8 Essential Survival Products for Any Emergency

Depending on the emergency, you may be able to remain at home and not be forced to evacuate. With countless survival products on the market today, how do you know which ones to include in a home emergency kit? Preparing for a disaster or emergency situation can be a challenge and requires careful planning. But only you can decide what survival products will be most beneficial for you.

If you’re lucky enough to be able to weather the storm at home, it will be a lot easier to prepare. First off, you won’t need extra shelter. A home has an unlimited amount of storage space, so stockpiling essential survival supplies will be much easier. Along with your emergency kit for home, it’s always a good idea to have an additional survival bag, emergency backpack, or 72 hour kit ready to go in case you’re forced to evacuate.

1. Water Storage

Water should be the number one item on any prepper supply list. So be sure to store enough water for your entire family in your survival kit. Typically, one gallon of water per day per person is the recommended amount. A family of four will require 4 gallons per day, or 28 gallons per week. Storing enough water for a two or three week emergency is recommended. You can also store water in smaller, individual plastic containers.

Water should be stored in a dark, cool area, away from harsh chemicals or fumes, and off a concrete floor. For long term storage, water should be kept in UV-resistant, food-grade plastic containers or blue water storage barrels. 55 Gallon water storage barrels are great, but heavy. You’ll need some type of syphon for these. Another great way to store water is with 5 gallon stackable buckets. They are much easier to handle than the larger barrels or drums.

Used milk containers or disposable water bottles are not recommended for long term storage. Also, be sure to rotate your water every six months or so. Water gets stale, so replacing it regularly is important.

For added peace of mind, keep some water purification tablets on hand as well as some type of water filter. The LifeStraw water filter is very small, but will filter up to 265 gallons of water. And it will remove over 99.9% of all waterborne bacteria and protozoa.

2. Emergency Food Supply

The easiest way to create an emergency food supply is to simply buy your survival food. There are many companies that sell emergency food rations. They are reasonably priced and made for long term storage. You can find everything from individual, single-meal food packs, to survival food supply kits that will last for many months.

Depending on the brand, the shelf life will be anywhere from several years to several decades. To guarantee edible food during an emergency, be sure to replace your food storage when needed. Recommended emergency food supply companies include Augason Farms, Mountain House, and Wise Company.

3. Emergency Light

When the power goes out and it gets dark, you’ll want some type of light. A simple battery powered LED Camping Lantern is the perfect solution. It offers bright, long lasting light. Be sure to keep extra batteries on hand as well. Emergency candles are another good option. They are odorless, smokeless, and will burn for 115 hours. And last, but certainly not least, be sure to have a good, strong flashlight on hand with extra batteries. This is one of those survival tools you don’t want to be without.

4. Emergency Heat

Some emergencies are caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes. In these types of situations you can lose the ability to heat your home. In cold climates this could result in a life or death situation. Having the ability to stay warm is one of the most important survival essentials. Emergency survival blankets can keep you warm. The cheapest option is to have some emergency Mylar thermal blankets handy. Wool blankets are another great option.

Portable stoves will not only allow you to heat food, but can be a good heat source as well. Stoves that operate with fuel cubes don’t usually get hot enough to boil water, so be sure to get a camp stove that operates with Sterno cooking fuel.

5. Emergency Health Supplies

Whether you can remain in your home during the emergency, or you’re forced to evacuate, it always pays to have emergency health supplies on hand. As far as survival products go, a first aid kit should always be included in any emergency kit. But there are other health items that need to be considered as well. Pain relief medication, for things as simple as a headache, can make life more bearable in an emergency situation. Also, if someone in your household requires insulin or some other type of prescription medication, keep enough on hand to last for at least a few weeks.

6. Dust Masks or Gas Masks

Some types of disasters, such as wildfires or chemical spills, can pollute the air. A quality gas mask can filter the air, but also protect your eyes. Respirator masks are cheaper and offer good filtration efficiency, but are not as efficient as a quality gas mask.

7. Thyroid Protection

Whether it’s the threat of a nuclear attack from a hostile country, or a nuclear plant meltdown, it’s a good idea to prepare for nuclear exposure. And keeping some potassium iodide pills on hand is perhaps the best way to prepare. The purpose of these pills is to protect the thyroid gland in a radiation exposure emergency. It works by blocking radioactive iodine from entering the gland.

8. Emergency Radio

A hand crank emergency radio can keep you in contact with the world. It’ll give you the latest news about your disaster situation and the weather. It will also double as a flashlight and recharge your smart phone. Additionally, there are three ways to keep it charged and operating: solar, micro USB, or hand cranking.

There are many other survival products that could be included in your emergency supply kit. The ones we’ve listed are what we feel are among the most important, and can help keep you alive during almost any emergency or disaster situation.