Independent guide. Follow local emergency alerts and evacuation orders.
If your kit is not ready, close the highest-risk gaps first. These categories are useful, understandable, and easy to act on before stores get crowded.
When you buy through our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission that helps us keep serving our community. Thank you for your continued support.
Water
EssentialA reusable container for storing drinking water before a storm interrupts service.
Includes: One empty 7-gallon container with a dispensing spigot.
Best for: Households with space to fill and store water before a storm.
Compare: Plan enough water for everyone in your household. A full container is heavy, so choose a storage spot before filling it.
Bottled water you already have counts toward your supply too.
Food
EssentialFully cooked lentils in a mild tomato sauce can be eaten straight from the pouch when you cannot cook.
Includes: Six 10-ounce pouches.
Best for: Adding a no-cook food option that needs no extra water.
Compare: Contains milk. Check the current label for allergens, calories, and the best-before date.
Add familiar foods your household enjoys. Six pouches are one part of a food plan, not a complete household kit.
Communication
EssentialA battery or hand-crank NOAA weather radio helps you receive official weather alerts.
Includes: One radio with a rechargeable battery and Micro-USB charging cable.
Best for: A separate source of weather alerts if phone service fails.
Compare: Charge it before the storm and check local weather-channel reception. Its six AA backup batteries and wall adapter are sold separately.
Phone alerts are useful, but batteries and cell networks can fail.
Lighting
EssentialA 400-lumen headlamp keeps your hands free while moving around during an outage.
Includes: One graphite headlamp and three AAA batteries.
Best for: Hands-free light for one person during a power outage.
Compare: Store spare AAA batteries with it. The optional BD 1500 rechargeable battery is sold separately.
Phone flashlights drain the device you may need for calls and alerts.
Power
EssentialA compact 10,000mAh battery bank provides backup charging for phones and other small USB devices.
Includes: One black Anker Zolo power bank, model A1688, with a built-in USB-C cable, one USB-C port, and one USB-A port.
Best for: Portable phone charging without a larger power station.
Compare: Charge it before the storm. The built-in cable fits USB-C devices. Bring a separate cable for a Lightning phone. Charging speed depends on your device and cable.
A working power bank you already own may cover this need. This one does not power household appliances.
First aid
EssentialA soft-case first aid kit keeps basic wound-care supplies together at home or in an evacuation bag.
Includes: One all-purpose soft-case kit, model FAO-442.
Best for: Households that need a basic kit rather than individual refills.
Compare: Add prescriptions and household-specific medical supplies separately.
Check your existing kit first. Replacing missing or expired supplies may be all you need.
| Best for | Product | Why it matters | Watch out for | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Water Households with space to fill and store water before a storm. Essential | Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Water Container | A reusable container for storing drinking water before a storm interrupts service. Includes: One empty 7-gallon container with a dispensing spigot. | Compare: Plan enough water for everyone in your household. A full container is heavy, so choose a storage spot before filling it. Bottled water you already have counts toward your supply too. | View product on Amazon |
Food Adding a no-cook food option that needs no extra water. Essential | Tasty Bite Organic Madras Lentils (6 Pack) | Fully cooked lentils in a mild tomato sauce can be eaten straight from the pouch when you cannot cook. Includes: Six 10-ounce pouches. | Compare: Contains milk. Check the current label for allergens, calories, and the best-before date. Add familiar foods your household enjoys. Six pouches are one part of a food plan, not a complete household kit. | View product on Amazon |
Communication A separate source of weather alerts if phone service fails. Essential | Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather Radio | A battery or hand-crank NOAA weather radio helps you receive official weather alerts. Includes: One radio with a rechargeable battery and Micro-USB charging cable. | Compare: Charge it before the storm and check local weather-channel reception. Its six AA backup batteries and wall adapter are sold separately. Phone alerts are useful, but batteries and cell networks can fail. | View product on Amazon |
Lighting Hands-free light for one person during a power outage. Essential | Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp (Graphite) | A 400-lumen headlamp keeps your hands free while moving around during an outage. Includes: One graphite headlamp and three AAA batteries. | Compare: Store spare AAA batteries with it. The optional BD 1500 rechargeable battery is sold separately. Phone flashlights drain the device you may need for calls and alerts. | View product on Amazon |
Power Portable phone charging without a larger power station. Essential | Anker Zolo Power Bank (10,000mAh, 30W) | A compact 10,000mAh battery bank provides backup charging for phones and other small USB devices. Includes: One black Anker Zolo power bank, model A1688, with a built-in USB-C cable, one USB-C port, and one USB-A port. | Compare: Charge it before the storm. The built-in cable fits USB-C devices. Bring a separate cable for a Lightning phone. Charging speed depends on your device and cable. A working power bank you already own may cover this need. This one does not power household appliances. | View product on Amazon |
First aid Households that need a basic kit rather than individual refills. Essential | First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit (FAO-442) | A soft-case first aid kit keeps basic wound-care supplies together at home or in an evacuation bag. Includes: One all-purpose soft-case kit, model FAO-442. | Compare: Add prescriptions and household-specific medical supplies separately. Check your existing kit first. Replacing missing or expired supplies may be all you need. | View product on Amazon |
Compare product pages and search options on Amazon. These products have not been independently tested by this site. Check the model, quantity, seller, and household fit before buying.
When you buy through our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission that helps us keep serving our community. Thank you for your continued support.
Water
ImportantA compact personal water filter for evacuation bags, camping supplies, and backup water planning.
Includes: One blue personal water filter.
Compare: Read the exact filter's limits. It does not remove viruses, salt, or chemical contamination. Never rely on it to make floodwater safe.
This does not replace stored water. It supports it.
Food
EssentialA manual opener lets you use canned food when the power is out.
Includes: One black manual can opener with a bottle opener.
Compare: Check that you can comfortably turn the handle and open the cans in your kit.
If you already have a working manual opener, keep it accessible with your kit supplies.
Lighting
ImportantLanterns light a room more safely than candles and make long power outages easier.
Includes: Four gray lanterns. Batteries are not included.
Compare: Each lantern needs three AA batteries. Set aside 12 AA batteries to power all four, plus any spares you need.
Candles add fire risk. Battery lighting is safer for most homes.
Power
ImportantA rechargeable power station can keep phones, radios, and small essentials charged.
Compare: Compare watt-hours, output ports, recharge options, and medical-device needs.
Use this rechargeable battery station as directed. Check its capacity against the devices you plan to run.
Power
ImportantA rechargeable power-station option for comparing backup battery capacity and charging features.
Includes: One 1,024Wh DELTA 3 station with 1,800W rated AC output and an AC charging cable. Solar panels and an extra battery are separate.
Compare: Compare watt-hours, AC output, USB-C output, solar input, recharge speed, and warranty.
Match battery capacity to the devices you need and how long you expect to run them.
Solar generator
ImportantA portable power station bundled with solar panels can recharge small-device backup power when grid power is out and sunlight is available.
Includes: One Explorer 1000 v2 station and one SolarSaga 200W panel. The station and panel may ship separately.
Compare: Compare watt-hours, AC output, solar input watts, panel compatibility, recharge time, and battery chemistry.
Solar generators are limited by battery size, cloudy weather, panel placement, and recharge speed.
| Best for | Product | Why it matters | Watch out for | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Water Important | LifeStraw Personal Water Filter | A compact personal water filter for evacuation bags, camping supplies, and backup water planning. Includes: One blue personal water filter. | Compare: Read the exact filter's limits. It does not remove viruses, salt, or chemical contamination. Never rely on it to make floodwater safe. This does not replace stored water. It supports it. | View product on Amazon |
Food Essential | KitchenAid Classic Manual Can Opener | A manual opener lets you use canned food when the power is out. Includes: One black manual can opener with a bottle opener. | Compare: Check that you can comfortably turn the handle and open the cans in your kit. If you already have a working manual opener, keep it accessible with your kit supplies. | View product on Amazon |
Lighting Important | Lichamp LED Camping Lantern 4 Pack | Lanterns light a room more safely than candles and make long power outages easier. Includes: Four gray lanterns. Batteries are not included. | Compare: Each lantern needs three AA batteries. Set aside 12 AA batteries to power all four, plus any spares you need. Candles add fire risk. Battery lighting is safer for most homes. | View product on Amazon |
Power Important | Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station | A rechargeable power station can keep phones, radios, and small essentials charged. | Compare: Compare watt-hours, output ports, recharge options, and medical-device needs. Use this rechargeable battery station as directed. Check its capacity against the devices you plan to run. | View product on Amazon |
Power Important | EcoFlow DELTA 3 Portable Power Station | A rechargeable power-station option for comparing backup battery capacity and charging features. Includes: One 1,024Wh DELTA 3 station with 1,800W rated AC output and an AC charging cable. Solar panels and an extra battery are separate. | Compare: Compare watt-hours, AC output, USB-C output, solar input, recharge speed, and warranty. Match battery capacity to the devices you need and how long you expect to run them. | View product on Amazon |
Solar generator Important | Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 With 200W Solar Panel | A portable power station bundled with solar panels can recharge small-device backup power when grid power is out and sunlight is available. Includes: One Explorer 1000 v2 station and one SolarSaga 200W panel. The station and panel may ship separately. | Compare: Compare watt-hours, AC output, solar input watts, panel compatibility, recharge time, and battery chemistry. Solar generators are limited by battery size, cloudy weather, panel placement, and recharge speed. | View product on Amazon |
