Essential Gear for an Emergency Kit—for Cars or Go-Bags

You never know when you're going to have to bug out on short notice. The politics of the moment are less than predictable. Disasters never strike on schedule, and few stores stay open for a wildfire or an insurrection.

As of early 2026, wildfires and the resulting chaos look especially likely in the American West after record-low snowpack levels in the winter, which will also mean less water in the spring and summer. That's why it's essential to make plans well in advance and put together gear for an emergency kit, say experts on disaster preparedness—and to stock up on the essentials that can keep your family healthy and safe in the event of a hurricane, flood, earthquake, blizzard, wildfire, or all-too-human failures. But not every disaster is the same.

There are two main scenarios you should keep your family prepared for, says Jonathan Sury, a senior staff associate at Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness. In some cases, you may have to jump into a car with a go bag, or a bug-out bag, outfitted with the barest essentials, such as a three-day supply of water, purification tablets or water filters, a good flashlight, and batteries. A fast-moving wildfire might be a good example of this scenario.

In others, like a severe snowstorm, you may be left sheltering in place, possibly without tap water or access to the power grid—and in serious need of a good power bank or two. Regional wildfires may also require long-term emergency prep, when taking into account smoke inhalation and potential public safety power shutoffs. "You have to think in that mindset of, 'We could have power out,'" said National Weather Service preparedness lead Charlie Woodrum.

"'We could lose it for a couple days, or up to even a week, and we also could lose water' … You have to plan for both power outages and for loss of water." At that time, in January, he was speaking ahead of a historic winter storm season across much of the United States. But the same assumptions can apply to other disasters, from earthquakes to wind and fire. Here's how to prepare for a shorter-term emergency—and what to stock up on in advance.

This isn't a survival guide to civil war or the apocalypse, of course. But the advice and gear here should help you and your family safely weather a natural disaster such as a storm, a flood, an earthquake, or a wildfire–not to mention a systemic failure in your water system or power grid. Often, you have a bit of warning before an emergency lands on your doorstep.

But an evacuation order can arrive with unsettling suddenness—and by the time everyone in your area is raiding the local supermarkets for water and purification tablets, it may be too late to secure your own. This is especially true in case of a sudden boil-water notice. Your list of essential items for your emergency preparedness kit will depend on your circumstances, your family, and your needs.