PrepFree emergency tools for US households
The CDC suggests at least 3 days of water, and 2 weeks if you can. These tools work out what that means for your household, and what to do when the power goes out.
No sign-up, no affiliate links, nothing sent to us. Independent, not official advice.
Start here
- Emergency kit checklistCheck off the Ready.gov lists, see what's missing and print a shopping list scaled to your household.
- How ready are you?Ten yes-or-no questions from the Ready.gov lists, then the three most useful next steps.
- How long would your supplies last?Count what's in your pantry and see how many days your household would last.
Food and water
- Water storage calculatorHow many gallons to keep for your household, and what that means in jugs and cases.
- Water purification calculatorHow many drops of bleach to add, by amount and strength, and how to boil water instead.
- Food storage calculatorA real shopping list of normal grocery store food, for 3 days up to a year.
Power outages
- Power outage food checkerHow long the refrigerator and freezer stay safe, with a countdown and a keep or discard list from FoodSafety.gov.
- Power station runtimeHow long a power bank or power station would run your router, refrigerator and laptop, as a clear estimate.
- Generator size calculatorAdd up running and starting watts to see what size of generator you need, with the safety rules first.
Kits and checklists
- Go bag checklistA 72 hour kit list scaled to your household, with what to leave out.
- Car emergency kitWhat to keep in the trunk, with a winter option for snow and ice.
- First aid kit checklistWhat to keep in a home first aid kit, with quantities. Medicines come with one note: ask your pharmacist.
- Home emergency kitThe flashlights, radio, blankets and paperwork to keep in one place, so you can find them in the dark.
- Baby emergency kitFeeding, diapers and sleep for a baby or toddler, from the CDC's list.
- Pet emergency kitFood, water, carriers and records for your pets, and where you'd go if you had to leave.
- Kit for an older adultWhat an older parent or neighbor needs for an outage or evacuation, and who to tell.
- Severe weather checklistsPrintable lists for hurricanes and winter storms, each from official advice.
Looking after your supplies
- Canned food shelf lifeLook up 50 pantry foods: unopened, opened, how to store them and what to look for.
- Expiration date checkerPick the words on the package and the food, and see what the date really means.
- Food storage inventory templateA free spreadsheet and printable list that works out your days of food and water.
- Food rotation calendarDownload six-monthly reminders to check your dates, water and kit, for any calendar.
- Food storage on a budgetSpread your food storage over the weeks you choose, with a shopping list for each week.
Plans and paperwork
Guides
- How much water should you store per person?Store at least 1 gallon per person per day, for 3 days, and 2 weeks if you can. What a gallon covers, and how to store it safely.
- Emergency prep for beginners: the first hourA one-hour plan for getting started. Count your water and food, set up alerts, pick a contact and make a short list, before you buy anything.
- How long does canned food really last?USDA says high-acid cans last 12 to 18 months and low-acid cans 2 to 5 years, for quality. What the date means, and when to throw a can away.
- How much food to storeStart with 3 days of food that needs no cooking, then build toward 2 weeks. Calorie targets and real examples for US families, with sources.
- 3 days of food with no cookingA 3-day emergency food list with no stove or refrigerator. A sample day at about 2,000 calories, and a shopping list for a family of four.
- What to stock up on if you're worried about warThe same basics as any emergency: water, food, a radio, a flashlight, cash and medicine. What Ready.gov and the CDC say, and what you can skip.