Practical Answers for Everyday Independence

Emergency Preparedness Supplies – RP

Emergency Preparedness Supplies

Emergencies can disrupt electricity, water, transportation, communication, and access to everyday supplies. Keeping a few basic items together can make it easier to manage a power outage, severe weather event, evacuation, or other unexpected situation.

This page brings together practical supplies for emergency food and water, lighting and power, communication, weather protection, evacuation, important information, and other essentials that can help a household prepare without turning the basement into a survival bunker.

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Emergency Food & Water

A basic emergency supply should include enough food and water to manage a temporary disruption without relying immediately on stores or utilities.

Useful options may include:

Keep emergency food simple and familiar when possible. Check expiration dates periodically and consider dietary restrictions, allergies, and foods that can be prepared without electricity.

Lighting & Visibility

Reliable lighting can make a power outage safer and much easier to manage.

Useful options may include:

Keep lighting in more than one easily accessible location rather than storing every flashlight in a single emergency kit.

Emergency Power & Charging

Backup power can help keep phones and other important small devices working when household electricity is unavailable.

Useful options may include:

Choose backup power based on what actually needs to remain available. Keeping a phone charged may require only a power bank, while larger equipment can require substantially more capacity.

Weather & Shelter Supplies

Simple supplies can help protect against cold, heat, rain, and temporary loss of normal household heating or cooling.

Useful options may include:

Prepare for the weather risks most likely where you live rather than trying to equip yourself for every possible disaster.

Communication & Emergency Information

When power, internet service, or normal routines are disrupted, having another way to receive information and access important contacts can be valuable.

Useful options may include:

Important phone numbers and basic emergency information should also exist somewhere other than a phone that may be dead, lost, or inaccessible.

Evacuation & Grab-and-Go Supplies

Some emergencies require leaving home quickly, making it useful to keep essential items organized and easy to carry.

Useful options may include:

A grab-and-go bag does not need to contain everything you own. Focus on the items that would be difficult to replace or immediately needed during the first hours away from home.

Household Emergency Tools

A few basic tools can help with minor problems that occur during outages, storms, and other household emergencies.

Useful options may include:

Know how to use emergency equipment before an emergency occurs. Unfamiliar equipment is much less useful when something has already gone wrong.

Before You Buy

Emergency supplies should match the people, home, and situations they are meant to support.

Before choosing products, consider:

  • Likely emergencies: Prepare for the risks most relevant where you live.
  • Household size: Make sure food, water, lighting, and other supplies cover everyone.
  • Individual needs: Consider medications, mobility, medical equipment, dietary needs, and pets.
  • Storage: Keep supplies somewhere accessible and easy to find.
  • Maintenance: Check batteries, charging, expiration dates, and supplies periodically.

Start with the essentials you are most likely to need. You can add to your emergency supplies over time.