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When extreme weather is in full swing, we want everyone to stay safe. Here are some resources if you or a loved one are impacted by storms.
Whether it's a days-long power outage or serious evacuation, having a pre-packaged emergency kit ready can keep you and your family safe, warm, and fed for up to 72 hours.
The best emergency kits include food, first aid, and tools like hand-crank radios, and items for shelter. And while it's smart to have more than just a go-bag in your home, these emergency kits are a great way to start your natural disaster preparations.
*Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
The Everlit 72-hr Emergency Kit has everything you and up to two other people would need to survive alone for up to three days. While this is one of our most expensive picks of the bunch, it comes with food and water rations, tools, tents, gloves, first aid, and a combination hand-crank radio-flashlight-phone charger.
According to the nearly 2,000 Amazon users, the bag itself is tough and dense, yet still includes space for personal items like medication, pet food, documents, and more. While we saw some complaints about basic tools, this bag earned 5-stars from over 85% of its reviewers.
The Everlit Emergency Kit is available for two people for around $160 and three people for around $200, making it an investment for some. But thankfully, its food has a 5-year shelf life, so you won't have to replace much after purchasing.
Durable military-grade bag
Supplies for up to 3 people
High customer rating 
Some complaints about the tools
May be hard to reorganize once unpacked 
*Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
You don't need to live on a faultline to find the Redfora Complete Earthquake Bag handy in an emergency. Inside the pack, you'll find color coded mini kits for food and water, tools and first aid, shelter and warmth, light and communication. This makes packing and organizing tons of items easy, especially in a stressful situation with multiple people (the parents know what I'm talking about).
With kits available for up to 6 people, we think this kit is especially good for families. Each of the mini kits comes with a scannable QR code that leads you to an instructional video for items in the bag.
Kits for up to 6 people
Color color mini-kits inside
Shelter and sleeping bags included
Checklist and emergency prep guides
Up to $370 for larger kits
Less durable bag 
Does your family know what to do in an emergency? Learn how to create an emergency plan for your household in case of evacuations, house fires, or other disasters.
*Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
Whether you're just prepping for yourself or want to get started with a basic kit of emergency supplies, the Ready America Backpack is an affordable starting point. As far as survival kits go, it's pretty basic, but that makes it a good starting point to build on.
It will take care of your basic needs for a few days: food, water, and shelter—but it has no survival tools, no communication radio, and no flashlight.
Affordable
Good base for custom kits
Food, water, hygiene, and first aid
Less food than other kits
Fewer tools 
*Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
If you’re someone who doesn’t like to be without a backup plan no matter where you are, the Verifygear Emergency Survival Kit might be right for you.
It’s packed with useful survival tools like a fire starter, knife, flashlight, fishing gear, first aid kit, and more. This kit doesn’t have food, water, or shelter, but it’s a great addition to any emergency kit that does.
Camping companion
Fishing kit and unique tools
Compact
No food, water, or purifying tablets 
Emergency kits aren't just for your home. Check out our favorite roadside emergency kits for your next roadtrip.
Product | Best for | Price* | Food | Water
 | Shelter | Communication | Learn more |
| Best overall | $169.95 | 3600 calorie food bars (3)
| Drinking water & purification tablets
|  Yes | Yes | View on Amazon | |
| Best for families | $165.00 | 3,600-calorie food bars (2)
| Drinking water & purification tablets | Yes
| Yes
| View on Amazon | |
| Budget pick | $76.99 | 2,400-calorie food bar (1) | Drinking water & purification tablets
|  No | No
| View on Amazon | |
| Best for wilderness | $24.39 | No
| No | No
| No
| View on Amazon |
*Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
Like most scary things, emergency situations are more frightening when you’re not prepared for them. But having an emergency evacuation and survival kit like the Everlit 72-Hour Kit can let you confidently answer “Yes!” if anyone asks whether you’re prepared.
To learn more about emergency preparedness, fire prevention, and keeping your family safe from common household dangers like carbon monoxide, check out our home safety articles, like safety hazards to watch for around the house.
We evaluated the best emergency survival kits by researching the bestselling and highest-rated products on the market. We compared each kit to find the ones with the most useful, high-quality gear to ensure your survival.
To find out more about how we rate and review products, check out our methodology.
Be sure to include these items:
If you’re preparing for a potential wildfire evacuation, it’s also a good idea to add a working fire extinguisher and some burn cream to your first aid kit.
They might not do much in a serious situation, but they could help keep things under control until help arrives.
If you want to add extra survival food, make sure it's lightweight. Although canned food has a great shelf-life, it's not ideal for a bug-out bag since it's so heavy. Look for foil packs instead.
Cars are a perfect place to store emergency kits if you have room because if you have to evacuate, you’ll probably be traveling by car (though emergency food and water do best with stable temperatures indoors).
If you want to store your kit in your home, pick a spot that’s easy to get to (read: not down in the basement under a pile of boxes) so you can grab it and go.
Yes, but remember it’s good for only small fires, and you should never try to use it to put out an engine fire.
Engines can combust quickly, so if your car catches on fire, the smartest thing to do is to forgo the hero maneuvers and get yourself and your passengers out of harm’s way as quickly as possible.
If you do choose to keep an extinguisher in your car, make sure it’s rated for Class B (flammable liquids) and Class C (electrical equipment) fires.
Secure it so it doesn’t become a projectile in case of an accident, and keep it out of reach of small children, unless you want to pay for an unexpected (and expensive) interior car detailing.
First and foremost, make sure your home has working smoke detectors. A sensitive smoke alarm can buy you and your children precious seconds to escape.
Create an escape plan with your family and practice it often, especially with young children who might be especially frightened in a fire.
If your home is more than one story tall, invest in an emergency fire escape ladder for each upstairs bedroom, and install nightlights in bedrooms and hallways. As much as possible, keep floors and walkways clear of clutter to aid family members and firefighters in escape and rescue.
You could also consider a specialty fire safety kit like the Everlit Emergency Fire Safety Kit, which contains tools to help you get out of a burning house:
Clean your dryer vents regularly, and make sure flammable liquids are stored in ventilated areas away from heat sources like water heaters, clothes dryers, and radiators.
Get into the habit of using timers and alarms to remind you to take things off the stove, turn off the oven, turn off space heaters, and blow out candles.
Have an electrician inspect your wiring regularly for any visual indications of wear and tear that could lead to an electrical fire. Keep working fire extinguishers in places where fires may start, like the kitchen, laundry room, and garage.
*Amazon.com list price as of post date. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
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