Everything You Need to Know About Getting Prepared

The general rule is one gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation. For a 3-day emergency kit, that means 3 gallons per person. For a family of 4, store at least 12 gallons. Many emergencies last 72 hours, but hurricanes and floods can leave you without clean water for a week or longer. We recommend starting with at least a 3-day supply per person, then building toward 2 weeks for serious preparedness. Ready Roots Supply sells Emergency Drinking Water Pouches (Case of 64) — Coast Guard approved, 5-year shelf life, compact enough to fit anywhere. For longer-term storage, consider 84-Serving Gluten Free Food & Water Bucket which includes water rations alongside food.

The best emergency water filters remove bacteria, protozoa, and in some cases viruses. Look for filters rated to 0.1 microns or smaller. The HygenieSafe Collapsible Water Filter Bottle (600ml) filters to 0.1 microns — drink safely from streams, lakes, or questionable tap sources after a disaster. It packs flat when empty, taking up almost no space in your bug out bag. For a more comprehensive setup, pair it with Emergency Water Pouches as a backup. If you are dealing with potentially viral contamination (post-earthquake infrastructure failure), also consider water purification tablets as a secondary layer.

Commercially sealed emergency water pouches last 5+ years when stored properly (cool, dark place). Replace them every 5 years for optimal quality. The Emergency Drinking Water Pouches we carry are Coast Guard approved and have a multi-year shelf life. Tap water stored in jugs should be replaced every 6 months. For long-term storage, 84-Serving Gluten Free Bucket includes sealed water rations alongside food — everything in one grab-and-go container.

The best emergency food kit for a family of 4 covers at least 3 days, includes real calories (2,000+ per person per day), tastes good enough that people will actually eat it, and stores compactly. Our top picks: Family Preparedness Package — the complete solution for households serious about emergency readiness, covers multiple scenarios and family members. For a single comprehensive backpack, Hurricane Emergency Backpack includes first aid, shelter, water purification, and emergency food for a family. Budget-conscious? Start with ReadyWise 60 Serving Entree Bucket at $150 — 25-year shelf life, 13,400 total calories, 10 varieties. Freeze-dried entrees taste significantly better than old-style survival bars, and they cook in minutes.

Properly sealed freeze-dried emergency food lasts 25+ years. The key factors: sealed mylar pouches (not just cans), dry storage (under 70°F ideal), and intact oxygen absorbers. Ready Roots Supply carries ReadyWise 60 Serving Entree Bucket with Metalyte™ sealed pouches and a 25-year shelf life. We also carry 84-Serving Gluten Free Bucket with 25-year shelf life for families with dietary restrictions. Rotate your stock by eating the oldest first — most people consume emergency food eventually when they rotate it into regular meal planning. Once opened, freeze-dried pouches last about a week before quality degrades.

Under $100, the best emergency food value is the ReadyWise 60 Serving Entree Bucket at $150 — technically over $100 but offers 13,400 calories at $0.011/calorie, which is incredibly economical. For strictly under $100, the 84-Serving Gluten Free Bucket at $210 covers a family with dietary needs. If budget is tight right now, 1 Day Quick Grab Kit ($14) gets you started immediately. The key is building in layers: start with a cheap kit, then add food buckets, then add water storage. Don not wait for the perfect kit — start with what you can afford today.

A complete hurricane kit covers five categories: water (3 gallons per person minimum), food (3+ days, non-perishable), first aid, shelter/warmth (blankets, tarps), and communication/power (radio, phone charger). The Hurricane Emergency Backpack has everything your family needs — first aid, shelter essentials, water purification, emergency food, lighting, NOAA weather radio, and communication tools. The critical hurricane-specific items: NOAA weather radio (get warnings even if cell towers are down), water purification (hurricanes often contaminate water supply), and 3+ days of food. If you are in a hurricane zone, also include: copies of important documents in a waterproof bag, prescription medications for 2 weeks, pet supplies if you have animals, and cash ($100 in small bills — ATMs often do not work after storms). Evacuate early if ordered — no kit replaces leaving when authorities tell you to go.

The best hurricane kit is the one you actually have when the storm hits. Our Hurricane Emergency Backpack is built specifically for hurricane season — includes NOAA weather radio, water purification, 3+ days of food, first aid, shelter essentials, and communication tools. Everything in one grab-and-go backpack that fits in your closet between storms. Key things to look for in any hurricane kit: water purification (hurricanes contaminate water supply), NOAA weather radio (cell networks go down), enough food for 3+ days, first aid supplies, and a way to charge your phone. A Family Preparedness Package covers multiple family members and multiple emergency scenarios. If you live in a hurricane zone, also keep a separate vehicle kit — Emergency Auto Kit — Essentials — because evacuation routes are where you will need it most.

Start where you are with what you have. Step 1: Buy 1 Day Quick Grab Kit ($14) — the most affordable way to start your preparedness journey. Keep one in your car, one at home. Step 2: Add water storage. A case of Emergency Water Pouches ($24) gives you a 3-day water supply for one person for $24. Step 3: Add a 4-in-1 NOAA Radio ($30) — weather alerts, flashlight, phone charger in one device. Step 4: Save up for a full kit. The Hurricane Emergency Backpack is $116 and replaces buying all these items separately. Total investment building gradually: under $70 to start with basic coverage, then $116 when ready for the comprehensive kit. Hurricane season is June 1 — November 30. If you are reading this in May, start now before the forecasts start.

A pet emergency kit needs: 3+ days of food (canned or dry in zip bags), 3+ days of water, medications your pet takes regularly, vet records and vaccination certificates, a photo of you with your pet (for proof of ownership if separated), comfort items (favorite toy, blanket), leashes and collars with ID tags, and a portable carrier for evacuation. The Deluxe Cat Survival Kit — Backpack ($60) has food, water, first aid, and comfort items for your cat. For dogs, pair a 2 Person Necessities Kit with an additional dog food supply. Don not forget: cats need a litter box and waste bags — plan for 3 days of your normal cleanup routine. If you evacuate to a shelter, most require pets to be in carriers with up-to-date vaccinations. Keep vet records in a waterproof bag inside the kit.

Three steps: (1) Have the supplies before you need them — a Deluxe Cat Survival Kit or dog food stash with water rations, medications, and carrier. (2) Know where pet-friendly shelters and hotels are before a storm hits — call ahead, do not assume they allow pets. (3) Evacuate early. Do not leave pets behind. The number one cause of pet deaths in hurricanes is owners who said they would come back for them. Practice: put your pet in their carrier once a month so it is not traumatic when you actually need to evacuate. Keep a recent photo on your phone — if your pet gets lost, you need a photo for reunion posters. Store vet records digitally (phone photos) plus a paper copy in the kit.

For a family of 4, you need coverage for at least 3 days — ideally 7. The Family Preparedness Package ($200) is our most comprehensive bundle, covering multiple emergencies, multiple family members, multiple scenarios. Everything you need, nothing you do not. If you need separate backpacks per family member, the Hurricane Emergency Backpack ($116) works for a small family. For building incrementally: get one kit per person starting with 2 Person Essential Backpack ($106). Essential checklist for a family kit: water (3 gallons per person), food (2,000 cal/person/day), first aid kit, NOAA weather radio, flashlight with extra batteries, phone power bank, medications, documents (insurance, IDs, medical records), cash ($100 small bills), and pet supplies if applicable.

A 72-hour survival kit for one person should cover: water (3 liters minimum — 1 liter per day minimum for drinking, more in heat), food (freeze-dried entrees for 3 days = about 6,000 calories total), first aid kit, NOAA Weather Radio with flashlight (weather alerts + light + phone charger — $30), warm layer and rain poncho, whistle (for signaling), dust mask N95, moist towelettes for sanitation, and copies of documents. The 1 Person Elite Bug Out Bag ($119) has all of this and more — food, water, shelter, first aid, communication tools. The 2 Person Essential Backpack ($106) works if you want to go with just one kit for two people. Store your kit somewhere accessible — not in a closet at the back of the house. If your home is the emergency, you need to grab and go quickly.

A 72-hour kit is designed to get you through the immediate aftermath — the window when emergency services are stretched thin and infrastructure is damaged. A 2-week kit is designed for sustained scenarios where you are on your own for 14+ days. Key differences: food quantity (3 days vs. 14 days — 6 meals vs. 42 meals), water storage (3 gallons per person vs. 14 gallons per person), power (battery radio vs. solar + battery bank + hand crank), and medical supplies (basic first aid vs. expanded medical kit with prescriptions). For most Americans, a 72-hour kit is the practical minimum. A 2-week kit is for serious preparedness or remote living situations. Start with 72 hours and build from there. 3 Day Quick Grab Kit ($18) is an affordable entry point. Build toward Family Preparedness Package as your budget allows.

A blackout kit has one critical job: keep you safe and informed when the power goes out — potentially for days. Must-haves: 4-in-1 NOAA Radio with flashlight ($30) — no batteries needed (hand crank + solar), receives weather alerts to stay informed, doubles as phone charger. Family Blackout Kit Backpack ($60) is specifically built for this — everything your family needs when the lights go out. Key items to also consider: candles + lighter (never use candles near flammable materials or while sleeping), battery-powered phone charger, backup medication storage (some need refrigeration — a small cooler works), non-perishable food that does not require cooking, manual can opener, and a flashlight for every person. Keep flashlights in multiple locations — do not put all your eggs in one basket.

The best emergency radio has three features: NOAA weather alerts (receive official warnings before they hit TV/internet), hand-crank power (no batteries needed when the grid is down), and phone charging capability. The 4-in-1 Dynamo Solar NOAA Radio & Flashlight ($30) checks all three boxes — hand-crank, solar, NOAA weather alerts, LED flashlight, phone charging, reading lamp. For a smaller/cheaper option, the 5.5 inch 4-in-1 Radio & Phone Charger ($25) has a bigger display and easier-to-use controls. Both are critical in a blackout — cell towers get overwhelmed or damaged, but NOAA broadcasts on frequencies that emergency radios can pick up from far away. Get one before the next storm.

Every car should have: reflective triangles or road flares, jumper cables, first aid kit, flashlight, blanket, bottled water, non-perishable snacks, phone charger (car adapter or power bank), and tire inflator or spare tire tools. The Emergency Auto Kit — Essentials ($83) has all of this in one organized kit. Keep a small kit in the back seat or trunk — not in the glove box where it is harder to access in an emergency. In winter: add hand warmers, an ice scraper, and a bag of sand or cat litter for traction if stuck. In summer in hot climates: extra water for people (pets too if traveling with animals). Check your kit every 6 months — replace food and water that may have expired, charge or replace batteries.

Bug out bag and go bag are often used interchangeably, but there is a technical difference. A bug out bag (BOB) is designed for scenarios where you must leave your home fast — military term, implies a serious threat. A go bag is more general — the bag you grab when you need to evacuate for any reason (fire, storm, evacuation order). Both should be: portable, organized, pre-packed, have 3+ days of supplies. For civilians, a go bag is the right concept — a kit for any reason you need to leave. The Elite Bug Out Bag Backpack ($112) is built for 72+ hours of serious preparedness — food, water, shelter, first aid, and emergency tools. The 3 Day Quick Grab Kit ($18) is a lighter version for quick grabs. Build your go bag in layers: start with food and water, add first aid, then add communication/power tools.

A quick grab kit is the one you grab first — keep it somewhere accessible. The 1 Day Quick Grab Kit ($14) has 24 hours of emergency essentials in a compact resealable bag. Keep one in your car, one at your desk at work, one in your gym bag — $14 is cheap enough to have multiples. For a more serious quick grab, the 3 Day Quick Grab Kit ($18) gives you 72 hours of supplies. Pro tip: label your quick grab kit with your name and check expiration dates every 6 months. Store it where you will see it — not buried in a closet. In a real emergency, you do not want to be searching for your kit. Also keep a list of what is in it on the outside of the bag — in an emergency, you want to know at a glance whether you have what you need.

Check your kit every 6 months — the best time is when you change your clocks for daylight saving time. Replace: food and water (every 6 months for home storage, 5 years for sealed emergency pouches), batteries (test and replace every 2 years), first aid supplies (restock anything you used), medications (check expiration dates). The key principle: rotate and use. Eat the food from your emergency kit in normal life — rotate it into your meal plan, then buy fresh stock for the kit. This keeps food fresh and reminds you that your kit exists. For water, the same rotation principle works — drink the emergency water, replace with fresh. For a $14 Quick Grab Kit, replace entirely every 2 years for simplicity. For larger kits, do the seasonal check and rotate systematically.

You can start with a functional emergency kit for under $50. The incremental approach: Step 1 — 1 Day Quick Grab Kit ($14) + Water Pouches ($24) = $38 for basic coverage. Step 2 — add NOAA Radio ($30). Step 3 — upgrade to a full kit like Hurricane Emergency Backpack ($116). Step 4 — add Family Preparedness Package ($200) for complete coverage. Realistically: $100-300 covers a family of 4 with 3-day supplies. $500-700 covers extended 2-week preparedness. Compare this to the cost of one night in a hotel during an evacuation, or one emergency room visit after an accident. Emergency preparedness is one of the highest-ROI investments you can make with a relatively small amount of money.

For a home power outage, prioritize in this order: (1) Light and information — 4-in-1 NOAA Radio ($30) gives you light, weather alerts, and phone charging with no external power needed. (2) Food — non-perishable foods that do not require cooking (canned goods, protein bars, peanut butter). (3) Water — 1 gallon per person per day minimum. (4) Temperature management — blankets if cold (power outages in winter are dangerous), coolers and frozen water bottles if summer (keeps food cold and provides drinking water as it melts). The Family Blackout Kit Backpack ($60) is purpose-built for exactly this scenario. Charge your phone and power banks before the storm — then you have backup power for 24-48 hours. Never run generators indoors or in a garage — carbon monoxide kills.

Store your emergency kit where you can grab it fast — not in a hard-to-reach closet. Ideal locations: hallway closet near the main door, under a bed (if using a flat backpack), garage shelf (accessible but protected from temperature extremes). Do not store in the basement if you live in a flood zone. Do not store in an attic — temperatures there can exceed 120°F in summer, degrading food, batteries, and medications. The best storage is climate-controlled, accessible, and has enough space for a full-size backpack or duffel bag. 3 Day Quick Grab Kit ($18) comes in a resealable bag that fits under most beds. Elite Bug Out Bag Backpack ($112) is designed to hang in a closet and grab quickly. If you have multiple floors, put a smaller kit on each floor — seconds matter in an emergency.

Water. Nothing else matters if you are dehydrated. Dehydration is dangerous in 24-48 hours in extreme conditions. The fastest way to die in an emergency is lack of water, then lack of shelter (exposure), then injury. So your kit must have: (1) Water — Emergency Water Pouches ($24) for portable sealed water with a 5-year shelf life. (2) Water filter — HygenieSafe Collapsible Water Filter Bottle ($30) to make natural water sources safe. (3) Shelter and warmth — even mild hypothermia kills. A warm layer and rain protection can come from a simple mylar blanket. After water, the next most important is a way to receive information — NOAA Weather Radio ($30) because in a disaster, your phone will be dead or the network will be down.

For most people, buy pre-made kits and customize from there. Building your own takes time, research, and knowing what you need — a pre-made kit like Hurricane Emergency Backpack ($116) or Family Blackout Kit ($60) gives you a tested, organized starting point. The advantage of building your own: you get exactly what you want and often save money if you already have some items. The disadvantage: gaps in your knowledge may leave you without critical items (water purification, NOAA radio) while you have too much of something less useful. Our recommendation: start with a pre-made kit from our collection, then customize as you learn. The 1 Person Elite Bug Out Bag ($119) is our most comprehensive pre-made option — 72+ hours of tested supplies organized by category.