Stocking extra food and water is a good place to start when preparing for an emergency, but a household may also need other items if the power goes out or stores close for a while. A few well-chosen supplies can help you treat minor injuries, cook meals, make basic repairs, and meet everyday needs without running to the store.
People who prepare ahead of time often think about the little things that make daily life easier. Here are 14 useful items worth keeping at home before an emergency leaves you scrambling to find them.
First Aid Supplies and Medications
A well-stocked first aid kit helps you handle small injuries at home when getting to a store or clinic may be difficult. Keep bandages, gauze, medical tape, antiseptic, burn dressings, pain relievers, allergy medicine, tweezers, scissors, and your household’s regular prescription medications, and check expiration dates and replace supplies as needed.
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Fire Starters
Matches and lighters help light a camp stove, start an outdoor fire, or use another approved heat source during a power outage. Store waterproof matches, disposable lighters, and a ferro rod in a dry place, and practice using them safely before an emergency occurs.
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Reliable Lighting
A dark house makes cooking, finding supplies, and moving around much harder after sunset. Keep rechargeable LED lanterns, flashlights, spare batteries, and solar lights on hand, with candles or an oil lantern as backup options used with proper fire safety precautions.
Hand Tools
A basic tool kit can help you handle loose screws, small household repairs, and other jobs that don’t require a professional. Keep a hammer, screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, pliers, utility knife, measuring tape, nails, screws, and duct tape together in a place where everyone knows to find them.
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Paracord
A few lengths of paracord take up little storage space and can come in handy for many household and outdoor tasks. Use it to secure a tarp, tie down equipment, hang laundry, bundle firewood, or make temporary repairs to camping gear.
Water Purification Tablets and Filters
Stored drinking water can run low during a prolonged outage, so it helps to treat additional water when a safe source is available. Keep water purification tablets and a suitable filter, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and check whether the method removes germs, chemicals, or both before relying on it.
Tarps and Plastic Sheeting
A heavy-duty tarp can cover firewood, protect supplies from rain, provide temporary shelter outdoors, or shield damaged belongings from the weather. Plastic sheeting helps with temporary weather protection and certain home repairs, though roof damage and other structural problems may need professional attention.
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Paper Maps and a Compass
Phone maps are handy until the battery dies or mobile service becomes unavailable. Keep paper maps of your local area and nearby roads, along with a compass, and practice reading them before you need to find your way without GPS.
Fire Extinguishers
A fire extinguisher can help control a small fire when it is safe to do so, giving you a chance to prevent further damage or escape. Keep the right type for your home in accessible locations, check its condition regularly, and make sure everyone knows how to use it and when to leave instead of trying to fight the fire.
Emergency Radio
A battery-powered, solar-powered, or hand-crank emergency radio can help you hear weather warnings and official instructions during an extended outage. Choose a model that receives local emergency broadcasts, keep its batteries or charging method ready, and check that it still works from time to time.
Multi-Tool or Swiss Army Knife
A good multi-tool packs several handy items into one compact piece of gear. Depending on the model, it may include a knife, pliers, scissors, screwdrivers, and a can opener, making it useful for small repairs and everyday jobs around the house.
Sewing Kit and Spare Fabric
A torn backpack, loose button, or damaged blanket is easy to repair with the right supplies. Keep needles, thread, scissors, buttons, safety pins, patches, and sturdy fabric together so you can mend clothing and household items instead of replacing them right away.
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Canning and Fermenting Supplies
Home food preservation helps you use garden produce or seasonal bargains before they spoil. Store canning jars, compatible lids and rings, and fermenting containers where they will stay clean and undamaged, and follow tested recipes and food-safety guidance for each preservation method.
Personal Hygiene Supplies
Soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, razors, and cleaning supplies are easy to overlook when putting together emergency stores. Keeping a little extra of the products your household uses can save an unnecessary trip to the store, and learning to make basic soap may be useful for those interested in traditional home skills.
Prepare Before You Need It
You don’t have to buy everything at once to be better prepared for an emergency. Start with the supplies your household uses most, add a few items whenever your budget allows, and keep everything in a known, easy-to-reach place.
