🔦 Emergency preparedness

Bottled water

Amazon Grocery (Happy Belly) purified water, 24 × 16.9 oz

A case of 24 half-liter bottles, about 3.2 gallons.

Good for: Drinking water

3 bottles per person per day

Our rule: about three 16.9 oz bottles per person per day out and about.

Water storage container

Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-gallon water container

A 7-gallon jug with a spigot for storing your own tap water.

Good for: Water at home

2 containers for the group

Empty until you fill it. Two 7-gallon containers hold 14 gallons of tap water; refill every 6 months.

Water purification tablets

Aquatabs 49 mg water purification tablets, 30-pack

Chlorine tablets for clear water you aren't sure of. Not for fuel or chemicals.

Good for: Backup treatment

1 pack for the group

CDC lists tablets and bleach for making water safe. Follow the label.

Personal water filter

LifeStraw personal water filter

A light straw filter for a go-bag or a hike.

Good for: Go-bags and hiking

Our rule: one backup filter per four people. Check what a filter removes before relying on it.

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.

1 gallon per person per day

Amazon search: “gallon drinking water”

Unscented household bleach

For cleaning, and for making water safe using CDC's amounts.

1 bottle for the group

Amazon search: “unscented bleach”

Collapsible water containers

2 containers for the group

Amazon search: “collapsible water container”

Canned soups and stews

Campbell's Chunky chicken and dumplings soup, 12 × 18.8 oz

Ready-to-serve cans: no water to add, better heated.

Good for: Canned meals

Our rule: half a can per person per day.

Peanut butter

Jif creamy peanut butter, 40 oz jar

A big jar of a pantry staple. No cooking.

Good for: Pantry

Our rule: one jar per person every two weeks.

Canned tuna or chicken

StarKist chunk light tuna in water, 12 × 5 oz

Small cans of protein, ready to eat.

Good for: Proteins

Canned vegetables

Del Monte green beans and corn, 6 cans

Ready-to-eat vegetables in a mixed pack.

Good for: Vegetables

3-day emergency food supply

Datrex 3600 emergency food bars (3-day ration)

A sealed 3-day ration of food bars. No cooking, no water to mix.

Good for: Go-bag, car or a short outage

1 kit each

A backup ration, not a full diet. Check the calories on the label.

Freeze-dried meals

Mountain House Classic meal bucket

12 pouches of freeze-dried meals. Add water.

Good for: Pantry backup

1 pouch per person per day

Our rule: one pouch per person per day as a backup meal.

Manual can opener

Mebotem heavy-duty manual can opener

Big handles and an easy-turn knob. No power needed.

Good for: Every pantry

1 can opener for the group

Ready.gov puts one in the basic kit.

Lighter or matches

UCO Stormproof match kit

Matches that light in wind and rain, in a waterproof case that floats.

Good for: Camp and outages

2 lighters for the group

Keep them dry. Ready.gov lists waterproof matches.

Camp stove

Coleman Classic 2-burner propane stove

Two burners on standard 16-ounce propane cylinders. Outdoors only.

Good for: Camping

1 stove for the group

Use outdoors only. Never cook with fuel indoors.

Food thermometer

ThermoPro TP19 instant-read thermometer

A fast thermometer for meat and leftovers.

Good for: Holiday cooking

1 thermometer for the group

Fridge and freezer thermometers

Rubbermaid Commercial fridge and freezer thermometer (FGR80GC)

A dial thermometer for the fridge or freezer, so you know what's safe after an outage.

Good for: Outages

2 thermometers for the group

Ready.gov: check food temperatures after an outage.

Propane canisters

2 canisters for the group

Amazon search: “1 lb propane cylinder”

Flashlights

GearLight S1000 rechargeable flashlights, 2-pack

Bright flashlights that charge by USB-C, so a power bank keeps them going.

Good for: Outages

1 flashlight each

One per person, so nobody is left in the dark.

Batteries

Amazon Basics AA batteries, 48-pack

A big pack of AAs for lights and radios.

Good for: Restocking

4 batteries each

Check sizes for your lights and radio.

Headlamps

Energizer LED Headlamp PRO, 2-pack

Light where you look, and batteries included.

Good for: Outages and camping

1 headlamp each

Lantern

Etekcity CL10 LED lanterns, 4-pack

Four battery lanterns for shared rooms. Batteries included.

Good for: Outages

2 lanterns for the group

Rechargeable AA batteries

Panasonic eneloop AA, 8-pack with charger

Rechargeable AAs and a charger. They hold a charge in storage.

Good for: Everyday use

8 batteries for the group

AAA batteries

Amazon Basics AAA batteries, 36-pack

AAAs for headlamps, remotes and small lights.

Good for: Restocking

8 batteries for the group

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

1 kit for the group

Masks

3M 8210 N95 masks, 20-pack

NIOSH-approved N95 masks for dust and smoke.

Good for: Smoke and cleanup

2 masks each

Ready.gov lists masks to filter contaminated air. EPA says a well-fitted N95 can reduce wildfire smoke; kids need their own sizes.

Thermometer

Braun digital thermometer (PRT2100US)

A fast digital thermometer for mouth, armpit or rectal use.

Good for: Sick days

1 thermometer for the group

Elastic bandage wraps

ACE 3-inch elastic bandages with hook closure, 2-pack

Wraps for a sprained ankle, knee or wrist. They close with hook-and-loop, no clips.

Good for: Sports and hiking

2 wraps for the group

Antibiotic ointment

Neosporin Original antibiotic ointment, 1 oz

A first aid ointment for minor cuts, scrapes and burns.

Good for: First aid kit

1 tube for the group

Disposable gloves for first aid

MED PRIDE nitrile exam gloves, 100-count

Nitrile gloves with no latex, for first aid and care. Choose your size on the page.

Good for: First aid and caregiving

1 box for the group

Hand sanitizer

Purell Advanced hand sanitizer gel, 8 oz pumps, 4-pack

A 70% alcohol gel in pump bottles for the kitchen, car and bag.

Good for: Cold and flu season

2 bottles for the group

Toothbrushes

Spares for guests who forget theirs.

1 toothbrush each

Toothpaste

Our rule: a tube lasts one person about 7 weeks.

Hand soap

Feminine hygiene supplies

Ready.gov lists feminine supplies.

1 box per adult

Amazon search: “pads tampons”

Contact lens supplies or spare glasses

Ready.gov lists glasses and contact lens solution.

1 set for the group

Amazon search: “contact lens case travel”

Toilet paper

Charmin Ultra Strong toilet paper, 18 Family Mega rolls

A big pack of large rolls, so you restock less often.

Good for: Restocking

Our rule: about 3 rolls per person per week.

Trash bags

Hefty Strong 30-gallon drawstring trash bags, 74 count

Big drawstring bags for trash, cleanup and sanitation when water is out.

Good for: Home, camp and cleanup

Our rule: half a bag per person per day; at least one per day.

Wet wipes

Wet Ones antibacterial hand wipes, 40-count canisters, 6-pack

Hand wipes in a click-top canister, for when there's no water to wash.

Good for: Car, bag and kit

5 wipes per person per day

Ready.gov lists moist towelettes.

Facial tissues

Kleenex Ultra Soft tissues, 8 cube boxes

Soft 3-ply tissues, one box for each room.

Good for: Cold and flu season

Zip-top bags

Keep papers and phones dry.

1 box for the group

Amazon search: “gallon zipper bags”

Large trash bags (30 gallon or more)

20 bags for the group

Amazon search: “30 gallon trash bags”

Contractor bags

For heavy, wet or sharp debris.

20 bags for the group

Amazon search: “contractor trash bags”

Portable toilet bags

For when toilets cannot flush. Ready.gov lists garbage bags and ties for sanitation.

1 bag per person per day

Amazon search: “portable toilet waste bags”

Disinfecting wipes

Clorox disinfecting wipes, 3 x 75

Three canisters of disinfecting wipes.

Good for: Cold and flu season

1 canister for the group

Rubber gloves

1 box for the group

Amazon search: “disposable gloves”

Mop and bucket

1 set for the group

Amazon search: “mop and bucket set”

Heavy-duty work gloves

For cleanup after storms and floods.

1 pair per adult

Amazon search: “work gloves”

Mold and mildew cleaner

Follow the label and the CDC's mold cleanup advice.

2 bottles for the group

Weather radio

Midland ER310 hand-crank NOAA weather radio

Weather alerts, plus hand-crank and solar charging.

Good for: Every home kit

1 radio for the group

Ready.gov lists a battery-powered or hand-crank radio with NOAA alerts.

Printed contact list

Phone numbers on paper, plus parents' numbers for a sleepover.

1 list for the group

Amazon search: “waterproof id card holder”

Smoke and CO alarm

First Alert battery smoke and CO combo alarm (SMCO100)

One battery alarm for smoke and carbon monoxide.

Good for: Bedrooms and hallways

1 alarm for the group

Test monthly. Add one per floor and outside sleeping areas.

Carbon monoxide alarm

First Alert CO605 plug-in CO alarms, 3-pack

Plug-in CO alarms with battery backup, one for each level.

Good for: Every floor

2 alarms for the group

Put one on each floor and near sleeping areas. Ready.gov warns about CO from generators and heaters.

Fire extinguisher

First Alert HOME1 fire extinguisher

A rechargeable home extinguisher rated 1-A:10-B:C.

Good for: Kitchen and garage

1 extinguisher for the group

Fire blanket

A top-converting item in Amazon's emergency preparedness searches.

1 blanket for the group

Amazon search: “fire blanket for kitchen”

Emergency blankets

Swiss Safe mylar emergency blankets, 4-pack

Light foil blankets for the car and go-bags.

Good for: Car and go-bag

1 blanket each

Rain ponchos

Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2 poncho

A light, reusable poncho with a hood that packs into its own sack.

Good for: Games, camping and kits

1 poncho each

Tarp

Kotap 8 x 10 ft heavy-duty tarp (TRS-0810)

A thick waterproof tarp with grommets, for a roof leak, a broken window or camp.

Good for: Storms and camping

1 tarp for the group

Sleeping bags

Coleman Brazos 20°F sleeping bag

A machine-washable bag rated to 20°F.

Good for: Spring and fall camping

1 sleeping bag each

Check the temperature rating for your nights.

Extra blankets

Bedsure GentleSoft fleece throw, 50 x 60 in

A light, warm fleece throw that's easy to wash.

Good for: Guests and cold nights

1 blanket each

Warm layers

Ready.gov lists a change of clothes and warm layers.

1 layer each

Amazon search: “fleece jacket”

Gloves or mittens

1 pair each

Amazon search: “winter gloves”

Winter hats

1 hat each

Amazon search: “winter beanie”

Thermal base layers

1 set each

Amazon search: “thermal underwear set”

Waterproof bin for documents

1 bin for the group

Amazon search: “waterproof storage box”

Air purifier

EPA says a HEPA purifier sized for the room can lower indoor smoke.

1 purifier for the group

Amazon search: “hepa air purifier”

Replacement HEPA filters

2 filters for the group

Amazon search: “hepa replacement filter”

Furnace filters (MERV 13)

2 filters for the group

Amazon search: “merv 13 furnace filter”

Adjustable wrench

Ready.gov lists a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.

1 wrench for the group

Folding shovel

1 shovel for the group

Dust masks

2 masks per adult

Whistle

Fox 40 Classic whistle with breakaway lanyard

A loud pealess whistle on a breakaway cord.

Good for: Go-bags and kids

1 whistle each

Ready.gov lists a whistle to signal for help.

Multi-tool

Gerber Suspension NXT multi-tool

Pliers, a knife and drivers in one pocket tool.

Good for: Go-bag and car

1 multi-tool for the group

Ready.gov lists a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.

Duct tape

Gorilla Tape, black, 2-pack

Thick, strong tape for quick repairs and sealing plastic.

Good for: Kits and repairs

1 roll for the group

Ready.gov lists plastic sheeting and duct tape.

Seatbelt cutter and window breaker

resqme car escape tool

A keychain seatbelt cutter and side-window breaker. Not for windshields.

Good for: Every car

1 tool for the group

Car emergency kit

First Secure car emergency kit

Jumper cables, an air compressor and first aid in one bag.

Good for: Trunk

1 kit for the group

Go-bag

Red Cross: a 3-day supply to take with you.

1 bag each

Amazon search: “emergency backpack”

Baby food and formula

One day's supply per baby per day. Use what your baby already eats.

1 day's supply per baby per day

Amazon search: “baby formula”

Diaper cream

Desitin Maximum Strength diaper rash paste, 4.8 oz

A thick 40% zinc oxide paste for diaper rash.

Good for: Diaper changes

1 tube per baby

Bottles

4 bottles per baby

Amazon search: “baby bottles”

Baby emergency kit

Diapers, formula, bottles, clothes and medicine for a few days.

1 kit per baby

Amazon search: “diaper bag organizer”

Pet water

Our rule: half a gallon per pet per day; big dogs drink more.

Amazon search: “pet water bowl”

Pet food

One day's portion per pet per day. Ready.gov says to plan food and water for pets too.

1 day's portion per pet per day

Amazon search: “dog food”

Canned pet food

Leash and ID tag

GoTags engraved stainless steel pet ID tag

A steel ID tag engraved with your phone number. The leash is separate.

Good for: Every dog and cat

1 set per pet

Ready.gov: keep ID and a current photo of your pet.

Pet carrier or crate

1 carrier per pet

Poop bags

Earth Rated poop bags, 315 unscented

Refill rolls of unscented bags.

Good for: Every walk

3 bags per pet per day

Spare mobility device batteries

Ask the supplier which spare fits.

Amount varies

Amazon search: “power wheelchair battery charger”

Shelf-stable milk

Horizon Organic shelf-stable whole milk, 12 × 8 oz

Milk boxes that need no fridge until opened.

Good for: Kids and cereal

1 8-oz box per person per day

No fridge until opened.

5-gallon water jug

Shows up often in Amazon searches next to emergency prep.

2 jugs for the group

Amazon search: “5 gallon water jug”

Paper plates

Dixie Ultra 10-inch paper plates, 176 count

Sturdy dinner-size plates that hold heavy, messy food.

Good for: Parties and cookouts

1.5 plates per person per meal

Our rule: one and a half per person per meal; people grab seconds.

Cups

SOLO 18 oz red party cups, 200 count

The classic red cups, with a squared base that's easy to hold.

Good for: Parties and cookouts

2 cups per person per meal

Plastic utensils

Dixie Ultra-Strong cutlery combo, 108 pieces

36 forks, 36 knives and 36 spoons in one box.

Good for: Parties and cookouts

1.5 sets per person per meal

Card games

UNO card game

A quick card game for 2 to 10 players, ages 7 and up. No batteries.

Good for: Outages, trips and sleepovers

2 decks for the group

Ready.gov suggests activities for kids in a kit.

Coloring books and crayons

1 set per kid