Rolling Stone and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change.
A Complete Emergency Supplies Checklist, From Headlamps to First Aid Kits
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
No matter where you live, emergencies can (and do) happen. But whether it’s snow storms, tornados, wildfires, or hurricanes, the danger of serious emergencies can almost always be mitigated by investing in the best emergency supplies.
More from Rolling Stone
At a Glance: Emergency Supply Checklist
Water Filter: Survivor Filter Pro
Multi-Tool: Leatherman Wave+
Survival Kit: Ready America 72-Hour Deluxe Emergency Kit
Emergency Food: Mountain House Classic Bucket
First Aid Kit: First Aid Only 298-Piece Kit
Survival Shovel: Rhino USA Folding Shovel
Respirator: 3M Particulate Respirator
Portable Generator: Generac iQ3500
Camping Stove: Coleman Portable Butane Stove
Emergency Blankets: Swiss Safe Mylar Thermal Blankets
Lantern: Goal Zero Lighthouse Lantern
Headlamp: Black Diamond Spot 400
Fire Starter: überleben Zünden Fire Starter
Heavy-Duty Garbage Bags: Contractor Clean-Up Bags
Work Gloves: Carhartt System 5 Work Glove
Batteries: Duracell AA
Related: The Best Emergency Food Supplies
But choosing the right emergency gear — or just figuring out what types of emergency supplies you should have — can be tricky. To make things easier, we’ve created a checklist of the best emergency supplies to help your household stay safe in the worst-case scenarios.
What Are the Best Emergency Supplies?
When stocking up on the best emergency supplies, you’ll want to start by considering what needs your emergency stash has to meet. Namely, you’ll need food and water, first aid supplies, and light and heat. If you want to go beyond the basics, we also recommend adding power, shelter (like an emergency tent), and survival tools to your emergency supplies checklist.
No matter what kind of emergency supply you’re looking at — be it a multi-tool, a camping stove, or an emergency food supply — be sure it’s well-built and capable of staying in working order while shelved. The best emergency supplies can be tucked away and taken out months, if not years later, and still function properly.
Read on for a full checklist of the best emergency supplies to stock up on now.
WATER FILTER
Survivor Filter PRO Hand Pump
$69.95
The most important thing to secure in most emergencies is clean drinking water. One way to create an emergency water supply is to buy a water tank that you fill up if you know an emergency is on the horizon (i.e. if there’s a tornado warning).
However, a more efficient option for securing drinking water is to get an emergency water filter, such as this Survivor Filter Pro. The compact rig uses a pump mechanism to suck up water, run it through a filter, and pump out 500 milliliters of clean drinking water per minute. It’s also very lightweight (half a pound), so you can transport it if need be.
MULTI-TOOL
Leatherman Wave+
$119.95
$119.95
A reliable multi-tool has always been part of our everyday carry, but they become absolutely essential when disaster strikes. Our favorite multi-tool is this Leatherman Wave+, which packs 18 tools in a small package, measuring just four inches when closed. Inside, you’ll find basics like knives, scissors, screwdrivers, and pliers, as well as some good extras like a saw and a wire stripper.
SURVIVAL KIT
Ready America 72-Hour Deluxe Emergency Kit
$77.43 $109.99 30% off
Want to skip the hassle of assembling your own emergency supplies? You can pick up a pre-packaged emergency kit like this one from Ready America. The all-in-one kit includes everything that most people will need to stay safe, nourished, and clean during an emergency, including safety blankets, toiletries, a multi-tool, lights, water, and food. It’s very reasonably priced too — and supports two people for up to 72 hours.
EMERGENCY FOOD
Mountain House Classic Bucket
$109.59 $126.00 13% off
Food supplies like this Mountain House bucket are another great item for any emergency stash. The bucket is filled with 24 nutritious freeze-dried food servings, which can be easily heated up by adding hot water. But the real draw with a food supply like the Mountain House bucket is its shelf life: The food will stay good for 30 years, guaranteed, so you can buy a bucket now and forget about it until it might be needed.
FIRST AID KIT
First Aid 299 Piece Emergency Kit
$18.52 $20.58 10% off
Everyone should have an emergency first aid kit in their home and/or car, especially in case of a widespread emergency. This 298-piece kit from First Aid Only is a great choice with all the basics for treating small injuries like cuts and scrapes, as well as some materials for taking care of serious injuries when real medical help isn’t immediately available. Despite its comprehensiveness, the case is easily transportable at about ten by seven inches.
SURVIVAL SHOVEL
Rhino USA Folding Survival Shovel
$26.90
$26.90
If you’re moving snow or surviving outdoors during an emergency, a reliable shovel is crucial. We like survival shovels, such as this one from Rhino USA, for any such uses. Made of ultra-rugged carbon steel, the shovel is foldable, lightweight (two pounds), and shorter than most for easy transportation. Plus, the head folds to become a pickaxe for, say, breaking up ice.
RESPIRATOR
3M Particulate Respirator N95 (Pack of 10)
$23.00 $30.24 24% off
$20.34
Harmful levels of smoke and dust are common in many types of emergencies, including wildfires and earthquakes. These N95-certified respirators from 3M keep your lungs safe from any such contaminates, filtering out non-oil-based particles. They also use 3M’s Cool Flow Valve technology, which reduces heat and humidity inside the mask. Overall, the mask’s design is ergonomic enough to wear for hours without feeling totally uncomfortable.
GENERATOR
Generac 7127 Portable Generator
$999.00
Portable generators are great to have around for both serious emergencies and minor ones like, say, power outages when you’re working from home and need WiFi. We like this Generac iQ3500 generator because it pumps out an impressive 3,500 watts of power, which is enough for household necessities as well as a few extras (like the TV, for example). It’s also gas-powered for efficient, lasting energy, and users say it runs very quietly.
CAMPING STOVE
Coleman Classic Butane Stove
$34.99
$36
If you don’t have access to a kitchen (maybe the gas and/or electricity are out), it’s a good idea to have a butane camping stove available for cooking. This affordable Coleman stove does the trick with a reliable, portable build and good temperature control. It makes efficient use of a single butane canister, burning on high for about 1.25 hours before it needs a replacement. It also doesn’t require matches to start — a big help in windy or wet environments.
EMERGENCY BLANKETS
Swiss Safe Mylar Emergency Blankets
$14.99 $19.99 25% off
$25.51 $30.50 16% off
Emergency blankets (a.k.a. space blankets) like these from Swiss Safe are an essential part of any emergency kit. When packed up, the two-ounce blankets measure just five by three inches. When you need some extra warmth in an emergency, the blankets can be unfolded to 82 by 52 inches. Once wrapped around your body, they effectively trap up to 90% of body heat while keeping out rain and snow.
LANTERN
Lighthouse 600 Multi-Functional Light
$51.89 $69.95 26% off
$69.95
This powerful lantern from Goal Zero is an easy way to light up a whole room, tent, or campsite when the power is out. The light is adjustable up to 600 lumens (which is very bright), and the lithium battery can be charged three different ways: with a crank, with replaceable batteries, or with a USB charger. The clever design also features a foldable stand, a carrying handle, and easy-to-use buttons.
HEADLAMP
Black Diamond Spot 400
$49.95
$49.95
Headlamps are another great source of light in an emergency, letting you set up generators, clean, and do other two-handed tasks without holding a light. This Black Diamond Spot 400 is widely regarded as one of the best headlamps on the market right now, offering tons of brightness and setting options in a comfortable, lightweight package.
FIRE STARTER
überleben Ferro Rod Fire Starter
$12.80 $16.00 20% off
Unless you know how to start a fire with foraged materials, this tiny Ferro rod fire starter is a handy piece of gear for survival situations. The traditional fire starter rod quickly throws a 5,500-degree F spark when used with the attached striker — even if it’s wet or snowing outside. The striker also works as a tinder scraper, a ruler, a hex wrench, and a bottle opener (essential for that fireside beverage).
GARBAGE BAGS
Hefty Heavy Duty Contractor Trash Bags
$21.52 $25.89 17% off
$33.60
Heavy-duty contractor garbage bags are an extremely versatile addition to any survival kit. For one, some emergencies could mean a delay in trash pick-up. But, besides their primary function, these extra garbage bags work as makeshift ponchos or shelters, a tarp.
WORK GLOVES
Carhartt System 5 Work Glove
$25.99
$25.99
Even if you already have a pair of work gloves, you might want to include some in your emergency kit. We like these ones from Carhartt, which offer durable protection for everything from fixing a leak to clearing debris.
BATTERIES
Duracell AA
$16.49 $21.98 25% off
$19.40 $34.68 44% off
In addition to a good generator, some backup batteries are always a good idea for radios, flashlights, and other small electronics. Disposable batteries, like these trusted Duracell AAs, are better than rechargeable ones for emergencies.
Best of Rolling Stone
Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.