Hope for the best. Plan for the worst.
Most of us know we should have an emergency kit. Few of us want a closet full of camo bins and freeze-dried food we'll never touch. The good news is that you don't need one. The federal government's preparedness site, Ready.gov, publishes a simple "Basic Disaster Supplies Kit" list. It's built around being on your own for at least three days, and it suggests keeping about two weeks of supplies at home if you can.
Most of that list is ordinary stuff. A light. A radio. A first aid kit. Your important papers in one safe place. Pick versions you'll actually use every day and your kit stays charged, stocked and easy to find. It also won't look like a bunker.
Below we go through the Ready.gov list item by item. For each one, we'll tell you what we carry, and where we don't, we'll say so.
Water and food
Ready.gov says: one gallon of water per person per day for several days, plus at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food.
- We don't sell water or food. Buy what your household already eats, and rotate it into your normal meals.
- Everyday pick: the Collapsible Silicone Water Bottle is a gym and travel bottle that folds flat in a drawer or bag.
- Everyday pick: the Airtight Food Storage Bin (2x15L) keeps pantry staples such as rice, flour and pet food fresh and dry.
- Everyday pick: a 5-Piece Kitchen Utensil Set for daily cooking. When it's in the kitchen, you know where it is.
- Not carried: a manual can opener. Keep one in a drawer. It's the most forgotten item on the list.
Light and communication
Ready.gov says: a flashlight, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio (ideally a NOAA weather radio), extra batteries, and a cell phone with chargers and a backup battery.
- Radio: the Solar Hand-Crank Radio charges from the sun or a crank. That makes it handy for any home in hurricane, tornado or earthquake country.
- Flashlight: the 4-in-1 Magnetic Desk Lamp & Flashlight spends its life as a desk lamp, or grab the Stainless Rechargeable LED Flashlight.
- Room light: the 60-LED Rechargeable Lantern, the Solar Rechargeable LED Lantern or the Cordless Rechargeable Desk Lamps (2-Pack).
- Phone power: the 20000mAh 65W Power Bank, Magnetic Wireless Power Bank and 100W Braided USB-C Cable. For longer outages, look at the 120W Portable Power Station or the 36W Foldable Solar Charger.
- Whistle to signal for help: the Steel Whistle Keychain rides on your keys every day.
First aid and personal care
Ready.gov says: a first aid kit, prescription medications, glasses, moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties, plus personal hygiene items.
- First aid: our First Aid Box Organizer is a vintage-style latched box for the bathroom or kitchen. Stock it with your own supplies.
- Medications: the Weekly Pill Organizer keeps a few days of meds ready to grab.
- Hygiene: a Travel Toiletry Bag packed with spares means you're always ready for a trip, planned or not.
- Not carried: dust masks, moist towelettes, trash bags and the medications themselves.
Important documents, cash and records
Ready.gov says: copies of insurance policies, IDs and bank records, saved electronically or kept in a waterproof, portable container, plus cash.
- Documents: the Fireproof Document Box with Lock or the Fireproof Document Bag with Lock sit in a closet like any file box.
- Cash: a Leather Cash Wallet keeps small bills separate.
- Passwords and contacts: the Lockable Password Notebook holds logins and emergency numbers that don't depend on a charged phone. The Waterproof Stone-Paper Notebook handles everything else.
- Digital copies: a USB 3.0 Multi-Card Reader and an Aluminum SSD Enclosure make an easy offline backup of scanned papers and photos.
- Phones in the rain: Waterproof Phone Pouches (3-Pack).
Warmth, shelter and tools
Ready.gov says: a warm blanket or sleeping bag for each person, a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, duct tape and plastic sheeting, local maps and activities for kids.
- Warmth: the Wearable Fleece Throw lives on the couch. Mylar Emergency Blankets fold to wallet size for the car.
- Repairs: a Duct Tape 5-Pack gets used around the house all year.
- Downtime: Waterproof Playing Cards are good for camping, the beach and power outages.
- Not carried: wrenches, pliers, plastic sheeting, paper maps, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. Ready.gov also recommends these.
Keeping it together
A kit only helps if you can find it. Ready.gov suggests keeping supplies in airtight bags and an easy-to-carry container, and having smaller kits at work and in the car.
- Grab-and-go: the Waterproof Duffel / Weekender doubles as a gym bag, or use the 40L Backpack.
- Home storage: Vacuum Storage Bags (20-Pack), the Heavy-Duty Zip Storage Tote and the 5-Shelf Steel Wire Rack for a tidy pantry or garage.
The everyday-kit habit
Use it every day. Rely on it when it counts. Recharge your lights and power banks on a normal schedule. Rotate food and water. Check your first aid box and documents twice a year, for example when the clocks change. Then download the official Ready.gov supply kit checklist (PDF) and check off what you already own. You probably have more than you think.
StashAndSet is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by FEMA, Ready.gov or the U.S. government. Checklist items are summarized from ready.gov/kit. See Ready.gov for complete and current guidance, including items for pets, infants, older adults and people with disabilities.