The Emergency Essentials to Have in Your Home Kit for Max Preparedness

Rather than having to pack an entire tool kit, get prepared with something small and compact like the Gerber Gear tool. The 15-in-1 tool will likely answer all your emergency needs as it includes a screwdriver, scissors, wire stripper, bottle opener, pliers, and more, all in one.

Now isn’t the time to think small. For your emergency flashlight, get something a little hefty like this camping lantern by LE Store. The rechargeable lantern has both a front and side light to help you illuminate your entire surroundings. It’s also water-resistant and comes with a charging port so you can juice up your other electronic devices. 

Keep emergency food preparedness simple by purchasing and packing a few already prepped meals. The Adventure Meals by Mountain House offer a wide array of flavors, including this Beef Stroganoff with Noodles, which comes with 12g of protein. All you need to do is add hot water and it’s ready.

If you lose power in an emergency you’ll be happy to have a few of these external power banks handy. This way, you can continue to charge phones and other electronics, so you can stay informed and in touch with family and responders until you are rescued or safe. This particular one from Otterbox allows users to fully charge multiple devices at once.

Yes, this is one of the more expensive items on the list, but it’s also the most important. Keeping a water supply fresh can be difficult, but the water purifier system by LifeSaver safely filters water from any source, allowing you to fill up anywhere. According to the brand, it filters “99.99% of viruses, 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.9% of cysts, and parasites for safe water consumption.” 

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The whistle is a small but mighty addition to your emergency preparedness kit. A whistle can be used to attract help if you’re stuck or far away from first responders, letting them know exactly where you are. Keep one (or a few) handy. We’re particularly fond of this one thanks to its bright color, which keeps it highly visible both for you and responders. 

Have all your medical supplies in one place with this pack-and-go first aid kit. The emergency kit includes an assortment of bandages, wound cleaners, and medications, along with a manual by Dr. William W. Forgey to walk you through how to dress any wound. (Pro tip: If you’re a pet owner, pick up this emergency medical kit for dogs too.)

Keep your area lit up at night with a few small headlamps. The lamps are excellent for those who need to maneuver around dark spaces and are also a stellar addition to an emergency kit for children who may be scared of the dark. The headlamps by Black Diamond are stormproof and come with three light settings for indoor and outdoor use.

Don’t pack just any blanket in your kit — add something a little more intentional, like the Escape Lite Bivy. The emergency bivy is made with windproof and water-resistant Escape fabric that will keep you dry and safe from any elements. And it packs up tightly so it doesn’t take up excessive space.

If the thought of putting together an entire kit is too overwhelming or you want to have a second kit for your car, pick up an already packed bag by Redfora Store. The kit includes medical supplies, hygiene items, food, tools, a blanket, and more. You can choose between a one, two, three, four, five, or six-person kit depending on your household needs.