Tornado kit
Keep these in or near your shelter spot: a weather radio, light, water, first aid and copies of your papers.
Amounts below are for 4 people. They are planning estimates; change any of them on your list.
Saves the 9 must-haves, 4 easy-to-forget items and 5 things to do to a list on this device. Upgrades are up to you. Then shop the list item by item and tick things off.
At a glance
- 🛒 Weather radio1 radio
- 🛒 Flashlights4 flashlights
- 🛒 Headlamps4 headlamps
- 🛒 Batteries16 batteries
- 🛒 Whistle4 whistles
- 🔎 Drinking and cleaning water12 gallons
- 🛒 First aid kit1 kit
- 🛒 Power bank4 power banks
- 🛒 Document bag1 bag
🛒 8 exact products we picked · 🔎 1 Amazon searches, so you choose the brand and size.
Must-haves (9)
- Must-haveOur pick
Weather radio
Midland ER310 hand-crank NOAA weather radio
Weather alerts, plus hand-crank and solar charging.
Good for: Every home kit
Get about 1 radio
1 radio for the group
Ready.gov lists a battery-powered or hand-crank radio with NOAA alerts.
- Upgrade: Midland ER310PRO weather radio ↗The newer ER310 with a bigger battery and Bluetooth.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Must-haveOur pick
Flashlights
GearLight S1000 rechargeable flashlights, 2-pack
Bright flashlights that charge by USB-C, so a power bank keeps them going.
Good for: Outages
Get about 4 flashlights
4 people × 1 = 4 flashlights
One per person, so nobody is left in the dark.
- Budget pick: GearLight S1000 flashlights, 2-pack (AAA) ↗The same light on AAA batteries, sold without batteries.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Headlamps
Energizer LED Headlamp PRO, 2-pack
Light where you look, and batteries included.
Good for: Outages and camping
Get about 4 headlamps (2 × 2-pack)
4 people × 1 = 4 headlamps
- Upgrade: Black Diamond Spot 400 headlamp ↗Brighter and waterproof, from an outdoor brand.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Must-haveOur pick
Batteries
Amazon Basics AA batteries, 48-pack
A big pack of AAs for lights and radios.
Good for: Restocking
Get about 16 batteries
4 people × 4 = 16 batteries
Check sizes for your lights and radio.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Whistle
Fox 40 Classic whistle with breakaway lanyard
A loud pealess whistle on a breakaway cord.
Good for: Go-bags and kids
Get about 4 whistles
4 people × 1 = 4 whistles
Ready.gov lists a whistle to signal for help.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Must-have
Drinking and cleaning water
1 gallon per person per day is the Red Cross and Ready.gov amount. Hot weather, nursing and illness can need more.
Get about 12 gallons
4 people × 3 days × 1 = 12 gallons · official amount
Amazon search: “gallon drinking water”
- Must-haveOur pick
First aid kit
First Aid Only 298-piece all-purpose kit
A stocked kit to start from. Add your own medicines.
Good for: Home and car
Get about 1 kit
1 kit for the group
- Upgrade: Surviveware comprehensive first aid kit ↗A bigger, organized kit in a tough bag.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Power bank
Anker PowerCore Slim 10,000mAh power bank
Pocket-size backup charging for a phone.
Good for: Everyday bag
Get about 4 power banks
4 adults × 1 = 4 power banks
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
- Our pick
Document bag
Flypal fireproof document bag with lock, XL
Keeps IDs and papers together, ready to grab.
Good for: Go-bag
Get about 1 bag
1 bag for the group
Copies of IDs, insurance and medical papers.
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Easy to forget (4)
- Must-have
Prescription medicines
Red Cross: a 7-day supply. Ask your prescriber or pharmacy what is possible.
Get about 4 one-week supplies
4 people × 1 = 4 one-week supplies · official amount
Amazon search: “weekly pill organizer”
Spare keys
Get about 1 set
1 set for the group
Amazon search: “key organizer”
Cash in small bills
Ready.gov: card readers and ATMs may be down.
Get about 1 envelope
1 envelope for the group
Amazon search: “cash envelope wallet”
Heavy-duty work gloves
For cleanup after storms and floods.
Get about 4 pairs
4 adults × 1 = 4 pairs
Amazon search: “work gloves”
Upgrades (3)
- Our pick
Large power bank (20,000 mAh)
Anker 20,000mAh power bank
Twice a pocket bank's capacity, with three ports.
Good for: Outages and family trips
Get about 2 power banks
4 adults × 0.5 = 2 power banks
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Two-way radios
Handy where phones have no signal.
Get about 2 radios
2 radios for the group
Amazon search: “two way radios”
- Our pick
Fireproof safe
SentrySafe SFW123GDC fireproof, waterproof safe
A 1.2 cubic foot home safe for papers and small valuables.
Good for: Home
Get about 1 safe
1 safe for the group
Product link checked Oct 30, 2026
Things to do (5)
- ✅ Pick your tornado shelter spotReady.gov: a small, interior, windowless room or basement on the lowest level. Walk everyone there once.
- ✅ Sign up for local alertsSearch your county's name and "emergency alerts". Turn on wireless emergency alerts on phones.
- ✅ Make a family emergency planReady.gov: decide how you'll get alerts, where you'll meet and how you'll reach each other.
- ✅ Pick two meeting placesOne near home, one outside the neighborhood.
- ✅ Store copies of key documentsIDs, insurance, deeds, medical and pet records.
Official guide: Ready.gov: Tornadoes ↗
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General planning information, not professional or medical advice. A list does not guarantee anyone’s safety. In any emergency, call your local emergency number and follow official guidance from local authorities.
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