Be ready, not paranoid
You don't need a bunker. Most real disruptions are a few days without power, water pressure, fuel or cell service. This kit covers that, roughly in the order we'd buy it.
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Water
FEMA's baseline is one gallon per person per day. Aim for at least three days.
- Stackable water storage containers
Fill from the tap now, rotate every six months.
- Gravity or squeeze water filter
Turns questionable water into drinking water without power.
Power
The most common disruption by far. Size it to keep phones, a fridge or a CPAP running.
- Portable power station
Silent, indoor-safe battery for phones, lights and small appliances.
- Folding solar panel
Recharges the power station when the outage drags on.
- Rechargeable LED lanterns
Safer than candles, and a lot less drama.
Winter
Most outage deaths in winter come from cold and carbon monoxide, not the outage itself.
- Battery-powered carbon monoxide detector
Plug-in detectors die with the power. Generators and space heaters are exactly when you need one.
- Wool blankets and a sleeping bag rated for cold
Keeps everyone warm in one room without running anything risky indoors.
Food
Stock what you already eat, plus a few days of no-cook food.
- Long-shelf-life meal kits
Just add water. Good for 10+ years in storage.
- Manual can opener
The single most forgotten item in every pantry stockpile.
Communication
When cell towers go down, information gets scarce fast.
- NOAA weather radio (hand-crank or battery)
Gets official alerts with no power and no cell signal.
- Power bank for phones
Keeps your phone alive through a couple of days of outage.
First aid and documents
The boring stuff that matters most when it matters.
- Complete first aid kit
Plus a week of any prescription meds you rely on.
- Waterproof document pouch
IDs, insurance papers and some cash in one grab-and-go spot.