Best Emergency Preparedness Items to have on-hand

You can never be too prepared for an emergency, but on the other hand, if you’re going to stock up on emergency supplies, it’s best to get stuff that’s suitable for your home and that you’ll use until things go back to normal. We’re not saying you need to rush out and buy all of these items to be prepared, in fact you’ll probably already have a lot of this stuff at home, but this list includes the most common items people need in an emergency.

First aid kit

It’s better to have one and not need it than the other way around. There are plenty of options at various price points. The more you spend the more supplies you’ll get, but the most important thing is having the core essentials if you need them.

Water supply

You’ll want to store at least three days worth of water in case the public water supply is impacted. Three litres per person per day should be enough to keep everyone hydrated with enough left over to use for basic hygiene. Don’t forget to include water for babies and pets too.

Food supply

As with your water, having at least a three day supply of non-perishable food is a great idea. You might not be able to get to the supermarket and if the power goes out, the food in your fridge might start to go off. It’s best to avoid anything that needs to be cooked in case you have no way to cook it.

A torch and spare batteries

If there’s no power, a torch will become worth its weight in gold after the sun sets. Make sure you have enough spare batteries so you don’t have to use your torch sparingly. If you have a large family, it could be worth having more than one on hand.

Power bank and charging cables

Your phone may become a lifeline for vital information in an emergency. For that reason, keeping it charged might become essential. Having a fully charged power bank and the right charging cables is a great idea to have handy.

A radio and spare batteries

Without power, a battery operated radio can be used to keep up to date with vital news as well as to keep young ones entertained. It’ll be especially useful if the cellular network goes down.

Generators

A generator remains the best way to get full power independently of the grid. It’s a bigger ticket item, but worthwhile if having power at your place is essential to someone’s wellbeing. Since it burns fuel, it’s best to use it for essential appliances or devices only.

Fuel for your generator

If you get a generator, you’ll need something to run it on. Generators can use between 500ml and 4L of fuel per hour depending on how much power is being drawn from it. Plan accordingly with some fuel, but remember, even when sealed in a container, fuel can start to go off after a few months, so keep it fresh.

A BBQ or camping stove

While you should largely focus on non-perishable foods that don’t need to be cooked, but with a BBQ or camping stove and relevant cookware, you’ll be able to have hot meals until normalcy returns. As a bonus, it could be a good way to avoid wasting anything in the freezer that starts to defrost. Just a reminder: Never use a BBQ or camping stove indoors.

Gas bottle LPG or Butane

Make sure you have the right fuel for your BBQ or camping stove. Camping stoves take butane canisters, while your BBQ likely runs off LPG. A charcoal BBQ may be a little bit time consuming and finicky if you’re sheltering at home during an emergency.

Quick dam / Flood barriers / Sand bags

If your house is in an area prone to flooding then having some way to stop water flow will be essential to keeping your place safe and dry. There’s a few options on the market, with Quick Dam making some of the most reliable options. Check them out to see what will suit your place.

PPE

A few pairs of gloves and some proper P2 or N95 masks could be very helpful. Floodwaters are often unclean and volcanic activity can release harmful particulates into the air. Better to be safe than sorry and have the right equipment to protect your health.

Tarps

It never hurts to have a tarpaulin on hand to keep water off things. If your home is damaged, a tarp might be your best bet to make sure the elements stay outside. A couple of different sizes will see you right.

Rope or twine

Who knows when or what you’ll need to secure in an emergency? It’s a great idea to have some rope or twine on hand to keep things under control at your place.

Extension cords and power boards

Getting power where you need it might be a challenge if you’re sheltering at home during an emergency. A few extension cords and power boxes can help you with task lighting, power medical equipment as well as heaters or dehumidifiers.

Solar lights

This one is less to have on hand in an emergency and more broadly a good idea to have installed. If the power grid goes down, solar lights can keep your outdoor spaces illuminated to make it easier to get in, out, or around your property.

Gumboots

A good pair of all-weather footwear is a good idea. In an emergency, you’ll have bigger fish to fry than dodging puddles so some reliable footwear that keeps you dry will be super helpful.

Rain jackets

As with the gumboots, a good waterproof jacket (for each person in your household) is also smart. It might not be necessary when you’re sheltering at home, but if it’s a wild weather event, you can’t do without.

Toilet paper

At this stage we all know why toilet paper is on the list and we probably don’t need to go into any further detail.

Buckets

Great for stopping any leaks from causing further damage to your home but also… if there’s issues with plumbing, you will likely need somewhere to use that toilet paper we mentioned.