🏠 Home essentials

Drinking and cleaning water

1 gallon per person per day is the Red Cross and Ready.gov amount. Hot weather, nursing and illness can need more.

1 gallon per person per day

Amazon search: “gallon drinking water”

Water storage container

Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-gallon water container

A 7-gallon jug with a spigot for storing your own tap water.

Good for: Water at home

2 containers for the group

For filling your own water. Two 7-gallon containers hold about 14 gallons.

Unscented household bleach

For cleaning, and for making water safe using CDC's amounts.

1 bottle for the group

Amazon search: “unscented bleach”

Non-perishable food

One person-day is a day of food for one person. Pick food your household already eats.

1 person-day per person per day

Amazon search: “non perishable food”

Canned soups and stews

Our rule: half a can per person per day.

Canned vegetables

Canned fruit

Canned tuna or chicken

Canned beans

Coffee

Our rule: a 12-ounce bag covers about 25 person-days.

Amazon search: “ground coffee”

Milk

Amazon search: “shelf stable milk”

5-gallon water jug

Shows up often in Amazon searches next to emergency prep.

2 jugs for the group

Amazon search: “5 gallon water jug”

Cooler

Coleman 62-quart wheeled cooler

A big wheeled cooler for camp, games and outages.

Good for: Camping and outages

Our rule: one large cooler for every six or seven people.

Manual can opener

Mebotem heavy-duty manual can opener

Big handles and an easy-turn knob. No power needed.

Good for: Every pantry

1 can opener for the group

Ready.gov puts one in the basic kit.

Lighter or matches

Keep them dry. Ready.gov lists waterproof matches.

2 lighters for the group

Amazon search: “waterproof matches”

Food thermometer

ThermoPro TP19 instant-read thermometer

A fast thermometer for meat and leftovers.

Good for: Holiday cooking

1 thermometer for the group

Ice packs

4 packs for the group

Amazon search: “reusable ice packs for cooler”

Aluminum foil

1 roll for the group

Amazon search: “heavy duty aluminum foil”

Kitchen trash bags (13 gallon)

Hefty Strong 13-gallon kitchen bags, 90 count

A big box of drawstring kitchen bags.

Good for: Monthly restock

One of the most searched household items on Amazon.

Toilet paper

Our rule: about 3 rolls per person per week.

Paper towels

Our rule: about a roll per person every three weeks; more for cookouts.

Trash bags

Our rule: half a bag per person per day; at least one per day.

Amazon search: “heavy duty trash bags”

Facial tissues

Zip-top bags

Keep papers and phones dry.

1 box for the group

Amazon search: “gallon zipper bags”

Disinfecting wipes

Clorox disinfecting wipes, 3 x 75

Three canisters of disinfecting wipes.

Good for: Cold and flu season

1 canister for the group

Enzyme cleaner for pet accidents

Nature's Miracle dog stain and odor remover, 32 oz

An enzyme cleaner for pee and other accidents.

Good for: House training

1 bottle for the group

Dish soap

1 bottle for the group

Amazon search: “biodegradable camp soap”

Laundry detergent

Our rule: a large container lasts one person about 100 days.

All-purpose cleaner

1 bottle for the group

Sponges

1 pack for the group

Toothpaste

Our rule: a tube lasts one person about 7 weeks.

Hand soap

Shampoo and body wash

Amazon search: “travel size shampoo body wash”

Deodorant

1 stick per adult

Feminine hygiene supplies

Ready.gov lists feminine supplies.

1 box per adult

Amazon search: “pads tampons”

Bar soap

Bath towels

2 towels each

Adhesive bandages

Band-Aid family variety pack, 120

Bandages in several sizes and types.

Good for: Home first aid

1 box for the group

Thermometer

Braun digital thermometer (PRT2100US)

A fast digital thermometer for mouth, armpit or rectal use.

Good for: Sick days

1 thermometer for the group

Pain and fever reliever

1 bottle for the group

Amazon search: “pain reliever”

Children's pain and fever reliever

1 bottle for the group

Amazon search: “children's fever reducer”

Allergy medicine

1 box for the group

Cold and flu medicine

Check with a pharmacist if someone takes other medicines.

1 box for the group

Ice packs for injuries

2 packs for the group

Amazon search: “reusable ice packs for injuries”

Antibiotic ointment

1 tube for the group

Flashlights

GearLight S1000 rechargeable flashlights, 2-pack

Bright flashlights that charge by USB-C, so a power bank keeps them going.

Good for: Outages

1 flashlight each

One per person, so nobody is left in the dark.

Batteries

Amazon Basics AA batteries, 48-pack

A big pack of AAs for lights and radios.

Good for: Restocking

4 batteries each

Check sizes for your lights and radio.

Lantern

Etekcity CL10 LED lanterns, 4-pack

Four battery lanterns for shared rooms. Batteries included.

Good for: Outages

2 lanterns for the group

Rechargeable AA batteries

Panasonic eneloop AA, 8-pack with charger

Rechargeable AAs and a charger. They hold a charge in storage.

Good for: Everyday use

8 batteries for the group

AAA batteries

Amazon Basics AAA batteries, 36-pack

AAAs for headlamps, remotes and small lights.

Good for: Restocking

8 batteries for the group

Surge protector

2 protectors for the group

Board games

2 games for the group

Amazon search: “family board games”

Baby food and formula

One day's supply per baby per day. Use what your baby already eats.

1 day's supply per baby per day

Amazon search: “baby formula”

Diaper cream

1 tube per baby

Pet food

One day's portion per pet per day. Ready.gov says to plan food and water for pets too.

1 day's portion per pet per day

Amazon search: “dog food”

Poop bags

Earth Rated poop bags, 315 unscented

Refill rolls of unscented bags.

Good for: Every walk

3 bags per pet per day

Pet water

Our rule: half a gallon per pet per day; big dogs drink more.

Amazon search: “pet water bowl”

Cat litter

Carbon monoxide alarm

First Alert CO605 plug-in CO alarms, 3-pack

Plug-in CO alarms with battery backup, one for each level.

Good for: Every floor

2 alarms for the group

Put one on each floor and near sleeping areas. Ready.gov warns about CO from generators and heaters.

Fire extinguisher

First Alert HOME1 fire extinguisher

A rechargeable home extinguisher rated 1-A:10-B:C.

Good for: Kitchen and garage

1 extinguisher for the group

Smoke and CO alarm

First Alert battery smoke and CO combo alarm (SMCO100)

One battery alarm for smoke and carbon monoxide.

Good for: Bedrooms and hallways

1 alarm for the group

Test monthly. Add one per floor and outside sleeping areas.

Fire blanket

A top-converting item in Amazon's emergency preparedness searches.

1 blanket for the group

Amazon search: “fire blanket for kitchen”

Furniture anchors

CPSC urges anchoring dressers and TVs.

1 kit for the group

Amazon search: “furniture anti tip kit”

Pipe insulation

Frost King SP512XB6 foam pipe insulation, 6 ft

Self-sealing foam for exposed pipes. This size fits 1-inch copper or 3/4-inch iron.

Good for: Cold basements and crawl spaces

1 pack for the group

Ready.gov says to insulate pipes before cold weather.

Ice melt

2 bags for the group

Amazon search: “pet safe ice melt”

Snow shovel

1 shovel for the group

Umbrellas

Amazon search: “compact umbrella”

Air purifier

EPA says a HEPA purifier sized for the room can lower indoor smoke.

1 purifier for the group

Amazon search: “hepa air purifier”

Replacement HEPA filters

2 filters for the group

Amazon search: “hepa replacement filter”

Furnace filters (MERV 13)

2 filters for the group

Amazon search: “merv 13 furnace filter”

Basic tool kit

CRAFTSMAN 57-piece home tool set

Hammer, pliers, screwdrivers, sockets and a tape in one case.

Good for: First apartment

1 kit for the group

Tape measure

STANLEY PowerLock 25-foot tape measure

The classic 25-foot tape.

Good for: Every toolbox

1 tape measure for the group

Screwdriver set

1 set for the group

Adjustable wrench

Ready.gov lists a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.

1 wrench for the group

Hammer

1 hammer for the group

Utility knife

1 knife for the group

Amazon search: “box cutter”

Grab bars

Moen 8724 24-inch grab bar

A steel grab bar. Mount it into studs or with the maker's anchors.

Good for: Tub and shower

2 bars for the group

Install into studs or use the maker's anchors.

Motion-sensor night lights

GE motion-sensor night lights, 2-pack

Plug-in lights that turn on when someone walks by.

Good for: Hallways and bathrooms

4 lights for the group

Non-slip bath mat

1 mat for the group

Visual or vibrating smoke alarm

For people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

1 alarm for the group

Amazon search: “smoke alarm for deaf strobe”

Storage bins

4 bins for the group

Amazon search: “plastic storage bins”