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Build a household kit around several days of water and non-perishable food, then add first-aid, communications, lighting, charging, sanitation, and household-specific supplies. For floods, heat waves, and outages, the kit is only one part of preparation: know how you will receive local alerts, where you will go if told to evacuate, and how you will handle medical and cooling needs.
What should I put in an emergency kit?
FEMA describes its checklist as a starting point, not a one-size-fits-all package. Keep a full kit at home and consider smaller portable kits for places such as work or a vehicle. Tailor the supplies to the people and pets in your household.
FEMA’s emergency supply kit checklist includes:
- Water and non-perishable food for several days.
- A battery-powered or hand-crank radio that receives NOAA Weather Radio tone alerts, with extra batteries.
- A flashlight and extra batteries.
- An extra cell-phone battery or charger.
- A first-aid kit and a whistle.
- A dust mask, plastic sheeting, and duct tape.
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation.
- A non-sparking wrench or pliers to turn off utilities if instructed by authorities.
- A manual can opener if your stored food requires one, and local maps.
Keep the radio, flashlight, and phone-charging equipment usable without household power. Check batteries periodically and make sure everyone knows where the supplies are.
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FEMA’s current checklist recommends water and food for several days but does not give a specific gallon amount in that checklist. An older FEMA basic-supplies checklist gives a benchmark of one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days. That figure is an older general recommendation, not a heat-specific quantity or a guarantee that it will meet every household’s needs. Follow current local health and emergency-management guidance, and account for household medical needs, pets, and the conditions where you live.
#1 Best Overall
- 72 HOUR EMERGENCY KIT FOR 2 PEOPLE WITH FOOD AND WATER: Includes 2 emergency food bars totaling 4800 calories and 12 sealed drinking water pouches to support hydration and energy during disasters. Designed for emergency preparedness, survival kits, earthquake kits, and evacuation planning.
- COMPLETE DISASTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH SHELTER AND WARMTH: Equipped with 2 emergency ponchos and 2 survival blankets to help protect against rain, wind, and cold conditions. Critical gear for outdoor emergencies, power outages, and shelter in place situations.
- FIRST AID KIT AND SAFETY PROTECTION SUPPLIES: Features a 33 piece first aid kit, dust masks, and nitrile gloves to support basic medical care and protection from debris and airborne particles. Essential for emergency response, injury care, and disaster safety.
- EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND SIGNALING TOOLS INCLUDED: Comes with 2 long lasting 12 hour lightsticks and a safety whistle for visibility and communication in low light or rescue situations. Ideal for blackout emergencies, nighttime evacuation, and search scenarios.
- COMPACT BACKPACK FOR GRAB AND GO EVACUATION: Lightweight emergency backpack keeps all survival supplies organized and ready for fast response. Perfect for home emergency kits, car emergency kits, office preparedness, and bug out bags.
Choose non-perishable food your household will eat and can prepare with the equipment you have available. Include a can opener when needed, and consider any special dietary requirements.
How do I adapt a kit for a flood?
Keep supplies ready to take with you if you need to evacuate, and plan how your household will receive emergency instructions. FEMA recommends monitoring the Emergency Alert System (EAS), NOAA Weather Radio, and local alert systems. Follow official directions and leave when instructed.
- Store important papers in a waterproof container or waterproof document pouch, and keep password-protected digital copies as well. A pouch protects papers from some exposure; it does not make a person safe in floodwater.
- Include household medicines, medical supplies, pet food, and pet supplies as appropriate.
- Keep extra batteries and phone-charging options available so you can receive alerts and stay in contact.
- Know where you would go and how you would get there if local officials order an evacuation.
Never walk, swim, or drive through floodwater. FEMA’s Be Prepared for a Flood information sheet warns: “Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.” Floodwater may also be contaminated or electrically charged by downed power lines.
Rank #2
- [Preparedness for the Unknown]: While no one can predict when or how severe a disaster or unexpected event will be, our 262pcs survival kit helps your family stay prepared during the critical first 72 hours. Designed for family use, it was developed in collaboration with survival experts, outdoor professionals, special forces operators, and mountain guides. Whether you're preparing for earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires, or hurricanes, our survival kit provides peace of mind.
- [Comprehensive Emergency Supply Kit]: The included emergency supplies are stored in a bright red pouch, containing tweezers, scissors and pins, non-woven pad, triangular cotton cloth, cotton swabs, cotton balls, a generous supply of adhesive strips etc., meeting your general emergency and outdoor needs. It also includes an emergency information card to record your basic information, helping others quickly access important information when needed.
- [Safety Companion for Journey]: Our emergency kit includes many survival gear and supplies to ensure access to food, water, warmth, and light in a crisis. The fishing kit and multi-usage spoon help you catch and prepare food, while the collapsible water container bag helps store water. Fire starter and stick make it easy to build a fire. A flashlight, camping lamp, and glow sticks provide up to 72 hours of lighting, crucial for signaling for help and safe navigation.
- [Essential Survival Gear]: Additionally, this survival kit includes a detachable multifunctional axe with hammer and a 2-in-1 shovel with pick, made of sturdy carbon steel. Combined with wire saw, emergency tent and blanket, rope, and compass, you can quickly set up an emergency shelter while helping retain warmth. Unlike other mini axes, our axe and shovel are 17 inches long, providing effective protection in the wild against animals or in other emergencies.
- [Convenient Packaging]: The survival gear and supplies are packed in a crossbody bag, making it easy to carry and access in emergencies. The bag features multiple compartments and molle compatible straps and D-rings, allowing you to attach extra pouches or survival tools. The crossbody strap is also detachable, making it easy to connect to a tactical survival backpack using carabiners or the molle system.
Use fuel-burning equipment only outdoors and at least 20 feet from building openings, following current official guidance. FEMA also suggests considering a battery-operated sump pump as a property-protection measure; it is not a substitute for evacuation or a personal emergency kit.
What should I have for a heat wave?
Ready.gov describes extreme heat as high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90°F for at least two to three days. This is a general description, not a universal definition of a local heat warning. Check local forecasts and alerts for conditions and instructions in your area.
Ready.gov identifies older adults, children, and people with certain illnesses or chronic conditions as groups at greater risk. Plan ahead for fluids, shade, and a place to cool down if home air conditioning is unavailable. Check on family members and neighbors who may need help.
Rank #3
- 72-HOUR EMERGENCY KIT FOR 2: Built for disaster preparedness at home, work or on the road, this 2-person survival backpack includes food, water, first aid, lighting, hygiene and shelter essentials for up to 3 days.
- FOOD, WATER & PURIFICATION: Includes two 2,400-calorie emergency food bars, six 4.225 oz water pouches, water purification tablets and a 32 oz BPA-free bottle to help support hydration and nutrition during outages or evacuations.
- FIRST AID & PERSONAL PROTECTION: Packed with a 33-piece first aid kit, 2 N95 dust masks, nitrile gloves, hygiene kits, ponchos, survival blankets and tissues for added protection, sanitation and comfort during emergencies.
- POWER, LIGHTING & COMMUNICATION: Includes a hand-crank emergency power station with flashlight, AM/FM radio, siren and cell phone charging, plus 2 emergency lightsticks and a 3-in-1 whistle, compass and thermometer.
- DELUXE SURVIVAL TOOLS IN ONE BACKPACK: Adds a multi-function tool, duct tape, bio-hazard bag and emergency contact card in a portable backpack. Ideal for earthquakes, hurricanes, blackouts, wildfire evacuation, cars and workplaces.
Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. If you suspect heat stroke, call 911 or get the person to a hospital immediately. While getting help, move them to a cool, shaded area and cool them with wet cloths or ice packs. Follow local health advice and any medical guidance specific to the person; the general kit sources do not establish a separate water quantity for heat waves.
What changes during a power outage?
Plan for how you will receive local instructions and keep in touch if household power or internet service is unavailable. A battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio, spare radio and flashlight batteries, and a phone backup charger are practical core supplies supported by FEMA’s checklist.
If anyone relies on temperature-sensitive medicine or powered medical equipment, ask their clinician or pharmacist how to prepare for an outage, and contact the utility and local emergency-management office about relevant assistance or plans. A single safe-storage interval for every medicine, refrigerator, or medical device is not established by the cited guidance, so do not assume one applies to your situation.
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- COMPLETE 4-PERSON DISASTER SUPPLY KIT: Built to support four people for up to 72 hours with emergency food, drinking water, first aid, shelter, lighting, hygiene and survival gear packed together in one portable backpack for fast access at home or work.
- FOOD & WATER FOR 3-DAY PREPAREDNESS: Includes four 2,400-calorie emergency food bars and four 1-liter Aqua Literz cartons, plus survival blankets, ponchos and lightsticks to help support your household during outages, evacuations and major disasters.
- FIRST AID & SAFETY ESSENTIALS: Includes a 107-piece first aid kit, safety goggles, nitrile gloves, leather work gloves, biohazard bags, hygiene supplies and an emergency whistle to help support personal protection and comfort when conditions turn chaotic.
- POWER, LIGHTING & SURVIVAL TOOLS: Hand-crank emergency power station combines flashlight, AM/FM radio, siren and cell phone charging, while a multi-function tool, duct tape and emergency lightsticks add practical support for blackouts and evacuations.
- BUILT FOR HOME, WORK & EVACUATION: Grab-and-go 4-person emergency backpack is ideal for earthquake kits, hurricane supplies, wildfire evacuation, blackout preparedness, offices, vehicles and family disaster planning when critical supplies must move fast.
How do I tailor supplies for medicines, documents, and pets?
FEMA’s Disaster Preparedness Guide for Older Adults recommends considering personal identification and insurance records, a few days of medicine and medical supplies if possible, a complete medication and clinician contact list, a backup phone battery, and pet food and supplies. Use these as tailoring prompts, not as individualized medical advice.
Review the kit with the people who will use it. Include supplies and information that reflect their care, mobility, communication, and dietary needs, and ask a clinician or pharmacist about medical questions. Store the medication list and emergency contacts where household members can find them quickly.
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