Earthquake Emergency Kit: Best Products & Where to Buy
Recommended products for your earthquake emergency kit with buying guide.
Water Storage
Water is your most critical resource. FEMA recommends storing at least one gallon per person per day for a minimum of three days — but two weeks is better for serious preparedness. Available at major retailers and online stores, these products make water storage practical for any home.
- •5-gallon water jugs (stackable BPA-free containers): cost-effective for storing 15–30 gallons per family
- •Water purification tablets (Aquatabs, Katadyn): lightweight backup option if stored water runs out
- •LifeStraw personal water filters: filters up to 1,000 gallons from any freshwater source, no batteries needed
- •WaterBOB bathtub reservoir: fills your tub with up to 100 gallons of clean water before a disaster — store flat until needed
- •Water treatment drops (bleach alternative): inexpensive and shelf-stable for treating larger quantities
Food Supplies
Build your food supply in stages: start with a 3-day supply, work up to 7 days, then 30 days for serious preparedness. Choose options your family will actually eat.
- •Freeze-dried food kits (Mountain House, Augason Farms): 25-year shelf life, just add water — 72-hour kits start around $50, 1-month supplies around $300
- •Energy bars (Clif, KIND, SOS Food Lab emergency rations): compact calorie-dense options for go-bags
- •Canned goods rotation system: keep what you eat and eat what you store — soups, beans, tuna, vegetables
- •3-day supply (minimum): 3 meals/day × 3 days per person — recommended for everyone
- •7-day supply: covers most declared emergencies and infrastructure disruptions
- •30-day supply: appropriate for very-high-risk earthquake zones or off-grid preparedness goals
- •Manual can opener: non-negotiable — do not rely only on pull-tab cans
Emergency Communication
Cell towers are often overwhelmed or damaged after a major earthquake. A layered communication strategy is essential.
- •Hand-crank weather radios (Midland ER310, Eton FRX5-BT): receive NOAA alerts, AM/FM, and SAME alerts — no batteries needed; some models include USB charging
- •Solar chargers (Goal Zero, Anker): keep phones charged during extended power outages
- •High-capacity battery banks (20,000+ mAh): charge multiple devices several times over
- •Satellite communicators (Garmin inReach Mini 2): for serious preparedness — two-way messaging anywhere on Earth when all other networks fail; subscription required
- •Walkie-talkies (Baofeng UV-5R or Midland consumer models): coordinate with family members in a localized area without cell service
- •Whistle: non-electronic signaling if trapped — the Fox 40 pealess model works wet
First Aid & Medical
Earthquake injuries often involve cuts, crush injuries, and trauma from falling objects. Your kit should go beyond basic bandages.
- •Complete first aid kits (Adventure Medical Kits, Red Cross 326-piece): cover most common injuries
- •Tourniquets (CAT tourniquet): for severe limb bleeding — pair with training (STOP the Bleed course)
- •Israeli bandages (pressure bandages): compact trauma dressings for serious wounds
- •Hemostatic gauze (QuikClot): accelerates clotting for deep wounds
- •Prescription medication extras: ask your doctor for a 14-day emergency supply; keep a complete list of medications and dosages
- •N95 masks: essential for dust from structural collapse — standard surgical masks are insufficient
- •SAM splints and elastic bandages: for fractures and sprains when professional care is unavailable
Tools & Equipment
The right tools can mean the difference between staying safe and getting stuck. Focus on compact, multi-purpose items.
- •Multi-tools (Leatherman Wave+, Victorinox SwissTool): pliers, knife, screwdrivers, and more in one tool
- •Pry bars (Stanley FatMax): for opening jammed doors, moving debris — a 24-inch bar handles most scenarios
- •Heavy work gloves (leather palm): protect hands when moving rubble or broken glass
- •N95 masks (stockpile of 10+): for concrete dust, mold, and air quality issues post-quake
- •Emergency Mylar blankets: retain 90% body heat, weigh less than 2 oz — buy packs of 10
- •Headlamps (Black Diamond Spot): hands-free lighting for damage inspection; keep spare batteries
- •Gas shutoff wrench: many homes require a special 12-inch adjustable wrench to shut off the gas meter
Documents & Data
After a disaster, proving your identity and insurance coverage is critical for accessing assistance and beginning repairs. Protect your records before you need them.
- •Waterproof document bags (Pelican cases or simple zip-lock dry bags): store physical copies of IDs, insurance cards, deeds, passports
- •USB drives with scanned documents: keep one at home and one offsite (safety deposit box or trusted relative)
- •Cloud storage backup: Google Drive or iCloud for digital copies accessible from any device
- •Password managers (1Password, Bitwarden): store account credentials so you can access financial and insurance accounts from any device
- •Home inventory documentation: photos or video walkthrough of all rooms and valuables stored offsite — invaluable for insurance claims
- •Cash in small bills ($200–500): ATMs and card readers may be offline for days after a major quake