fenix E12, ~$20-35; Vont/Streamlight LED lantern, ~$15-35

Recommended by Ready.gov/FEMA, Red Cross, Wirecutter

Extra batteries (standardized)

Standardize your gear on AA/AAA. Keep low-self-discharge NiMH rechargeables for daily rotation plus lithium primaries (20-yr shelf life, cold-tolerant) sealed for emergencies.

Examples: Panasonic Eneloop AA 8-pack, ~$20-25; Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA 8-pack, ~$15-20

Recommended by Ready.gov/FEMA, CDC; The Prepared

USB power bank

Ready.gov lists cell phone chargers and backup battery. 10,000-20,000 mAh, USB-C PD in/out; keep it topped up quarterly.

Examples: Anker PowerCore 10K/20K, ~$25-50

Recommended by Ready.gov/FEMA, Wirecutter

Portable power station + folding solar panel

The ~1 kWh LiFePO4 class runs a fridge intermittently, CPAP, phones and lights through a short outage. Look for LiFePO4 chemistry (3,000+ cycles), fast AC recharge, UPS-style switchover, and solar input. Add a 100-200W folding panel for extended outages.

Examples: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 or EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus, ~$500-800; 100W folding panel, ~$150-250

Recommended by Wirecutter/OutdoorGearLab-class reviewer consensus

Communications

When cell networks and internet fail, one-way alert reception (NOAA) and two-way family radio are how you get warnings and coordinate.

NOAA weather radio (emergency crank radio)

NWS says look for the Public Alert (CTA-2009) and/or NWR All Hazards logo. Key specs: SAME county-level alerting to cut false alarms, 1050 Hz tone alert, multiple power sources (hand crank + solar + USB recharge + battery), flashlight and phone-charging out are bonuses.

Examples: Midland ER310 crank radio, ~$60-70; Midland WR120 desktop SAME radio, ~$30-35

Recommended by NWS/NOAA, Ready.gov/FEMA ('NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert'), CDC, Wirecutter (top pick: Midland ER310)

GMRS handheld radios (pair)

Family two-way comms when cell is down. GMRS needs a $35/10-yr FCC license (no test, covers whole family). Beginners: pre-programmed simple units; enthusiasts: repeater-capable programmable units. Ignore '36-mile' marketing range — real-world is 0.5-2 miles in terrain.

Examples: Midland GXT1000VP4 pair, ~$70-90; Wouxun KG-805G, ~$80-100 each

Recommended by Expert consensus (The Prepared, prepper community); FCC licensing rules

Ham handheld (optional upgrade)

Wider capability (repeaters, weather, scanning) but requires a Technician license exam. Cheap entry point for listening even unlicensed.

Examples: Baofeng UV-5R, ~$25-30; Yaesu FT-4XR, ~$70-90

Recommended by Prepper/amateur radio community consensus

Whistle + local paper maps + written contact card

All three are on the Ready.gov basic list: whistle to signal for help, local maps for when GPS is down, and an out-of-state contact card per family member.

Examples: Pealess safety whistle (Fox 40), ~$5-8; county/state paper map, ~$5-15

Recommended by Ready.gov/FEMA, Red Cross

Warmth & Shelter

Hypothermia is a leading killer in winter outages and post-disaster exposure; Ready.gov also specifies shelter-in-place materials for contaminated-air events.

Emergency blankets / bivvy (one per person)

Upgrade from tissue-thin mylar sheets to a reusable heat-reflective bivvy sack that won't shred. Keep one in every kit and vehicle.

Examples: SOL Emergency Bivvy, ~$17-20; SOL heavy-duty blanket, ~$8-10

Recommended by Red Cross, Ready.gov additional supplies; The Prepared

Indoor-safe propane heater

For heating during winter outages, only use a heater rated indoor-safe with low-oxygen shutoff and tip-over cutoff; crack a window; NEVER heat with a camp stove, oven, or outdoor propane gear (CO poisoning kills in every major winter outage). Store 1-lb cylinders or a hose+filter to a 20-lb tank.

Examples: Mr. Heater Portable Buddy, ~$70-90; Big Buddy, ~$120-150

Recommended by Expert consensus (Wirecutter, The Prepared); CDC CO-safety guidance

Sleeping bags + warm layers per person

Ready.gov lists sleeping bag or warm blanket per person plus a complete change of weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Wool/synthetic layers, not cotton.

Examples: Coleman 0-20F rated bag, ~$40-80; wool blanket, ~$25-50

Recommended by Ready.gov/FEMA, Red Cross

Plastic sheeting + duct tape (+ tarp)

Explicit Ready.gov shelter-in-place items: pre-cut 4-6 mil plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal a room; a tarp doubles for roof/window damage.

Examples: 4-6 mil plastic sheeting roll, ~$15-25; Gorilla/3M duct tape, ~$8-12

Hand warmers

Air-activated packets last 8-10 hrs and store ~4 years; cheap morale and frostbite insurance for kits and cars.

Examples: HotHands 40-pair box, ~$25-30

Recommended by Expert consensus

Tools & Utility Shutoff

Ready.gov's basic kit includes tools to turn off utilities, open cans, and make repairs — gas leaks after earthquakes and storms are a major fire cause.

Multi-tool

Full-size multi-tool with pliers, knife, screwdrivers, can opener. Listed by CDC ('multipurpose tool') and Red Cross.

Examples: Leatherman Wave+, ~$100-120; Gerber Suspension NXT, ~$30-40

Recommended by CDC, Red Cross

Gas/water shutoff wrench

Ready.gov lists 'wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.' A dedicated non-sparking 4-in-1 shutoff tool lives by the meter; know your valve locations before the disaster. Only the utility should turn gas back ON.

Examples: On-Duty/Trade 4-in-1 emergency gas & water shutoff tool, ~$10-15

Work gloves + pry bar

Red Cross lists work gloves; cut-resistant leather/synthetic gloves for debris handling, plus a small pry bar for jammed doors.

Examples: Mechanix Wear gloves, ~$15-25; Stanley Wonder Bar, ~$10-15

Recommended by Red Cross; expert consensus

N95 dust masks

Ready.gov basic kit lists dust masks to filter contaminated air (wildfire smoke, ash, debris dust). Buy NIOSH-approved N95s, several per person.

Examples: 3M 8210 / 8511 N95 (NIOSH), ~$1-2.50 each

Duct tape + fire starters

Red Cross calls out multi-tools, fire starters, and duct tape as versatile for shelter, signaling, and repair. Ferro rod or stormproof matches plus a lighter.

Examples: UCO Stormproof matches, ~$8-10; Bic lighters multipack, ~$5-8

Recommended by Red Cross

Sanitation & Hygiene

Disease outbreaks follow disasters when toilets and running water fail; sanitation supplies are on the Ready.gov basic list.

Moist towelettes, garbage bags & plastic ties

Verbatim Ready.gov basic-kit line 'for personal sanitation.' Heavy-duty contractor bags double for waste, water protection, and ponchos.

Examples: Contractor 3-mil bags, ~$15-20; wet wipes multipack, ~$10-15

Portable toilet + waste bags

Bucket-style toilet with snap-on seat plus double-lined gelling waste bags; the twin-bucket (separate liquids/solids) method extends supplies. Essential for earthquake country where sewer lines break.

Examples: Reliance Luggable Loo, ~$20-25; Reliance Double Doodie bags 6-pack, ~$15-20

Recommended by Expert consensus (The Prepared); local emergency management guidance

Soap, hand sanitizer & disinfecting wipes

CDC-listed for illness prevention when water is scarce; sanitizer 60%+ alcohol.

Examples: Pharmacy staples, ~$15-25 total

Recommended by CDC

Personal hygiene kit per person

Toothbrush/paste, feminine supplies, toilet paper, deodorant, contact solution — Ready.gov additional supplies list.

Examples: Travel-size assortment, ~$15-25/person

Recommended by Ready.gov/FEMA, Red Cross

Home Safety

Detection and suppression gear prevents the house fires and CO poisonings that spike during outages when people improvise heat and power.

Smoke alarms + carbon monoxide alarms

NFPA: alarms on every level, inside and outside sleeping areas; replace smoke units at 10 years, CO at 5-10. Look for 10-year sealed-battery models or battery backup on wired units; CO alarms are critical if you run any generator or propane heat.

Examples: First Alert SM500V smoke alarm, ~$40-50; Kidde Nighthawk plug-in CO alarm w/ battery backup, ~$25-40

Recommended by NFPA, CDC (CO guidance), Wirecutter picks

ABC fire extinguisher (per floor + kitchen)

Multipurpose dry-chemical rated at least 2-A:10-B:C, UL listed, metal valve preferred, mounted visibly near exits; check gauge yearly. Ready.gov lists a fire extinguisher in additional supplies.

Examples: First Alert PRO5 (5-lb), ~$50-60; First Alert HOME1 (2.5-lb), ~$20-35

Recommended by NFPA, Ready.gov/FEMA

Portable generator + CO safety plan (larger homes)

If buying a gas generator: run it 20+ ft from the house, never in garage; prefer models with built-in CO shutoff sensors. Inverter generators are quieter and safe for electronics. Battery power stations (see Light & Power) are the safe indoor alternative.

Examples: Honda EU2200i, ~$1,100-1,300; Champion 2500W dual-fuel inverter, ~$500-600

Recommended by CPSC/CDC CO guidance; Wirecutter

Fire escape ladder (2nd-story bedrooms)

13-ft ladder stored under the window it serves; practice deploying it.

Examples: First Alert EL52-2 two-story ladder, ~$35-50

Recommended by NFPA home fire-escape planning; expert consensus

Documents & Cash

Both Ready.gov and Red Cross list copies of critical documents and cash — ATMs, card readers, and records offices are all offline when power fails.

Waterproof/fireproof document storage

Copies of insurance policies, IDs, deeds, bank records, medical/prescription lists, pet vaccination records in a grab-and-go fireproof water-resistant bag or chest. Add scanned copies on an encrypted USB drive and in cloud storage.

Examples: SentrySafe 1200 fire chest, ~$25-40; fireproof document bag, ~$15-25

Recommended by Ready.gov/FEMA (family emergency plan), Red Cross

Cash in small bills

Red Cross: 'ATMs/credit cards may not work if the power is out.' Keep a few hundred dollars in small denominations ($1/$5/$20) plus a roll of quarters, split across kits.

Examples: N/A — cash; a small lockbox, ~$15-25

Recommended by Red Cross, Ready.gov/FEMA

Family emergency plan & contact cards

Written out-of-area contact, meeting places, and utility shutoff locations; wallet card per family member. Ready.gov provides free templates.

Examples: Free printable (Ready.gov); laminating pouches, ~$8-12

Recommended by Ready.gov/FEMA, Red Cross

Vehicle Kit

Ready.gov maintains a separate car-kit list because breakdowns, evacuations, and being stranded in weather are the most likely emergencies most people face.

Lithium jump starter

1,000A-class lithium jump starter handles most gas engines without a second vehicle; doubles as a USB power bank. Recharge every 3-6 months. Keep traditional jumper cables as backup.

Examples: NOCO Boost Plus GB40, ~$100-125; 20-ft 4-gauge cables, ~$25-35

Recommended by Wirecutter pick; Ready.gov car kit (jumper cables)

Roadside visibility & repair

Reflective triangles or LED flares (safer than burn flares), tire inflator/sealant, basic tools, ice scraper, and sand/cat litter for traction in winter.

Examples: LED road flare 3-pack, ~$20-30; portable tire inflator, ~$30-50

Car survival cache

Water bottles, calorie-dense bars, blanket/bivvy, first aid kit, flashlight, phone charger, seasonal clothing — a mini version of the home kit that lives in the trunk year-round (swap water in extreme heat).

Examples: Self-assembled, ~$50-100; or prebuilt AAA 76-piece kit, ~$35-50

Recommended by Ready.gov/FEMA, Red Cross

Seatbelt cutter / window breaker

Mounted within driver's reach (door pocket, not glovebox). Spring-loaded punch types work on tempered side windows; note many newer cars use laminated side glass — check yours.

Examples: Resqme keychain tool, ~$10-15

Recommended by Expert consensus (AAA, Wirecutter)

Special Needs: Infants, Pets & Medications

Ready.gov's 'additional supplies' and Red Cross pet guidance exist because generic kits fail the household members with the least margin — babies, animals, and anyone dependent on daily medication.

Prescription medications & medical equipment backup

CDC: at least a 7-day supply of prescriptions (The Prepared suggests 30 where possible), copies of prescriptions and dosages, spare glasses/contacts, hearing-aid batteries; a battery plan for CPAP/oxygen/powered medical devices (pairs with the power-station item).

Examples: Pill organizer + insulated med bag, ~$15-30

Recommended by CDC, Ready.gov/FEMA

Infant supplies

Ready.gov additional supplies: formula (ready-to-feed avoids water needs), bottles, diapers, wipes, diaper-rash cream — sized to 2 weeks and rotated as the child grows.

Examples: Ready-to-feed formula case, ~$40-60; diaper/wipe stock, ~$30-50

Pet emergency kit

Red Cross pet list: 2-week food and water, medications, leash/collar with ID, carrier per pet, waste bags/litter, vaccination records and a photo of you with your pet for reunification.

Examples: Collapsible bowls + carrier, ~$30-60; prebuilt pet kit, ~$40-70

Recommended by Red Cross, Ready.gov (pets page)

Comfort & morale items

Ready.gov lists books, games, puzzles for children; add earplugs, comfort foods — low cost, high value in shelters and long outages.

Examples: Deck of cards/travel games, ~$10-20

Recommended by Ready.gov/FEMA, Red Cross

Two safety notes that outrank any deal

Buy tourniquets only from authorized dealers (e.g. North American Rescue directly) — marketplace counterfeits look identical and fail under load.
Never run stoves, grills, generators, or outdoor propane gear indoors. Carbon monoxide is the top post-disaster killer; pair any combustion gear with a CO alarm.