14 Emergency Items to Always Have in Your House
Updated: Oct. 02, 2018
A little preparation could mean the difference between life and death during a natural disaster.
Outlet-free chargers
Smartphones and laptops will still work when the power is out—as long as you’re prepared. “The Internet can be surprisingly robust after an event, but keeping batteries charged is where most people break down,” says Steven J. Jensen, a member of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council and advisor of emergency management at California State University at Long Beach. Having a juiced-up portable battery or small generator will keep you in touch with loved ones and with any emergency updates.
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Cordless radio
Gathering around the radio might seem like a thing of the past, but it could prove vital in an emergency situation. “It allows you to get in touch with what’s going on locally,” says Jensen. “That’s important to be able to make good decisions about what happens next.” You won’t miss any important messages warning you not to leave—or to get out fast. Make sure you have a battery-powered or hand-cranked radio so it can work when the power is out.
Medications
“Sometimes, the way medications are dispersed now, we have just a very small supply available,” says Jensen. “In a disaster, it might be hard to replenish those supplies.” Talk to your doctor about writing a larger prescription so you have a couple weeks work on hand if you can’t reach the pharmacy.
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Lantern
Handheld flashlights are convenient to carry and store, but their beams won’t light up a room the way your lamps do. In addition to battery-powered flashlights, pick up a lantern, which can brighten up a larger amount of space.
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Batteries
If you’ve been using your phone as a flashlight and haven’t touched an actual torch in years, don’t be surprised if the batteries in your backups have worn out or corroded. A pack of extra batteries never hurts.
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Nonperishable food
Stocking up on food is a no-brainer if you know you won’t be able to get to a grocery store, but you might be surprised by just how much food to keep on hand. The Red Cross recommends keeping two weeks worth of food available in case you’re unexpectedly stuck at home, or enough to last three days if you’re evacuating. You don’t just have to stick to sad cans of beans though. Get creative and stick with foods you actually want to eat. It’s surprising how much peanut butter or beef jerky could lift your spirits when you’re facing a crisis.
Pet food
Don’t forget your furry friends when you’re stocking up on food. Keep at least two weeks worth of dry food on hand so your pets can stay healthy and safe, but don’t bother shelling out on anything fancy. “It doesn’t have to be the highest standard, but if you can keep some food that’s going to keep pets healthy and vibrant, that’s good,” says Jensen.
Extra propane
If your home’s electricity or gas isn’t working, the oven and microwave could be out of the question—but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with cold meals. Keep extra propane on hand so you can fire up a BBQ or camping stove.
Water
H2O seems like a given, but if anything goes wrong with your local water system, you’ll need to have backup. As a rule of thumb, make sure you have a gallon per person per day, ideally enough to last two weeks. If you don’t want to leave jugs of water sitting around all the time, fill clean, empty soda bottles or a large water dispenser when there’s a storm coming.
Cash
Don’t assume you can rely on plastic during an emergency. Card readers might not work, and ATMs could run out of money during a natural disaster, so keeping backup bills on hand could be a lifesaver. Talk to your family about how much you can afford to keep out of the bank and where the safest place in your home for it is.
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Tool kit
Even if you’re not used to making your own repairs, a toolbox could be a vital resource during an emergency situation. “It gives you a lot of latitude to be able to adapt and fix things and be somewhat independent if no help is available,” says Jensen. A basic toolkit with items such as a wrench, screwdrivers, and a hammer can help you fight back when your home and supplies are under stress.
Copies of important documents
It’s always a good idea to keep original copies of important documents like home ownership papers or insurance information, but keep a backup on hand too. “It’s surprising how important that can be,” says Jensen. Leave hard copies in a safe space (away from the originals), or save them digitally in a password-protected file in the cloud.
First aid kit
“A well-stocked first aid kit is critically important,” says Jensen. The Red Cross recommends keeping bandages, an instant ice pack, antiseptic wipes, scissors, and more.
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Just-for-fun items
When you’re rushing to pack your bags for an evacuation, a few nonessentials can actually be some of the best things for your mental wellbeing. “We need to find ways of comforting ourselves,” says Jensen. “Relax and take some time to realize it’s going to be OK.” He suggests packing a book, a child’s favorite stuffed animal, or playing cards. Letting yourself relax a bit will help normalize the situation and take your mind off the stress.
