Gear that helps

Organized by need. Each item says why it matters. We don't list prices or star ratings, because they change constantly. Check the retailer.

⚠ Safety first

Run generators, grills and camp stoves only outdoors, far from windows, doors and vents, never in a garage. Store gasoline only in approved containers outside living spaces. Generator safety · Fuel storage

Today's top gear

Curated preparedness essentials, ordered by today's live risk. Each one was picked from independent reviews.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Weather

Midland WR400 Deluxe NOAA Weather Alert Radio

Midland

Wakes you at night for warnings in your own county (SAME alerts), even when your phone is silent.

Reviewed by Wirecutter 'Also great' (per Midland) / Weather Station Experts #1 (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Weather

Midland ER310 E+Ready Emergency Crank Weather Radio

Midland

AM/FM/NOAA radio, flashlight and phone charging by hand crank or solar when the grid is down for days.

Reviewed by CNN Underscored top pick; Popular Science best overall (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Weather

WaterBOB Bathtub Emergency Drinking Water Storage (100 gal)

WaterBOB

Fills your tub with up to 100 gallons of sealed drinking water before a hurricane or boil-water notice.

Reviewed by TruePrepper: Best tub water storage (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Weather

Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container

Reliance Products

Reusable 7-gallon drinking water jug you can fill ahead of a storm and keep for evacuation.

Reviewed by TruePrepper: Best overall water container (drop-tested) (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Power & utilities

EF EcoFlow DELTA 2 Portable Power Station (1,024Wh LiFePO4)

EcoFlow

Runs a fridge, CPAP, fan and phones through a multi-day outage; recharges from the wall in about 1.3 hours.

Reviewed by Outdoor Life best overall (Jan 2026 tests) (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Power & utilities

Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station

Jackery

Bigger home backup for longer hurricane outages and heavier loads.

Reviewed by OutdoorGearLab Editors' Choice (Jul 2026) (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Power & utilities

Anker Power Bank (20K, 87W, Built-In USB-C Cable)

Anker

Keeps phones charged for alerts and calls when power or cell service is disrupted.

Reviewed by TechRadar review: 'a great choice' (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Power & utilities

Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Lantern & USB Power Hub

Goal Zero

Room light with a hand crank, so it still works when there is no way to recharge.

Reviewed by OutdoorGearLab best overall lantern (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

See all gear (19 more)

Power & utilities

Black Diamond Spot 400-R Rechargeable Headlamp

Black Diamond

Hands-free light for outage chores and night evacuations.

Reviewed by CleverHiker best overall headlamp (Apr 2026) (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Power & utilities

Shark FlexBreeze Cordless Fan

Shark

Battery fan for Florida heat when the power is out for days.

Reviewed by Reviewed.com hands-on review (runtime figures are Shark's) (opens in a new tab)

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Power & utilities

NOCO Boost Plus GB40 1000A UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter

NOCO

Restarts a dead car battery so you can still evacuate or get supplies.

Reviewed by The Drive best overall; TechGearLab best compact (Apr 2026) (opens in a new tab)

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Power & utilities

Gas One GS-3400P Dual-Fuel Portable Camp Stove (butane/propane)

Gas One

Cook hot meals with no power; runs on butane or propane.

Reviewed by America's Test Kitchen: Recommended (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Power & utilities

Kidde Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Kidde

Warns of carbon monoxide from generators and stoves, a leading cause of post-hurricane deaths.

Reviewed by Bob Vila: Best bang for the buck (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Smoke & environment

Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System

Sawyer

Filters bacteria and protozoa from stored or questionable water during floods and boil-water notices.

Reviewed by Outdoor Life best overall; OutdoorGearLab Best Buy (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Smoke & environment

3M Aura Particulate Respirator 9205+, N95, 20-pack

NIOSH-approved N95 for wildfire smoke, ash and post-storm mold cleanup.

Reviewed by NBC Select: best individually wrapped N95 (opens in a new tab)

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Smoke & environment

Coway Airmega AP-1512HH (Mighty) True HEPA Air Purifier

Coway

Pulls smoke and fine particles (PM2.5) out of a room fast when air quality drops.

Reviewed by Outdoor Life best overall (smoke-room test) (opens in a new tab)

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Smoke & environment

Kidde Pro 210 Fire Extinguisher (2-A:10-B:C)

Kidde

Puts out small home fires from wildfire embers, generators, candles or electrical faults during outages.

Check price on Amazon

Health

Surviveware Small First Aid Kit

Surviveware

Treat cuts, sprains and burns at home or in the car when ERs are strained.

Reviewed by OutdoorGearLab Editors' Choice, #1 of 14 (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Evacuation

S.O.L. Heavy Duty Emergency Blanket

S.O.L. (Survive Outdoors Longer)

Reusable emergency blanket for shelters, shock, or staying warm when wet after a flood.

Reviewed by Outdoor Life: Best for survival (field-tested) (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Evacuation

5.11 Tactical Rush 24 2.0 Backpack

5.11 Tactical

Durable go-bag to pack once and grab when an evacuation order comes.

Reviewed by Field & Stream best overall survival backpack (Nov 2026) (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Evacuation

Mountain House Classic Bucket (24 servings, freeze-dried)

Mountain House

Long-shelf-life meals that need only water, for long outages and evacuations.

Reviewed by YourBestDigs top emergency food pick (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Evacuation

Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio

Rocky Talkie

Keeps your family in contact when cell networks fail during a storm or evacuation.

Reviewed by CNN Underscored best overall; OutdoorGearLab Editors' Choice (Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Evacuation

Leatherman Wave+ Multitool (stainless)

Leatherman

Pliers, blades and drivers for repairs and cutting during outages and evacuations.

Reviewed by OutdoorGearLab Editors' Choice (Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Cyber & records

SentrySafe Fire/Water File Chest

SentrySafe

One fire- and water-rated box for IDs, cash, deeds and insurance papers when payment systems or power go down.

Reviewed by Bob Vila: Best safe chest (UL fire / ETL water ratings) (opens in a new tab)

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Cyber & records

Yubico YubiKey 5 NFC Security Key

Yubico

Phishing-resistant sign-in for email, bank and cloud accounts when ransomware and account takeovers spike.

Reviewed by TechRadar: all-round best security key (opens in a new tab)

Check price on Amazon

Cyber & records

Samsung BAR Plus 128GB USB 3.1 Flash Drive

Samsung

Offline copies of IDs, policies and medical records in case of a cyberattack or cloud outage.

Reviewed by Tom's Guide: Best design USB drive (Mar 2026) (opens in a new tab)

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Cyber & records

Rand McNally 2027 Road Atlas

Rand McNally

Paper maps for evacuation routes when GPS, cell or internet is down.

Reviewed by Publisher page (annual US standard) (opens in a new tab)

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Off-grid texting: mesh radios Build toward 90 days on your own

More gear by need

These open an Amazon search for each kind of item.

Fuel cans

5-gallon approved gasoline canApproved cans are built to vent and seal safely; label each with the fill date so you rotate it.Check it (opens retailer site)
5-gallon diesel can (yellow)Color-coded cans keep diesel and gasoline from getting mixed up.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Fuel Storage: How Much Gas to Keep and How to Keep It Safe · Fuel Transfer Pumps and Water-Separating Filters · Generators: Test Runs, Spare Parts, and a Safe Cord Plan

Fuel stabilizer

Fuel stabilizerSlows the breakdown of stored gasoline so it still starts your generator months later.Check it (opens retailer site)
Ethanol fuel treatment for small enginesHelps protect small engines from ethanol-related water problems in stored fuel.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Fuel Storage: How Much Gas to Keep and How to Keep It Safe · Generators: Test Runs, Spare Parts, and a Safe Cord Plan

Fuel transfer pumps

Hand siphon / transfer pumpMoves fuel from cans to tanks without lifting and pouring heavy cans.Check it (opens retailer site)
Battery-powered fuel transfer pumpFills a generator tank steadily with less spilling.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Fuel Storage: How Much Gas to Keep and How to Keep It Safe · Fuel Transfer Pumps and Water-Separating Filters · Generators: Test Runs, Spare Parts, and a Safe Cord Plan

Water-separating fuel filters

Inline water-separating fuel filterCatches water and grit before they reach the engine, a common cause of no-start problems.Check it (opens retailer site)
Water-separating fuel funnelFilters water out as you pour, useful when fuel has been stored a while.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Fuel Transfer Pumps and Water-Separating Filters

Propane gear

Propane tank level gaugeShows how much propane is left so you can top off before a storm.Check it (opens retailer site)
Propane leak detector solutionA quick bubble test finds leaks at connections before you rely on the tank.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Propane: Topping Off, Storing, and Checking Your Tanks

Generators

Inverter generator (with CO shutoff)Runs a fridge, lights and phones in an outage. Pick one with automatic carbon monoxide shutoff, and only ever run it outdoors, far from the house.Check it (opens retailer site)
Heavy-duty outdoor generator extension cordA properly rated outdoor cord safely carries power from a generator that's running well away from the house.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Fuel Storage: How Much Gas to Keep and How to Keep It Safe · Generators: Test Runs, Spare Parts, and a Safe Cord Plan · Maintenance Spares: The Parts and Tools That Keep Gear Running

Carbon monoxide alarms

Battery-powered carbon monoxide alarmKeeps working when the power is out, which is exactly when generator and heater CO risk goes up.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Generators: Test Runs, Spare Parts, and a Safe Cord Plan · Heat and Fire Safety: Staying Warm Without Power · Your Home Readiness Plan

Smoke alarms

Smoke and CO combination alarm (battery)One device covers both fire and carbon monoxide; test it monthly.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Heat and Fire Safety: Staying Warm Without Power · Your Home Readiness Plan · Keeping Your Home Secure in an Emergency

Battery tenders

Battery tender / maintainerKeeps stored vehicle, generator and mower batteries charged so they start when needed.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Battery Audit: Know What You Have and Keep It Charged

Jump starters

Portable lithium jump starterStarts a dead car without a second vehicle, and most double as a phone charger.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Battery Audit: Know What You Have and Keep It Charged · Getting Out: Go-Bags, Routes and When to Leave

Fire extinguishers

ABC fire extinguisherRated for the common household fire types; keep one in the kitchen and one near the garage.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Fuel Transfer Pumps and Water-Separating Filters · Heat and Fire Safety: Staying Warm Without Power · Keeping Your Home Secure in an Emergency

Batteries and USB-C chargers

Rechargeable AA/AAA batteriesRechargeables plus a charger mean you aren't relying only on what's in the drawer.Check it (opens retailer site)
USB-C multi-battery chargerCharges AA and AAA batteries from a power bank or solar panel when the grid is down.Check it (opens retailer site)
CR123A batteriesMany flashlights and alarms use them, and they're hard to find after a storm.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Battery Audit: Know What You Have and Keep It Charged · Staying in Touch When Phones Struggle · Keeping Your Home Secure in an Emergency

Power banks and solar stations

High-capacity power bankSeveral phone charges in your pocket; keep it topped up.Check it (opens retailer site)
Portable power stationQuiet, fume-free battery power you can use indoors for phones, lights, CPAP or a small fridge.Check it (opens retailer site)
Folding solar panelRecharges a power station or power bank in a long outage.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Battery Audit: Know What You Have and Keep It Charged · Staying in Touch When Phones Struggle · Getting Out: Go-Bags, Routes and When to Leave

NOAA and world-band radios

NOAA weather radio with alert (SAME)Wakes you for warnings in your county even when cell service is down.Check it (opens retailer site)
Hand-crank / solar emergency radioAM/FM and weather bands with no batteries needed.Check it (opens retailer site)
World-band (shortwave) radioPicks up distant AM and shortwave stations when local stations are off the air.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Battery Audit: Know What You Have and Keep It Charged · Staying in Touch When Phones Struggle · Getting Out: Go-Bags, Routes and When to Leave

Scanners and handheld radios

FRS two-way radios (no license)Lets family members talk nearby without cell service; FRS needs no license.Check it (opens retailer site)
Digital scannerLets you listen to local emergency radio traffic where it is legal to do so.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Staying in Touch When Phones Struggle

Water storage

7-gallon water containerOne container holds a week of drinking water for one person at 1 gallon a day.Check it (opens retailer site)
Stackable water storage containersStack under a bed or in a closet to build up two weeks of water.Check it (opens retailer site)
Bathtub water storage bladderHolds clean water in the tub when a storm is forecast.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Build Your Own Food Storage or Buy a Kit? · Getting Out: Go-Bags, Routes and When to Leave · Your Home Readiness Plan

Water filters

Gravity water filterFilters larger amounts of water for the household without power.Check it (opens retailer site)
Personal water filter strawLight backup for a go-bag. Check what it does and doesn't remove.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Emergency Water: How Much to Store, How to Keep It, How to Make It Safe

Long-term food kits

Long-term food storage kitEasy shelf-stable backup. Compare total calories, not servings, and remember most kits need water and fuel to cook.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Build Your Own Food Storage or Buy a Kit? · Getting Out: Go-Bags, Routes and When to Leave · Your Home Readiness Plan

Freeze-dried staples

Freeze-dried vegetables (#10 can)Adds vegetables and variety to a rice-and-beans pantry, with a long shelf life.Check it (opens retailer site)
Freeze-dried tomato powder or dicesA shelf-stable base for sauces and soups that makes stored staples taste like meals.Check it (opens retailer site)
Powdered milkA long-lasting protein and calcium source for the deeper pantry tier.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Build Your Own Food Storage or Buy a Kit? · Build a Backup Pantry in Three Tiers

First aid kits

Home first aid kitCovers cuts, burns and sprains; check it against the Red Cross list and add your own medicines.Check it (opens retailer site)
Bleeding-control kitPairs with free Stop the Bleed training for serious injuries.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Getting Out: Go-Bags, Routes and When to Leave · Your Home Readiness Plan · Maintenance Spares: The Parts and Tools That Keep Gear Running

Headlamps and lights

LED headlampKeeps both hands free and is safer than candles in an outage.Check it (opens retailer site)
Battery LED lanternLights a whole room without fire risk.Check it (opens retailer site)

Read first: Battery Audit: Know What You Have and Keep It Charged · Getting Out: Go-Bags, Routes and When to Leave · Heat and Fire Safety: Staying Warm Without Power

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