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Make your flood plan before water is rising: know how local officials will alert you, choose a safe destination and more than one route, decide how your household will reunite, and pack a portable kit for several days. During an emergency, follow local evacuation orders and route instructions. Never walk or drive through floodwater or go around a barricade.

Build the plan around your local flood risk

Flood routes, shelters, and evacuation orders depend on where you live; a route or destination that is appropriate in one place may be unsafe elsewhere. Check your location using the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, then ask your local emergency management office what alerts to sign up for, what they mean, and where officials direct residents to go. Monitor weather reports and local news during periods of risk. Federal guidance is a starting point, not a substitute for current local instructions.

Write down the local alert channels and keep them accessible. Include more than one way to receive warnings where practical—for example, a phone alert and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio—so the plan does not depend entirely on a working phone or internet connection.

Choose a destination and routes before a flood

Decide where your household will go if officials order an evacuation. Confirm that the destination is reachable, accessible to everyone who may travel with you, and suitable for pets if they are coming. Ask local officials which routes and destinations are appropriate for your area; do not assume a familiar road will remain safe during flooding.

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#1 Best Overall
Family Emergency Kit | All-in-one Survival Kit Backpack for Earthquake, Flood, Disaster Relief, Civil Unrest & Outdoor - Survival Bag & Emergency Preparedness Kit for Families (4 Person)
  • ✅【Compact Design】: Featuring a compact and lightweight 19"x15"x10" design, this backpack kit ensures effortless mobility while efficiently organizing a range of essentials for emergency prepardness.
  • ✅【Discreet Design】: Crafted for disaster preparedness, our survival backpack features a discreet design, allowing you to stay under the radar during emergencies. Conceal crucial emergency supplies seamlessly, ensuring subtlety and preparedness in any situation.
  • ✅【Long Lasting 5 year shelf life】: USA made SOS brand food rations and water are US Coast Guard approved, have a 5-year shelf life, space-efficient, great tasting and calorie dense, the food ration bars require no extra water to rehydrate, no reheating, and were developed to be non-thirst inducing.
  • ✅【121 pc Basic Survival First Aid Kit】: Featuring a compact and durable pouch, this on-the-go first aid kit is a basic yet comprehensive solution for minor emergencies. Designed for mobility and durability, it provides peace of mind in unexpected situations.
  • ✅【Family Oriented】: Our Family Survival Kit isn't just for the solo adventurer; it's designed to protect the whole family. Equip your loved ones with necessary Survival Supplies for any situation.

Plan a primary route and an alternative, and practice them when conditions are safe. Account for transportation limits, mobility needs, and how much your household can carry. Do not plan to cross floodwater or use tunnels and underground roads during flooding. Never drive around a road barrier, even if the water looks shallow. Ready.gov’s warning is simple: “turn around, don’t drown!”

Plan for every household member and location

A useful plan covers the whole household, not just the person driving. Include children, older adults, people with disabilities or medical conditions, caregivers, and pets. Record medications, mobility or transport requirements, and any equipment that must travel with each person. Coordinate with a neighbor or caregiver if someone may need help evacuating.

Rank #2
Family Emergency Kit - 2 Person | All-in-one Survival Kit Backpack for Earthquake, Flood, Disaster Relief, Civil Unrest & Outdoor - Survival Bag & Emergency Preparedness Kit for Families
  • ✅【Compact Design】: Featuring a compact and lightweight 19"x15"x10" design, this backpack kit ensures effortless mobility while efficiently organizing a range of essentials for emergency prepardness.
  • ✅【Discreet Design】: Crafted for disaster preparedness, our survival backpack features a discreet design, allowing you to stay under the radar during emergencies. Conceal crucial emergency supplies seamlessly, ensuring subtlety and preparedness in any situation.
  • ✅【Long Lasting 5 year shelf life】: USA made SOS brand food rations and water are US Coast Guard approved, have a 5-year shelf life, space-efficient, great tasting and calorie dense, the food ration bars require no extra water to rehydrate, no reheating, and were developed to be non-thirst inducing.
  • ✅【121 pc Basic Survival First Aid Kit】: Featuring a compact and durable pouch, this on-the-go first aid kit is a basic yet comprehensive solution for minor emergencies. Designed for mobility and durability, it provides peace of mind in unexpected situations.
  • ✅【Family Oriented】: Our Family Survival Kit isn't just for the solo adventurer; it's designed to protect the whole family. Equip your loved ones with necessary Survival Supplies for any situation.

Agree on a meeting place and designate an out-of-town contact. Decide how family members will check in if they are separated; texts or messaging may work when phone calls do not. Make a simple plan for the places people regularly are—home, work, school, and daycare—so everyone knows whom to contact and where to go if flooding begins while the household is apart. Keep important phone numbers and plan details on paper as well as on phones.

Prepare for evacuation and sheltering in place

Follow local evacuation orders promptly. FEMA’s flood hazard information sheet says: “Evacuate immediately when ordered to.” Take critical supplies and documents, and use the route instructions provided by local officials. Do not wait for floodwater to make a route decision for you.

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Rank #3
Stealth Angel 4 Person Red 72 Hour Emergency Kit - Survival Bag for Earthquakes, Hurricanes, and Other Natural Disasters
  • 100% Satisfaction Guarantee - All essential emergency items packed securely in our high quality backpacks
  • CHOOSE between our 1 Person (for the solo survivalist), 2 Person (for you and a friend), 4 Person or 5 Person (for your entire family)
  • DESIGNED using advice from experts in the emergency preparedness industry and follows guidelines given by government agencies and non-profit preparedness organizations
  • FOOD & WATER: Making sure hunger and thirst are not a problem, included in the kit are 72 hours supply of water pouches, food bars, and water purification tablets!
  • LIGHT & COMMUNICATION: Our kits are also equipped with flashlights, a hand-crank radio, and an emergency whistle for safety and connectivity!

Evacuation may not be possible or may not be the safest option in some circumstances. Follow local officials’ instructions and identify safer locations in your home in advance. If rising water traps you, move to higher ground or the highest level of a building; do not climb into a closed attic.

Pack a portable flood emergency kit

FEMA advises preparing enough food, water, and emergency supplies for several days, tailored to household needs. The Ready Campaign’s general baseline is one gallon of water per person per day for three days, plus at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food. Treat these as general preparedness recommendations, not a complete one-size-fits-all quantity: adjust for pets, medical needs, climate, and local advice.

Rank #4
Sale
Ready America 70280 Emergency 2-Person 3-Day Survival Backpack
  • 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.
  • Water and food: drinking water, nonperishable food, a manual can opener, and utensils.
  • Light, alerts, and power: flashlight and extra batteries; battery-powered or hand-crank radio, including a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert; phone chargers and extra batteries or a power bank.
  • Health and safety: first-aid kit, prescription and essential over-the-counter medicines, and a whistle.
  • Sanitation and tools: sanitation supplies, wrench or pliers, and local maps.
  • Household-specific supplies: items needed for infants, older adults, people with disabilities or medical conditions, and pets, including required food, medications, and equipment.
  • Documents and money: identification, key family records, cash, and contact information stored in a waterproof portable container.

For a kit you may need to carry while evacuating, prioritize essentials rather than trying to move every household supply. Keep medications, identification and key records, phone and charger, keys, cash, water, food, and necessary supplies for children, people with access or medical needs, and pets together where you can grab them. A waterproof document pouch is one practical way to keep important papers dry; secure digital copies can provide a backup, but do not rely on a phone alone.

What to do when flooding threatens

  1. Check official alerts. Follow local emergency-management and weather instructions, including any evacuation order and designated route.
  2. Leave when directed. Take your prepared essentials and documents, and tell your designated contact where you are going if it is safe to do so.
  3. Stay out of floodwater. Never walk or drive through it, drive around barricades, or enter tunnels and underground roads during flooding.
  4. If trapped by rising water, seek higher ground. Move to the highest level of a building, but not into a closed attic.
  5. Use messages when possible. Texts or messaging may get through when calls cannot; keep messages brief and conserve phone power.
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After evacuation

Return only when local officials say it is safe. Flooding can affect drinking water; do not assume tap water is safe after a flood. Check with your local health department for current water-safety guidance.

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Sale
Survival Kit, 262Pcs Survival Gear and Supplies with First Aid Kit Pouch and Crossbody Bag, Emergency Kit with Tent, Camping Axe Hammer, Survival Shovel w/Pick, Bug Out Bag Gifts for Men Women
  • [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.

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