iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Before an outage or disaster, prioritize gadgets that help you receive alerts, see in the dark, contact others, provide basic first aid, or manage essential supplies. FEMA’s May 2024 emergency-kit checklist includes several of these tools, but gadgets supplement—not replace—water, food, an emergency plan, and instructions from local authorities. Choose for your household, local hazards, medical needs, pets, and whether the kit will stay at home or travel.
Start with the supplies that gadgets cannot replace
FEMA recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation, and keeping at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Those are preparedness recommendations, not measured outcomes. FEMA describes its checklist as a starting point; adapt it to the people and animals in your household and the emergencies likely in your area. FEMA’s May 2024 basic emergency supply kit checklist
FEMA advises considering a full kit at home and smaller portable kits for places where household members spend time. A go-bag has different constraints from a home kit: portability matters more, while the home kit can accommodate larger supplies.
Recommended Free Tools
11 emergency gadgets and how to choose them
1. Hand-crank emergency radio with NOAA weather alerts
A battery-powered or hand-crank radio can provide another way to receive information when ordinary services are unavailable. FEMA’s checklist also names a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and spare batteries. When shopping, check that the radio supports NOAA Weather Radio alerts and tone alerts if those are important for your area; verify its power options and whether it accepts replaceable batteries. A hand crank is an additional power option, not a guarantee of uninterrupted service or reception.
#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.
2. Phone power bank or spare phone battery
FEMA recommends an extra cell-phone battery or charger, and Ready.gov advises planning alternative ways to charge phones during power outages. Ready.gov’s disaster planning guidance A portable power bank is useful only if it is compatible with your phone and charged before an emergency. Check capacity, connector compatibility, and whether you can recharge the bank without household power. Keep any spare batteries charged and stored according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Flashlight with spare batteries
FEMA lists a flashlight and extra batteries. Choose a light with a power source you can maintain, and check its runtime and brightness against how you expect to use it. Store compatible spare batteries with it, and periodically check both the light and batteries rather than assuming they will work after long storage.
4. First aid kit
A first aid kit is on FEMA’s basic checklist. Compare contents with household needs, including any relevant medical supplies, and make sure someone knows where the kit is. Check expiration dates and replace used or expired items. A basic kit does not substitute for professional medical care.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchRank #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.
5. Emergency water storage container
A clean, appropriate container helps you store water for an emergency. Select one intended for drinking-water storage, sized for your available space and household needs. Follow its cleaning, filling, storage, and replacement directions; a container does not itself make unsafe water safe.
6. Emergency signaling whistle
FEMA includes a whistle for signaling for help. It is small enough for a portable kit and does not depend on batteries. Keep it accessible rather than buried under supplies, and make sure household members know where it is.
7. Dust masks
FEMA’s checklist includes a dust mask. Treat a basic dust mask as a limited item for the situations it is designed for—not protection against every airborne hazard. Follow local public-health and emergency instructions if smoke, chemicals, or other hazardous air is a concern.
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.
8. Adjustable wrench or pliers
FEMA lists a wrench or pliers for turning off utilities. Keep a suitable tool only if you know the relevant shutoff procedure and can act safely. Do not attempt a shutoff if you are unsure, if conditions are dangerous, or if local authorities or utility instructions say otherwise.
9. Manual can opener
If your emergency food includes canned goods, FEMA recommends including a can opener. A manual opener avoids reliance on electricity. Choose one household members can operate and store it with the food supplies.
10. Plastic sheeting and duct tape
FEMA lists plastic sheeting and duct tape for sheltering in place. Keep them with your home supplies if appropriate for local guidance, but do not treat an improvised setup as a substitute for official shelter instructions. What is safe can depend on the hazard.
Rank #4
- 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.
11. Local maps
FEMA includes local maps in its checklist. A paper map can remain usable when a phone battery is depleted or network access is unavailable. Choose maps relevant to your home and likely destinations, and keep them somewhere household members can find them.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose what belongs in your kit
- Match the hazard: Follow local guidance for the emergencies most likely where you live; no single gadget works for every disaster.
- Plan for the household: Account for household size, pets, medical needs, and the supplies individuals may rely on.
- Decide where the kit will live: A home kit can hold bulkier items; a portable kit should be manageable to carry.
- Check practical details: For radios, confirm alert capability and power options; for lights, runtime and battery compatibility; for chargers, phone compatibility and recharge options; for first-aid kits, contents relevant to your needs.
- Maintain what you buy: Test devices, charge batteries and power banks, and replace expired or depleted supplies as needed.
- Use official information: A radio, phone, or app can help you receive information, but follow current directions from local authorities.
Ready.gov also describes the FEMA app as a way to receive National Weather Service alerts for up to five locations. This software option is separate from physical emergency gadgets and does not replace a radio or a preparedness kit. FEMA app information, updated October 29, 2024
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →What to buy first
If you are building a kit from scratch, cover the fundamentals before adding convenience items: water and food, a way to receive alerts, light, phone charging, and first aid. Add signaling, sanitation and sheltering supplies, tools, and locally relevant items based on FEMA’s checklist and your household’s plan. The right list is the one your household can maintain and use safely.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
