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Have a plan
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We're all used to being able to instantly coordinate with our friends and family, but in almost any emergency cell towers will get overloaded. One of the simplest and highest-ROI steps you can take is to have a plan that you and your family can execute against if you aren't able to get ahold of each other.
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My wife and I have agreed who is responsible for picking up each kid, based on where we're each likely to be during the workday, and where we should then meet up.
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Have your cell numbers and address on a card in your kids' backpacks so there's a physical record of how to get ahold of you.
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Most cities and counties have emergency text alerts you can sign up for, and they will share critical information when cell networks are working.
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Satellite texting when out of cell service is typically free and becoming more common. iPhone 14 and newer have it; Apple's support page shows how to turn it on. Pixel 9 and newer (except the 9a) have it built in; Google's setup page walks through it. On Samsung and most other Android phones it comes through your carrier instead; T-Mobile and Verizon each have a page explaining theirs.
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Put a shut off wrench next to the gas valve, know where the tool is to close the water main, and know where your circuit breaker is.
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
GasReady America 3333 emergency gas shut-off wrenchFits the 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch meter valves; a quarter turn shuts the gas off. Hang it on the meter.about $5Walmart · Amazon
WaterEapele 16-inch water meter keyThe long T-handle reaches the curb-side water shutoff.about $11Amazon
Prices checked Sep 2026
The core
Two weeks of readiness
Two weeks sounds at first like overkill, but it is the baseline recommendation from the Red Cross, the CDC, and a growing number of state emergency agencies.
You do not need to buy this all at once. Think about what you would most need if utilities stopped, you couldn't go to a store, and you were stuck at home.
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Water
the thing you can't live withoutStore one gallon of water per person per day, so fourteen gallons per person for two weeks. Keep one way to make more water safe to drink in case the supply is contaminated.
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Minimum 1 gallon of water per person, per day
Worth doing firstThere are a number of different options for storing water. The key is to have it on hand in case the taps stop or the supply is contaminated. Here are a few storage containers we have used, aiming for 7 gallons per person per week as a bare minimum. Ideally dump and replace stored water annually.
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
CheaperWaterStorageCube collapsible 5.3-gallon cubeFolds flat when empty. Less sturdy.about $19Amazon
For an emergency you can see comingWaterBOB bathtub liner, 100 gallonsSingle use. Fills from the tap before an emergency arrives and the water keeps up to 16 weeks.about $35WaterBOB
Prices checked Sep 2026
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three options
Worth doing firstIn addition to some potable water supplies, it is smart to have one or two methods of purifying water (e.g., rainwater, tap water under 'boil water' notices). Three main options, listed in order of personal preference:
A purifier
Chlorine tablets + boiling
Katadyn tablets
A purifier
Chlorine tablets + boiling
Katadyn tablets
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
Best value purifierLifeStraw Mission, 12 litersA 12-liter gravity bag rated to remove viruses, by the maker's own testing. Enough capacity for a household for years. The right answer for most homes.about $90LifeStraw · Amazon
Most thoroughly tested purifierLifeSaver Jerrycan 20000UFThe only purifier here tested by an independent lab (the US Army's) to the military standard, NSF P248. Doubles as a five-gallon can. For anyone who wants the most certainty.about $405LifeSaver · Amazon
Chlorine tabletsAquatabs 397 mg, 100 tabletsAquatabs are chlorine tablets that keep for years: one tablet treats four gallons in thirty minutes. Unscented bleach works too (eight drops per gallon), but it loses potency within a year.
Chlorine handles bacteria, viruses, and Giardia but not Cryptosporidium (which causes GI issues). Boiling kills it, so to be maximally safe you would want to boil the water before adding this tablet.about $30Aquatabs · Amazon
Chlorine handles bacteria, viruses, and Giardia but not Cryptosporidium (which causes GI issues). Boiling kills it, so to be maximally safe you would want to boil the water before adding this tablet.about $30Aquatabs · Amazon
Katadyn tabletsMP1, 30 tabletsOne tablet per liter kills everything including Cryptosporidium. Requires four hours.about $20REI · Amazon
Prices checked Sep 2026
the EPA label for Aquatabs →Food
two weeks, nothing requiring refrigeration, easy to cookTwo weeks of food that keeps without refrigeration and cooks with hot water, at about 2,000 calories per person per day. Freeze-dried meals store for twenty years or more; canned goods work too if you rotate them every year.
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~112,000 calories for four people (assuming 2k calories / person / day)
Worth doing firstAs noted above canned goods are equally viable you just need to rotate them annually. I've opted for freeze-dried foods because I don't want the hassle of needing to remember to rotate canned goods out every 6-12 months. With freeze-dried foods you can buy it, store it somewhere under 75°F, and forget about it for two decades.
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
The baseReadyWise 150-serving bucket25,280 calories. Soups, pastas and rice; needs a pot.about $80Costco · ReadyWise
The meals people look forward toMountain House #10 cans, about 9 servings eachAbout 2,250 calories a can, roughly $16 per thousand. The best value Mountain House sells; the Classic bucket is $22 per thousand and the 14-day kit $19. Buy the flavors you would actually eat. Amazon sells them as six-can cases.about $37Mountain House · REI · Amazon
Cheapest per day, read the caloriesAugason Farms 30-day kit, 194 servings38,700 calories. Marketed as 30 days; at a real ration it is nineteen.about $140Augason Farms · Walmart
Breakfast, cold water worksMountain House Granola with Milk & Blueberries, pouch500 calories a pouch. Works with cold water and is delicious. Very expensive per calorie, but having something to look forward to in this kind of situation can be useful.about $8Mountain House · REI · Amazon
Prices checked Sep 2026
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These are the items that have to be rotated, because they spoil or get outgrown. Easiest thing is just to over-order from Costco, Chewy, or wherever you buy them already, so you are never on your last container.
Cooking and fire
the limitation of freeze-dried foods is that they require hot waterA way to boil water without power, with two weeks of fuel for it. The stove or propane grill you already own is fine; a 20 lb propane tank covers two weeks.
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plus a lighter and a box of matches
Worth doing firstWhatever you already use to BBQ or go camping is fine — the biggest issue to think about is the fuel. We have a Jetboil Flash and a two-burner Coleman propane stove. Propane doesn't degrade, and a 20 lb tank should get you through two weeks.
Add paper plates and cups so nobody is washing dishes with drinking water.
Add paper plates and cups so nobody is washing dishes with drinking water.
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
Family cookingColeman Classic 2-burner propane stoveRuns on the green 16 oz cylinders, or a 20 lb tank with a $20 adapter hose.about $50Walmart · Coleman · Amazon
Boil-only, doubles as backpacking gearJetboil FlashBoils a liter in about two minutes on isobutane canisters.about $110REI · Amazon
Adapter hoseColeman 5 ft high-pressure propane hose and adapterConnects a camp stove to a 20 lb tank.about $25Walmart · Amazon
Fuel16 oz propane cylinders, 4-packAbout seven cylinders is two weeks for four people. The 20 lb tank from the grocery store works well too, provided you have the adapter.about $25Walmart
IgnitionUCO Stormproof matches, kit with caseHelpful if your stove's igniter doesn't work, or you need to start a real fire because of the cold.about $10REI · Amazon
Prices checked Sep 2026
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1.5 liters or bigger
Boil once in the morning and you have hot water for tea, oatmeal and dishes through the day without relighting the stove. Cuts fuel use substantially.
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
PickStanley Classic Legendary vacuum bottle, 1.5 qtRated 40 hours hot.about $35Stanley · Target · Amazon
Prices checked Sep 2026
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2-A:10-B:C, one in the kitchen and one in the garage
A good thing to have on hand regardless.
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
Prices checked Sep 2026
Medical
the things you probably won't use, but want to have on handA stocked first aid kit, children's and adult fever medicine, a rehydration solution, and a ninety-day supply of any prescriptions. The kit handles cuts and sprains; the medicines handle a fever or a stomach bug while the pharmacy is closed.
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organized and restockable
Here are the things you want to be sure are in the first aid kit:
Gauze pads (4×4) and a roll of gauze
Adhesive tape and an elastic bandage
Assorted adhesive bandages
Nitrile gloves
Scissors and tweezers
Antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointment
Acetaminophen and ibuprofen, adult and children's
An antihistamine (e.g., Benadryl)
An antacid and an anti-diarrheal
Hydrocortisone cream
A thermometer
Gauze pads (4×4) and a roll of gauze
Adhesive tape and an elastic bandage
Assorted adhesive bandages
Nitrile gloves
Scissors and tweezers
Antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointment
Acetaminophen and ibuprofen, adult and children's
An antihistamine (e.g., Benadryl)
An antacid and an anti-diarrheal
Hydrocortisone cream
A thermometer
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
CheapestJohnson & Johnson All-Purpose, 160 piecesThe basic bandages in a flimsy case. You will need to buy nearly all the medicine separately.about $25Target · Walmart
RecommendedAdventure Medical Kits, Adventure First Aid FamilyOrganized by injury, a real gauze count, gloves, scissors, a kids' care booklet. Need to buy medicine separately.about $45Adventure Medical Kits · REI
One purchase, nothing to addMyMedic MyFAK StandardFold-out layout with medicines and a thermometer — the all-in-one purchase.about $150MyMedic
Prices checked Sep 2026
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the powder packets, not the bottles
Worth doing firstStaying hydrated amidst a stomach bug is critical. The CDC recommends every family keep a rehydration solution at home — simple Pedialyte powder packets are easiest and store for years.
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
PickPedialyte powder packets, 24-count variety boxTwo boxes covers a stomach bug going around the house.about $12Walmart · Target · Amazon
Prices checked Sep 2026
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dosing chart
If you have kids keep a printed weight-based dosing chart for acetaminophen, ibuprofen, Benadryl, and any prescription medication they take.
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a conversation, not a purchase
Switching key prescriptions to ninety-day refills is a smart and straightforward way to be prepared.
Sanitation
two weeks, four peopleTwo weeks of toilet paper, wipes, soap and hand sanitizer for the household, plus a box of N95 or KN95 masks. Wipes and sanitizer stand in for washing when water is short.
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about a roll a day for the house
Wipes can substitute for showers in the event water is difficult to come by. Same thing for sanitizer.
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you probably still have these from covid
N95 or KN95 are both fine. The main issue is avoiding counterfeits (hence why the links go to authorized distributors). Most options below come in different quantities if you need more. The CDC's guidance for reusing an N95 during a shortage is no more than five uses per mask.
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
AdultsHarley S188N N95, 20-packHead straps, individually wrapped.about $30Bona Fide Masks
Adults, KN95Powecom KN95, black, headband style, 10-packHead straps.about $16Bona Fide Masks
Adults, KN95 with ear loopsPowecom KN95, black, ear loops, 10-packEar loops.about $12Bona Fide Masks
Kids, about 4 and upPowecom KN95-SM, 10-packAbout 15% smaller than the adult size. Ear loops. Each mask carries an anti-fake verification sticker.about $13Bona Fide Masks
Prices checked Sep 2026
look up a TC number →Power and light
two weeks of phones and lightEnough battery to keep each phone charged for two weeks, and a headlamp for each person. Two 20,000 mAh power banks plus the car's battery cover the phones; lithium batteries keep the headlamps ready for years.
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three or four phone charges each
A phone in airplane mode that you check a few times a day lasts two or three days, so budget five to seven charges per person over two weeks. A 20,000 mAh bank gives three or four full charges, so one per adult covers the first days. After that the car is the reserve: a car battery holds about forty phone charges, and ten minutes of idling puts a real charge into a phone.
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
Prices checked Sep 2026
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AAA models with a red mode, plus one AA flashlight
Red mode is much less disruptive to night vision.
Load them with lithium AA and AAA batteries. Alkalines left inside a stored headlamp tend to leak, whereas lithium primaries hold their charge for twenty years and do not leak.
Load them with lithium AA and AAA batteries. Alkalines left inside a stored headlamp tend to leak, whereas lithium primaries hold their charge for twenty years and do not leak.
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
One per personBlack Diamond Spot 400400 lumens, three AAA cells, red night-vision mode, waterproof. Also takes Black Diamond's rechargeable pack if you want one.about $55REI · Black Diamond · Amazon
Handheld flashlightThruNite Archer 2A V3500 lumens, two AA cells, waterproof. A 0.2-lumen firefly mode runs for weeks.about $30ThruNite · Amazon
AAA cellsEnergizer Ultimate Lithium AAA, 12-pack25-year shelf life, leak-proof.about $18Walmart · Amazon
AA cellsEnergizer Ultimate Lithium AA, 12-packSame 25-year shelf life. Covers the flashlight and the radio's backup cells.about $28Walmart · Amazon
Prices checked Sep 2026
Information and communication
when the towers are downA crank and solar weather radio picks up emergency broadcasts when the internet is out. Walkie-talkies or a mesh radio let the family reach each other when cell service is down.
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with AA backup
Cranking is annoying and doesn't last long, so the AA backup matters. Several carmakers have dropped AM from new electric cars, and AM is what is used in emergencies, so getting a radio that has it is important.
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
PickMidland ER310Rechargeable pack plus six AA cells as backup. NOAA alerts, flashlight. The newer version lacks AA batteries.about $70Midland · REI · Amazon
Prices checked Sep 2026
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walkie-talkies, or a mesh texter
Two options for reaching each other if cell signal is down and satellite texting isn't working. Walkie-talkies tend to have a mile or two of range. Meshtastic is a small radio that sends text messages between phones by relaying through other people's nodes – what is called a mesh network and is common in cities.
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
Walkie-talkiesRocky Talkie Mountain Radio, two-radio kitFour to five days of battery, 1-5 mile range.about $220Rocky Talkie · REI · Amazon
Cheaper walkie-talkiesMidland T71VP3 X-Talker, 2-packNOAA weather alerts. Plastic, AA batteries.about $70Midland · Amazon
MeshSeeed SenseCAP MeshTracker X1Card-sized Meshtastic node with GPS. Five-day battery.about $50Seeed Studio
Prices checked Sep 2026
Household
small things, easy to forgetAbout $500 in small bills, a tarp with duct tape and a multi-tool for a broken window or a leaking roof, and something to keep the kids occupied.
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not $100 bills
Worth doing firstCredit cards and ATMs are unlikely to work well in emergencies. Aim to keep some cash on hand – if you can afford it, $500 - $1000 is ideal. Keep small bills ($20s are great).
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8×10 tarp, real duct tape, pliers-style multi-tool
A broken window or a leaking roof after a storm gets covered with a tarp and tape until someone can fix it. Duct tape can do a lot. And you never know when you'll need a pocket knife.
OptionProductPriceWhere to buy
Tarp8×10 heavy-duty polyethylene tarpabout $18Walmart
Multi-toolLeatherman WingmanPliers, knife, scissors, screwdrivers. The Rev is the same idea for $40.about $55REI · Leatherman · Amazon
Prices checked Sep 2026
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Cards, a couple of board games, books, drawing supplies. Keep them packed with the kit and out of circulation the rest of the year so they stay novel.