🌦️ Seasonal preparation

Bottled water

Our rule: about three 16.9 oz bottles per person per day out and about.

3 bottles per person per day

Amazon search: “bottled water 16.9 oz 24 pack”

Electrolyte drink mix

Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier, lemon lime, 50 packets

Electrolyte drink packets. Ask a doctor for babies or anyone on fluid limits.

Good for: Heat and stomach bugs

1 packet per person per day

For heat and stomach bugs. Ask a doctor for babies and people on fluid limits.

Canned chili

Shelf-stable meal kits

Amazon search: “shelf stable ready to eat meals”

Bouillon or broth

Amazon search: “chicken broth”

Ice

Our rule: about a pound per person per day for drinks; more if the cooler holds food.

1 pound per person per day

Amazon search: “bagged ice”

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.

Food thermos

1 thermos each

Amazon search: “kids food thermos”

Heavy-duty work gloves

For cleanup after storms and floods.

1 pair per adult

Amazon search: “work gloves”

Hand sanitizer

2 bottles for the group

Sunscreen

Our rule: an 8 oz bottle lasts about four person-days with reapplying.

Medical device backup batteries

Ask the device maker or supplier how long a backup lasts. Ready.gov says to plan for power-dependent devices.

Amount varies

Amazon search: “medical device backup battery”

Cough drops

1 bag for the group

Cooler for insulin or medicines

Follow the medicine's storage instructions.

1 case for the group

Amazon search: “insulin cooling case”

Hand-crank weather radio with charger

RunningSnail hand-crank radio

A small crank radio with the NOAA weather band and a flashlight.

Good for: Go-bags

1 radio for the group

Radios were among the biggest jumps in demand during the 2025 Iberian blackout.

Power bank

Anker PowerCore Slim 10,000mAh power bank

Pocket-size backup charging for a phone.

Good for: Everyday bag

1 power bank per adult

Large power bank (20,000 mAh)

Anker 20,000mAh power bank

Twice a pocket bank's capacity, with three ports.

Good for: Outages and family trips

Battery-powered fan

O2COOL Treva 10-inch battery fan

Runs on D batteries or a wall adapter.

Good for: Summer outages

Hats

1 hat each

Amazon search: “sun hat”

Baby emergency kit

Diapers, formula, bottles, clothes and medicine for a few days.

1 kit per baby

Amazon search: “diaper bag organizer”

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.

Car snow brush and scraper

Hopkins SubZero 16511 snowbrush and ice scraper

A snowbrush with an ice scraper and chippers.

Good for: Winter car

1 brush for the group

Gloves or mittens

1 pair each

Amazon search: “winter gloves”

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.

Cooling towels

Mission Enduracool cooling towel

Cools when wet. Soak it again to reuse.

Good for: Hot days outside

1 towel each

Indoor thermometer and humidity monitor

ThermoPro TP50 indoor thermometer and humidity monitor

Shows room temperature and humidity at a glance.

Good for: Heat and cold checks

1 monitor for the group

Helps you notice when a room is getting too hot or cold for babies and older adults.

Winter hats

1 hat each

Amazon search: “winter beanie”

Folding shovel

1 shovel for the group

Jumper cables

Energizer jumper cables, 20 ft, 4-gauge

Long, heavy-gauge cables with a carry bag.

Good for: Every car

1 set for the group

Portable jump starter

NOCO Boost GB40 jump starter

Starts a dead battery without a second car. Doubles as a USB charger.

Good for: Every car

1 jump starter for the group

Roadside warning triangles

Performance Tool W1498 warning triangles, 3-pack

Three reflective triangles in a case.

Good for: Breakdowns

1 set for the group

Emergency food bars for the car

Datrex 3600 emergency food bars

A sealed 3-day ration of food bars with a long shelf life.

Good for: Car and go-bag

2 bars each

Water pouches for the car

Datrex emergency water pouches, 18-pack

Sealed water pouches with a long shelf life.

Good for: Car and go-bag

3 pouches each

Car blanket

2 blankets for the group

Amazon search: “wool blanket”

Windshield washer fluid

1 jug for the group

Amazon search: “winter windshield washer fluid”