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We all have emergencies on our minds, apparently—FEMA reports that more than 80% of Americans have gathered supplies for an emergency, and people are buying more emergency kits than ever before. Those kits plus an evacuation plan (and some basic knowledge of first aid) would seem to be sufficient to help you survive natural disasters and other life-threatening events.
But emergency kits can only help if they have the right stuff in them—and if you can lay your hands on them when disaster strikes. There are a lot of “generic” supplies that should be in every emergency kit, but you need to have bespoke kits that take into account your specific needs and the conditions around you—and you need to have more than one kit, because you might not have time to run home and dig through your messy basement searching for that emergency kit you bought two years ago and forgot about. Here’s a quick guide to the emergency kits you need.
Seasonal kits
If you live in an area that experiences more than one season, you need to rotate seasonally appropriate versions of all of your emergency kits:
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Summer emergency kits should contain extra water (in addition to the emergency water you should already have in there), sun protection (including sunblock and a broad-rim hat), a raincoat, and some emergency cooling products, like a cooling towel or cold packs to keep you from succumbing to extreme heat.
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Winter emergency kits need compact blankets or sleeping bags, body and hand warmers, extra waterproof outdoor clothing in case you have to spend a lot of time outdoors, and foldable digging tools so you can carve your way out of snow.
Locations
Having seasonal versions of your emergency kits (and rotating them so you always have the right version ready to go) is key, but even the best-curated and well-stocked emergency kit doesn’t help if you can’t grab it in a flash. If you’re not at home 24 hours a day, make sure you have kits stashed in key locations:
Vehicle kits. Have a kit for every vehicle you operate:
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Car kits should include all the basics (first aid, seasonally appropriate gear, etc.) as well as a seat belt cutter and window breaker, flares, ice scraper, carpet scraps or cat litter (to give your vehicle traction in icy conditions), tire repair kit, and duct tape (for quick repairs). If you have a boat, boat kits need some specific stuff in addition to the basics, like fire suppression, a flare gun, and boat-specific tools for emergency repairs.
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Portable kits. If you ride public transportation like a bus or train regularly and for relatively long distances, consider a small portable emergency kit with the basics (first aid, water, food, a solar charger for your phone, etc.) that you can toss into larger bags and take with you.
Home kits. The one emergency kit just about everyone has sits somewhere in their home. Make sure it’s in an accessible area, keep it seasonally appropriate, rotate out perishables and batteries, and check all equipment to ensure it’s still in good working order.
You might consider adding a second kit to your garage, if you have one, or some other exterior area of the home. If the emergency comes very fast and you have to just flee the home, having a backup emergency kit somewhere could be a lifesaver.
Work kits. You can’t be certain that you’ll be at home or even in your car when an emergency hits, so keep a small emergency kit at the other location where you spend a lot of time: your job.
Specific kits
Aside from the medical, food, and seasonal tools and supplies you’ll need in your emergency kits, you should maintain separate kits for specific purposes:
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Pet kits. If you have pets, assembled an emergency kit for them that includes a supply of food, water, medicines, a carrier or leash, blankets or a pet coat, and anything else they might need if you suddenly had to grab them and run.
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Power kits. Whether you’re able to shelter in place or need to evacuate, having an emergency lighting and power kit ready to go will be an advantage. Battery-powered lanterns and flashlights will also work, as will hand-crank or salt-water lights that don’t require batteries. The key is to have a kit that allows you to deploy light and charging power wherever you need it without having to scramble in the dark.
