10 Emergency-Preparedness Items for Reasonable People
Doomsday prepping, once the butt of jokes and the subject of junky television documentaries, has recently gone mainstream. Even if you don’t live in an area prone to natural disaster, you’ve probably at least thought about getting some kind of go bag together — especially as governments around the world have started literally instructing peopleto do so.
There are a few reasons why it feels like everybody is talking about prepping right now, says Sean Gold, the founder of survival website TruePrepper. AI is the main one. “Technological advances are going at a breakneck pace,” he says. “People are looking at cybersecurity, power-grid infrastructure, and supply chains for potential disruption from AI-led or assisted disturbances.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new Federal Operations for Resilience, Troop Resources, Energy, Supply, and Survivability (FORTRESS) initiative, which aims to make U.S. military bases operational off-grid, has also got people worried, says Gold. He adds that while fears around this are likely overblown — “FORTRESS is a long-overdue Band-Aid for vulnerabilities that have long existed” — the fact that governments here and abroad seem to be passing off the responsibility of disaster preparedness to their own citizens is worth taking note of. “FEMA has been financially gutted and is a shell of what it was, which wasn’t that efficient or timely to begin with,” he says. “In times when the very people who are charged with keeping you safe are telling you to ‘get prepared,’ the rational response is prepping.”
Spending time getting to know your neighbors is probably the best way to prepare for any troubles to come because when disaster strikes, we’re all in this together. But you can also invest in a few key emergency items that don’t take up too much storage space and can double as camping gear. Whether you’re preparing for the playground scene in Terminator 2 or a brief electrical blackout, here’s a survivalist starter pack. You can also check out our guide to emergency preparedness for new homeowners as well as a more comprehensive list of the best items to stock for different kinds of emergencies.
A full first-aid kit
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Experts have told us you should reserve at least a seven-day supply of your prescription medications, along with any medical devices you need, in case of emergency. A good first-aid kit is also essential. Thomas Coyne, the owner and lead instructor at Thomas Coyne Survival Schools, calls Adventure Medical Kits “the best on the market.”
A multitool
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Leatherman’s durable multi-tools are highly praised by preppers. This one, which comes recommended by survivalist Travis McGill, is especially suitable for emergencies — it even has a whistle and fire starter alongside several types of blade.
An off-grid radio
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“In an extreme global situation, an entire country may be off-grid, but someone, somewhere, will be broadcasting,” says Mykel Hawke, a former U.S. Army Special Forces captain and author of several survival books. A hand-crank radio like this one will keep you in the loop when all else fails.
Lighters or matches
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Carrying both is ideal because you’ll always have a backup, but survivalists recommend lighters over matches. And it’s also worth brushing up on your fire-starting skills — it’s surprisingly tricky for beginners.
A light source
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Morgan Rogue of the prepper site Rogue Preparedness prefers headlamps to flashlights and portable lanterns so you can be 100 percent hands-free and there’s less chance you’ll put your torch down and lose it.
A water filter you know how to use
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Should you need to treat your water, gravity-fed filters are good for groups, says Hawke.
Backup power
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This Jackery can charge up the devices of everybody in your household, and the solar panels really work — I’ve gone camping with this setup many times.
Those masks you might be familiar with
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Face masks are always useful to have stocked at home or in your go bag, whether you’re worried about forest fires, pathogens, or both. This one from Protective Health Gear is our best N95 mask overall because of its comfortable yet secure fit.
A home fire extinguisher
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There are four classes of fire extinguishers for four kinds of fires — ordinary combustibles, grease, electrical, and metal — but your best bet is a standard home model, which is versatile and inexpensive. Strategist writer Brenley Goertzen, who recently went on an emergency-preparation journey after purchasing her first home, keeps hers under the kitchen sink.
An important-document wallet
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And you should keep copies of all your important documents (e.g., a medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, the deed or lease to your home, passports, birth certificates, and insurance policies) ready to go, ideally in a protective case like this one.
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