Survive Anything: The Best Emergency Kits for Every Possible Disaster 2021 Can Throw At Us
Let’s be honest, after the year we’ve all been through — getting an emergency kit doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Whether you’re camping, going on a cross-country road trip or live in an area prone to natural disasters, an emergency survival kit could save your life — or help you save a life. The coronavirus put many people on edge at the start of 2020, and since then we’ve experienced wildfires, record-breaking cold temperatures, power outages, floods and civil unrest. For all these reasons, we recommend keeping an emergency kit or go-bag at the ready.
So, whether you foresee needing to survive a hurricane, civil unrest, a pandemic, forest fires, earthquakes or floods, it’s time to build or buy an emergency kit for your home and/or car. Just make sure your kit has everything inside that you’ll need in a disaster situation.
Below, you’ll find a list of essential supplies as well as 19 prepackaged emergency prep kits.
What Should I Include in My Emergency Kit?
According to the Red Cross and Ready.gov, the best emergency kits include:
- Water (One gallon per person per day)
- Food (Three-day supply for an evacuation or two-week supply for home use)
- A flashlight
- Battery-powered or crank radio
- First aid kit
- Medication (Seven-day supply of both prescription and non-prescription medication)
- Batteries
- Multi-purpose tool
- Hygiene items (toilet paper, feminine products, moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties)
- Emergency blankets
- Maps of your local area
- Cell phone chargers (solar chargers are most useful)
- Copies of personal documents in a waterproof canister
- Emergency and family contact info
- Cash (for gas, supplies or, in the case of a major breakdown in civilization, bribes)
- Extra set of car keys and house keys
In addition, you might also want to consider including the following in a disaster kit:
- Toys for children and/or baby supplies
- Pet supplies
- Two-way radios
- Emergency whistle
- Surgical mask and gloves
- Hand sanitizer
- Dust or cloth face masks
- Matches (In a waterproof container)
- Towels
- Duct tape
- Scissors
- Plastic sheeting
- Sleeping bags
- Fire extinguisher
If it’s starting to feel like you’d need an entire bomb shelter to keep all of these emergency supplies, then we know how you feel. Rather than collecting each of these items one by one by one, you can save time and money by buying one of the best emergency kits instead.
We’ve searched high and low for the best survival kits. In case of an emergency, here are the best disaster kits to help keep your entire family safe and secure.
1. JUDY Emergency Preparedness Kit
BEST ALL-PURPOSE KIT
With items handpicked by emergency preparedness experts, the JUDY Emergency Preparedness Kit is one of the most lauded options on the market. We’ve named this one of our favorite gift ideas of 2021, and we’ve personally tested this brand’s products for ourselves. It includes everything you need for two people in any disaster situation. Inside the bag, you’ll find three pre-packed boxes to provide you with first aid equipment, warmth, food, water, safety tools and emergency communication devices during a disaster. Each of the life-saving items fits securely inside the waterproof bag made from high-visibility TPE fabric. Keep this in your closet to be ready for anything Mother Nature can throw at you.
What if your household has more than two people? While we’re big fans of the JUDY Mover Max, this survival brand also has a family-sized kit called The Safe, which has everything your family would need to survive for 72 hours. Although it’s slightly more expensive than the alternatives, we think it’s well worth the investment.
Buy: JUDY Emergency Mover Kit $195.00
2. Monoki First Aid Survival Kit
BEST FIRST AID KIT
This huge first aid kit includes almost anything you’d need in the case of an emergency survival situation, with 241 pieces of first aid equipment, medical trauma supplies and multipurpose survival tools. You’ve got everything from multi-functional pliers to a fire starter to first aid equipment so you can treat injuries faster and safer in an emergency while you wait for other help to come. Throw this in your car, office, kitchen or pack it in your pack on a backpacking trip for extra security.
Buy: Monoki First Aid Survival Kit $23.99
3. Redfora Complete Earthquake Emergency Kit
BEST EARTHQUAKE KIT
The Redora Complete Earthquake Emergency Kit is a great alternative to the JUDY Mover Max. While the bag itself isn’t as high quality, this kit is a little more affordable. Inside, all of your supplies come pre-packaged into color-coded, resealable watertight bags, with containers for Food + Water, Hygiene, Tools + First Aid, Shelter + Warmth and Light + Communications equipment.
If you live in an earthquake-prone area, you know how nerve-wracking it can be. There’s not always a lot of warning or time to prepare for powerful quakes and we’ve all got to do our part to gather supplies just in case. This kit from Redfora is designed for earthquakes, but it will serve you just as well during any type of disaster. Like the best emergency kits, it’s built for three days of survival for two people and supplies include 3,600 calorie bars, 24 water pouches, purification tablets, an extended emergency first aid kit, hand-crank flashlight and 30+ hour candle.
Buy: Redfora Complete Earthquake Emergency Kit $165.00
4. Emergency Zone 72-Hour Kits
BEST FOR HURRICANES
If you live in a hurricane zone, it’s a good idea to have an emergency kit designed to deal with this type of disaster, like the Emergency Zone 2-Person 72-Hour Kit. It boasts one of the best water packages we’ve seen in any emergency kit as it includes both water pouches and a Frontier Straw Filter to allow you to drink from any water source. The kit also features 1200 calorie food rations for two people each day, playing cards, toothbrushes and an emergency guidebook to give you all the knowledge you need to survive. In addition, it comes with survival gear such as a first aid kit, multitools, light sticks, emergency whistles, sleeping bags, and a tent.
Below, we’ve also included a link to the Emergency Zone’s 4-Person Survival Kit, which contains similar supplies but for larger groups.
Buy: Emergency Zone 2-Person 72-Hour Survival Ki $169.99
Buy: Emergency Zone 4-Person Family Prep $209.99 (orig. $239.99) 13% OFF
5. Sustain Supply Co. Emergency Survival Kit
AMAZON’S CHOICE
This survival kit is designed to get you through the first 72 hours after a natural disaster, as rescue crews work their way through the area to you. It’s equipped with enough food to last two people 72 hours, with an LED lantern, flashlight, fully stocked first aid kit, portable stove, and 12 servings of food. Since power outages are one of the most common aftermath effects of natural disasters, this kit has plenty of light sources and fire starters to get you through while rescue efforts take place. This large, durable backpack is water-resistant and designed to go with you if need be. Store a few additional items in the pockets, and grab this bag knowing you’ve got what you need to survive and will have enough nourishment to recuperate. Finally, this bag is also available as a more affordable Basic Survival Kit, or you can upgrade and purchase the 4-Person Survival Bag instead.
Buy: Sustain Supply Co. Emergency Survival Kit $199.00
6. Ready America 70280 Emergency Kit
BUDGET BUY
This two-person emergency survival kit has enough food and water to sustain two people for up to three days. With extra blankets, light sticks, safety gloves and more, it’s a great pack to have for new adventures. Throw in a couple of extra masks and gloves for good measure and this go-bag has everything you’ll need to evacuate your home in a hurry. Even though this emergency kit is cheaper than the alternatives, it still comes highly rated with a 4.7-star rating after nearly 4,700 reviews from Amazon customers.
Buy: Ready America 70280 Emergency Kit $40.00 (orig. $49.99) 20% OFF
7. INEX Life Car Emergency Roadside Assistance Kit
BEST ROADSIDE KIT
While your car breaking down may not be as dangerous as a natural disaster, it happens more frequently, and depending on the road conditions, it could be more deadly. This potentially life-saving kit from INEX Life is designed to help you get back on the road ASAP. It’s got crash warning triangles for warning other drivers, jumper cables for a quick start, a flashlight, window breaker, seat-belt cutter, highway warning vest and other emergency supplies. If for some reason your car stops in the middle of the night, don’t risk reckless drivers not seeing you. Grab this roadside emergency kit and know you’re prepared for whatever you may face on the road.
Buy: INEX Life Car Emergency Roadside Assistance Kit $69.97 (orig. $81.99) 15% OFF
8. Pet Evac Pak
BEST FOR PETS
In the event of an emergency or natural disaster, it’s not just your safety you’ll have to worry about — your pets will need help, too. That’s why we recommend picking up a pet emergency prep kit in addition to your own human one. This Pet Evac Pak is a great choice. It comes with everything two large dogs would need to survive 72 hours, including food and water supplies, a slip lead, dog first aid supplies and even a rope toy among many more items. This company makes pet emergency packs for all sized animals so you and your pet can be prepared for any emergency.
9. Rescue Guard Disaster Kit
OUTDOOR SURVIVAL
The best emergency kits all contain similar supplies such as food and water or emergency radios, but some of them are specialized for specific situations such as earthquakes or roadside emergencies. The Rescue Guard Disaster Kit has all of the supplies you’ll need if you’re caught in a disaster in the outdoors, and it’s one of the best emergency kits to keep in your car if you travel or go camping frequently. This emergency disaster kit comes with enough supplies to last a single person for 12 days (or more people for fewer days). In addition to face masks (always a handy addition to emergency kits in 2021), this bug-out bag comes with temporary shelter, tools, gloves and other items that will be useful if you need to survive in the wilderness for an extended period of time. With a price tag of $140, it’s also very reasonably priced compared to the alternatives.
Buy: Rescue Guard Disaster Kit $139.95
10. Preppi The Prepster Emergency Backpack
BEST SPLURGE
The Prepster Emergency Backpack is, as one reviewer puts it, “the only bag that will make you look cool and could save your life, too.” The fashionable canvas and leather bag is filled with everything you need to survive 72 hours in an emergency situation as well as a few luxury items to get you through in style. With such an extensive list of items, we can’t name everything here, but inside you’ll find everything from a multi-tool to a solar phone charger (with a universal charging cable included).
In addition to three days of water and food rations, there’s also a premium chocolate bar and Kusmi tea, too. Preppi haven’t forgotten your beauty regimen either. They’ve included a Malin+Goetz essentials kit and a Marvis toothpaste and toothbrush. That might seem like overkill, but you’ll be glad you have these creature comforts if you end up in a temporary emergency shelter. This is the emergency kit to buy for people who want the best of everything, even in a disaster situation.
Buy: Preppi The Prepster Emergency Backpack
Buy: Preppi Emergency Backpack $345.00
11. JUDY The Pro System Bundle
BEST BUNDLE
This bundle from JUDY combines three of their major emergency survival products for a comprehensive kit that’ll cover you for a while. It includes a JUDY power generator, The Safe — one of their biggest kits and The Protector, another huge emergency kit. The power station is 1000W, noise-free, maintenance-free and 100% pollution-free as well. The Safe is made with enough supplies to sustain a family of four for 72 hours, and The Protector comes with enough supplies for a family of six for the same amount of time. It comes in a rolling suitcase made for evacuating, if necessary, and all the supplies come organized for easy use.
Buy: JUDY The Pro System $1,485.00
12. Surviveware Waterproof First Aid Kit
BEST SMALL FIRST AID KIT
This first aid kid is waterproof and comes in a bag crafted using welded seams and a water-tight zipper. This means the bag is IPX7 waterproof and can be kept underwater for up to 30 minutes without damage. It’s therefore very effective in keeping out rain, sludge and other elements. Throw your phone or camera in it for safe protection on a boat trip or have it in your car in case of a flash flood or other natural disaster. Your medical supplies and other instruments will stay clean and dry in case you have to use them.
Buy: Surviveware Waterproof First Aid Kit $94.95
13. Everlit 72-Hour Bug Out Bag
FOOD & WATER INCLUDED
Everlit Survival Bags are designed by U.S. military veterans to include everything you need to keep your family safe when disaster strikes. While many kits contain multitools, temporary shelter and first aid supplies, this kit also includes everything you need to provide safe drinking water and meals. Inside this water-resistant tactical backpack you’ll find 24 Packs of 125ML Emergency Drinking Water and two packs of 3,600-calorie energy bars. On top of that, the bag also comes with water purification tablets. There’s also a hand-crank radio and charger for good measure.
Buy: Everlit 72-Hour Bug Out Bag
14. Preppi GoBox 1-Person Emergency Kit
BEST FOR INDIVIDUALS
While many of the emergency survival bags featured here are designed for households with two to four members, a lot of people live alone. If you don’t want to waste money on extra supplies, then the Preppi GoBox was designed for you. While it doesn’t come with a durable tactical backpack, it does include the survival essentials you need to stay safe for up to 72 hours. Inside this compact box, you’ll find first aid supplies, energy bars, a flashlight, a space blanket, an emergency whistle and more life-saving supplies.
15. JUDY Starter Kit
BEST ON-THE-GO SINGLE PERSON KIT
We’ve already covered the Emergency Preparedness Kit from Judy on our list but the Starter Kit also deserves some attention. Designed as a waist pack for hands-free portability, the one-person emergency kit has seven essential survival items inside, including products for warmth, safety, tools, first-aid, water and food, all selected by experts. Two mini-meals, two drinking water pouches, two emergency blankets, two ponchos, two glow sticks, one whistle and a small first-aid kit will all help to keep users safe until they are able to access more survival goods.
16. S.O.L. Waterproof Scout Survival Kit
BEST FOR SCOUTS
The S.O.L. Waterproof Scout Survival Kit is a great accompaniment to a larger survival kit that packs a full offering of essential items. The compact S.O.L. is waterproof and lightweight, barely tipping the scales at only 3.5 ounces. All of the items in the kit, including a survival blanket, a button compass, a fire lite sparker, a rescue flash signal mirror, a howler whistle, duct tape, a sewing kit, and a fishing kit are all packaged in a professional quality RF-welded dry bag with a rolldown closure. The bag and its contents are great to take on short walks when on a camping or scout trip.
Buy: S.O.L. Waterproof Scout Survival Kit $20.00 (orig. $26.00) 23% OFF
17. Be Smart Get Prepared 100 Piece First Aid Kit
BEST ROBUST SUPPLEMENTAL FIRST AID KIT
If you’ve ever watched a medical drama, you know that even hospitals can run out of first-aid supplies. Keep your own personal emergency room well-stocked with the Be Smart Get Prepared 100 Piece First Aid Kit. The 100-piece kit is one of the most comprehensive first aid kits available and features an extensive offering of products that cover small injuries sustained in the home and outdoors. Appropriate for use in offices and schools, the kit meets United States FDA Regulatory Standards as a Medical Device and has several compartments that make it easy to quickly find items even when users are in a hurry. The kit comes with items that are designed to clean, treat, and protect wounds and injuries and uses only products that are latex-free for added safety.
Buy: Be Smart Get Prepared 100 Piece First Aid Kit $8.99
18. KOSIN Survival Gear18 in 1 Emergency Survival Kit
BEST FOR ADVENTURERS
Whether you are spending the weekend hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or you live in a remote area and want to be ready for all types of emergencies, the KOSIN Survival Gear18 in 1 Emergency Survival Kit is a great kit to have on hand when facing the elements. Almost every item in the kit has a multipurpose function, including the tactical pen/glass breaker, paracord bracelet that features a compass and fire scraper and whistle, and the multi-functional metal card. The kit also includes several items that can be used when hunting or building shelter, including a folding military knife, a wire saw, a whistle, and a fire starter. The kit does come with a small first-aid kit, but ideally, users would pair the Kosin with a more comprehensive medical kit.
Buy: KOSIN Survival Gear18 in 1 Emergency Survival Kit $26.99
19. Protect Life First Aid Kit
BEST SUPPLEMENTAL FIRST AID KIT
One of the biggest deterrents to carrying a survival bag or first-aid kit is its size and weight. Whether you are heading out for a casual afternoon hike or trying to fit a week’s worth of clothes and food into a single backpack for your next adventure, first-aid kits are often the first thing to go when trying to pare down items. That’s why we like the first aid kit from Protect Life, which is a truly pocket-sized kit that is still comprehensive enough to treat several injuries. Measuring only 7.5″ x 5.2″ x 1.5″ and featuring 100 items, the kit includes a tourniquet, CPR mask, blanket, and many other necessary basics like bandages, gauze and antiseptic towelettes. The compact and lightweight kit even includes items not often found in small first-aid kits, including scissors and eyewash.
Buy: Protect Life First Aid Kit $13.75 (orig. $19.99) 31% OFF
20. Goglobe Boat Safety Kit
BEST FOR KEEPING ON BOATS
Disasters don’t always strike on land. Boaters know that it only takes a few seconds for a massive storm, squall, or accident to change a relaxing day on the water into a life or death situation. Whether you are spending time on a sailboat, fishing boat or paddling in a kayak, safety should always be at the forefront of the excursion. This boat safety kit from Goglobe includes all the minimum safety equipment you need for boating. This includes a first aid kit, a throw bag with 60 feet of rope for SAVE, a distress flag and other essential equipment for surviving and getting rescued at sea.
Buy: Goglobe Boat Safety Kit $175.98 (orig. $199.00) 12% OFF
Also Consider: More Survival Essentials To Pack With Your Emergency Kit
While prepackaged emergency prep kits could save your life, you should make sure to add anything else you need in an emergency. As we mentioned above, that could include drinking water (if the kit doesn’t come with water), prescription medications and over-the-counter pain medicine, toys for your kids or pets and solar chargers. Many experts also recommend including a small amount of cash, just in case it comes in handy.
If you want to truly be prepared for anything, here are a few more emergency supplies you may want to keep on hand.
LuminAID PackLite 2-in-1 Solar Phone Charger Lanterns
A portable solar phone charger can help keep all of your devices charged whether you’re dealing with rolling blackouts or stuck in the wilderness. However, the LuminAID doesn’t just charge your phone; it also does double duty as a camping lantern to provide a little extra light in the darkness. This waterproof portable charger can provide 12 to 14 hours of light when fully charged.
Buy: LuminAID PackLite 2-in-1 Phone Charger Lanterns $49.95
Wise Company Emergency Food Supply
The Wise Company provides prepackaged food rations that will keep you well-fed in any disaster situation. While the company makes packs focused on meat, vegetables, and breakfast, this entree-pack contains 60 servings of individually-wrapped, ready-to-eat meals. With a 25-year shelflife, you can keep this emergency kit on hand for many years. To prepare a meal, all you need is a little water and 12-15 minutes.
Buy: Wise Company Emergency Food Supply $115.00 (orig. $159.99) 28% OFF
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
The LifeStraw water filter is one of the greatest emergency hacks ever invented. This personal water filter is incredibly easy to use. Simply dip the tip into a potential source of drinking water and suck. The filter inside the straw surpasses EPA standards and will allow you to clean 1,000 gallons of water. This ingenious device only costs about $15, so you can buy one for every member of your household. This compact design makes it easy to slip the LifeStraw into your family’s go-bag. Even the best emergency kits aren’t complete without a couple of LifeStraw water filters.
Buy: LifeStraw Personal Water Filter $39.98
Survival Tabs 8-Day Food Supply
We all know that food is essential to survival, but it can be one of the first things to be ruined in a natural disaster when electricity is lost or when flooding or fires make it impossible to access your belongings. That’s why we like the Survival Tabs 8-Day Food Supply, which features 96 tabs that are packed with essential vitamins and minerals to sustain one person for eight days. The small tablets are packaged in resealable bags and are lightweight and easy to transport. Sure, they might not be the same as a steak dinner with all the fixings, but when disaster strikes the tablets provide the necessary nourishment to fuel the body.
Buy: Survival Tabs 8-Day Food Supply $32.95
Prepara Mini First Aid Kit for Diaper Bag
A first aid kit is a great item to have in a diaper bag, but anyone who’s ever tried to put a plain bandage on a screaming child with a new boo-boo knows that not just any first-aid essentials will do. The Prepara kit is designed by a nurse and mom and includes 50 essential items from trusted brands. Just as important (according to toddlers), the bandages have fun designs and stickers are also included to help distract little ones while parents are administering first-aid. Useful items like thermometer strips, wet wipes, tweezers, and nail clippers are all included in the kit, which is organized in compartments for easy access. The compact kit only weighs 6 ounces, which is good news since diaper bags always feel as if they’re filled with rocks. How can diapers be so heavy?
Buy: Prepara Mini First Aid Kit for Diaper Bag $20.95
Jackery Explorer Power Station & Portable Generator
BEST GENERATOR
Earlier this year, SPY editors tested and reviewed Jackery’s line of portable power stations. When combined with the company’s solar panels, these power stations instantly transform into generators. They could be exactly what you need to get through a disaster, and we highly recommend this brand’s products. After losing electricity in a disaster, the whole neighborhood will want to come to your house to charge their phones and devices. This power station is also useful for recreation such as camping and music festivals, and we think it’s an indispensable tool in any emergency.
Buy: Jackery Explorer 240 Power Station $199.99