Frequently Asked
Questions

Start with the basics: water, food for 72 hours, and a way to stay connected if the power goes out. You don't need to do everything at once. Our Start Here guide walks you through the exact sequence — pick your preparedness level and we'll tell you what to get first. Most families complete a solid starter setup for under $100.

Less than you'd expect. A solid starter setup costs around $60–$130 spread over a few weeks. The Quick Grab 1-Day Kit is $13.99 — the fastest way to have something ready. The Family Blackout Pack at $67.99 covers power-outage basics for a family. The Water Filtration Bottle at $34.99 makes any freshwater source safe to drink. You can always start with one kit and build over time.

Each kit covers a different preparedness scenario. Daily carry kits go everywhere — office, car, school bag. Vehicle kits live in the car and handle breakdowns and commute emergencies. Power-outage kits like our Family Blackout Pack are built around what families actually need when the lights go out. Necessity kits cover 72-hour basics for 1–6 people. Bug out bags are for rapid evacuation scenarios. Visit our Start Here page for a side-by-side breakdown by starting level.

Quick Grab 1-Day Kit ($13.99): 24-hour emergency essentials in a compact resealable bag. Flashlight, basic food/water rations, first aid, and emergency whistle. Everything you need to handle the first 24 hours — any kit beats no kit.

Junior Ready Kit ($17.99): Child-specific emergency kit with age-appropriate supplies, comfort items, and instructions kids can actually follow. Compact, affordable, and designed for what children need in an emergency.

Family Blackout Pack ($67.99): Multi-function flashlight (hand-crank + LED), emergency candles, battery-powered AM/FM radio, 4-pack Mylar blankets, 72-hour food & water rations, first aid kit, work gloves, dust masks, and waterproof matches.

Water Filtration Bottle ($34.99): Built-in filter removes 99.99% of bacteria and protozoa. BPA-free, reusable, 24oz bottle. Drink from any freshwater source — streams, lakes, tap during boil orders.

4 Person Necessity Kit ($114.99): Complete 72-hour survival kit for 4 people in a backpack. Food, water, first aid, light, warmth, and communication — grab and go with everything your family needs.

Not at the moment — our kits are curated for maximum value and simplicity. That said, you can mix and match individual kits to build exactly the setup you need. Start with one and add others over time. If you want a specific combination, reach out and we'll do our best to help.

Our 72-hour emergency food rations are designed to last at least 5 years in sealed packaging when stored in a cool, dry place. The sealed pouches protect against moisture and pests. Store them in a closet or pantry — not a garage or hot attic. When you rotate your kit, eat the oldest stock and replace it. That keeps your supply fresh without waste.

Yes. Our emergency food rations are made from food-grade ingredients and are designed for the whole family. They're nutritionally complete for short-term emergency use and don't require cooking or preparation — just open and eat. The bars are compact, lightweight, and individually wrapped so they're easy to distribute in an emergency. If anyone in your family has specific dietary needs or allergies, check the product label before use.

FEMA recommends at least one gallon per person per day, for a minimum of 72 hours. For a family of four, that's 12 gallons to start. We'd suggest aiming for a two-week supply (56 gallons for a family of four) over time — it sounds like a lot, but 56 one-gallon jugs stacked in a closet take up about the space of a small suitcase. Nursing mothers, young children, sick individuals, and pets may need more. Our Water Purification guide covers storage containers, rotation schedules, and more.

It depends on the food. Canned goods typically last 2–5 years past the printed date if stored in a cool, dry place. Dried beans, rice, and pasta can last 25–30 years in sealed containers. Our heirloom seeds — with proper storage — remain viable for 3–5 years or longer. The key to any emergency food supply is rotation: buy food you'll actually eat, use the oldest first, and replace what you use. This keeps your supply fresh without any waste.

There are four main methods, each with different strengths. Filtration (like our Water Filtration Bottle's built-in filter) removes bacteria, protozoa, and particulates but not viruses. Purification tablets kill viruses and bacteria but don't remove sediment. Boiling is the most reliable if you have fuel, but requires heat and time. Gravity-fed systems handle large volumes hands-free. We carry several options: the Water Filtration Bottle ($34.99) is a reusable BPA-free bottle with a built-in filter for daily use, and our HygieniSafe Straw ($19.99–$29.99) is a lightweight portable filter for on-the-go use. For the full breakdown, read our Water Purification guide.

Most orders ship within 2–3 business days. Standard delivery is 5–7 business days from shipment. We ship nationwide across the US. You'll receive a tracking number as soon as your order ships. We're launching spring 2026 — early access customers who join the launch list may get expedited fulfillment priority.

Yes — every ReadyRoots kit comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If it doesn't meet your expectations for any reason, contact us and we'll make it right. No hoops, no runaround. We want you to feel confident ordering, not anxious about it.

We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay where supported. All payments are processed securely through Stripe — your card information is never stored on our servers.

Not at launch. We're starting with US-only shipping to keep fulfillment simple and delivery times predictable. International shipping is on our roadmap. Join the launch list and we'll let you know when it's available.