How to pick an emergency kit, according to FEMA and the CDC

With hurricanes, wildfires and nasty viruses, unfortunately emergencies are a reality these days. So could you survive off of your own food, water and other supplies for a few days if you needed to? That’s the definition of “emergency preparedness,” according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Ready.gov.

An emergency kit — sometimes called a survival kit — can help you be more prepared. Nearly half of Americans (48%) have already assembled some kind of emergency supplies, according to FEMA’s 2023 National Household Survey. If you’re not one of them, what are you waiting for? We collected guidance from government agencies like FEMA and the CDC about what to put in an emergency kit and recommended some top-rated options.

Selected. Our top picks

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How we picked the best emergency kits and supplies

Using guidance from reputable agencies like the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Red Cross, we selected emergency kits based on the following criteria:

• Supplies included: All of the above organizations suggest an emergency kit that includes some variation of the following:

1. First aid: suitable to the size and medical need of your family
2. Sustenance: water (one gallon per person per day) and non-perishable food that can last several days
3. Hygiene: moist towelettes and garbage bags
4. Light: flashlight
5. Shelter: plastic sheeting and emergency blankets
6. Communication: whistle, battery-powered or hand-crank radio (with NOAA Weather Radio, if possible), cell phone and cell phone charging cables
7. Tools: disposable batteries, duct tape, multi-tool or wrench, can-opener (if kit contains canned food) and local maps
8. Protection: N95 masks

• Household size: Emergency kits are designed for a specific number of people. We included pre-made options for households ranging from two to four people.
• Top-rated: We only selected pre-made kits with at least a four star rating on the brand or retailer sites.

Top-rated emergency kits of 2024

These top-rated emergency kits have most of the supplies recommended from agencies like FEMA, the CDC and The American Red Cross. You can also supplement them with supplies of your own.

Best overall: Redfora Complete 3 Day Earthquake Bag

Redfora Complete 3 Day Earthquake Bag

This three-day emergency kit includes a variety of items recommended by FEMA, the CDC and the Red Cross, plus some additional nice-to-haves, like water purification tablets, nylon rope, a sewing kit, a candle and hand warmers. The supplies are labeled and color-coated in bags that have a QR code you can scan to find out more about how to use the supplies, according to the brand. It comes in a red backpack and weighs about 10 pounds in total.

You can read a full list of the included supplies on Redfora’s website. This emergency kit does not include all the recommended shelter and communication supplies, so. you may want to supplement with things like plastic sheeting, batteries, charging tools and local maps.

Persons: 2 | Time: 72 hours | Weight: 10.5 lbs