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 important 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 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.

Also take note of my colleague Adrienne So’s advice that the best form of emergency prep involves getting to know your neighbors, and WIRED’s Guide to Surviving Extreme Weather, as well as WIRED's guide to finding reliable emergency information amid much-diminished federal resources. More worried about losing your job? Check out WIRED’s guide to a digital go bag for when you’re forced to bug out from work.

Update April 2026: I incorporated advice from University of Oregon wildfire experts Heidi Huber-Stearns and Amanda Stasiewicz, and added additional context on wildfire preparedness. I added multiple power banks, including one from Nimble and one from Ridge, as well as the Watch Duty wildfire awareness app. I also added the MERV 13 air filters and a box fan needed for making a DIY air purifier in a pinch. Pricing and descriptions have also been updated, with unavailable products swapped out where necessary.

What Should You Put in Your Emergency Go Bag?Food, Water and Water PurificationAir Purifiers and Face Masks for Wildfire Smoke or DiseasePower Banks and Other Sources of ElectricityPortable Light SourcesFirst-Aid Kits, Sanitizers and Medical SuppliesDigital Document BackupsA Burner Phone, a Passport, and a Faraday BagRadio and Emergency Phone AppsA Log-Splitting WedgeGames for the KidsAn Action Plan for PetsAdditional Useful Items****Paper Maps of Your Region

What Should You Put in Your Emergency Go Bag?

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. As of October 2025, the Federal Emergency Management Agency keeps an emergency kit checklist on its website. Columbia University also maintains online resources on how to prepare or respond to specific disasters and emergencies, including an online preparedness wizard to help each family understand their own emergency needs.

For wildfire preparedness specifically, University of Oregon wildfire expert Amanda Stasiewicz recommends protecting your home in advance of any sudden bug-outs by following home preparation advice from the nonprofit Institute for Business and Home Safety. This includes creating a defensible zone by removing all flammable materials within a 5-foot radius of the home, including doormats, and potted plants.

But it's also good to maintain a baseline emergency kit so you and your family are ready for … whatever. Here’s a good starter kit of essential items to put in your go bag and keep ready at home or in the car.

Sury and other emergency preparedness experts recommend keeping a gallon of water per person per day, not just for hydration but for food preparation, sanitation, and all the other nice things we need water for. Sury keeps a week’s supply of water at the ready at home, which can be purified with simple household bleach in emergency situations. (Be careful if doing so, and follow the Environmental Protection Agency’s advice on dosing.) Woodrum at the National Weather Service notes that you can also fill a bathtub with usable water in advance of a storm—but don't drink any standing water without purifying it first.

But practically speaking, you’re not likely to have room for a full week’s supply of water in your car’s trunk if you're on the move. This is where water filters come in for refills, especially if you won’t have guaranteed access to a water supply you can trust. For easy-to-carry chemical purifiers, WIRED reviewer Scott Gilbertson favors Aquamira’s water treatment drops ($15), which fit easily into any emergency bug-out kit. Sury says Aqua Tabs ($12) are an excellent, broadly available brand. For simplicity and ease in filtering out microorganisms and particulate matter, you might also consider a water bottle with an attached filter like the Katadyn BeFree ($45), though I tend to prefer the stainless-steel filtered bottle from Clearly Filtered ($75) for durability and repeat use. For an inexpensive filtration option for the whole family, Lifestraw makes an affordable personal water filter ($18) that you can suck through like a straw.

FEMA recommends keeping at least a few days’ worth of nonperishable food ready at hand. In practice, you’re likely to grab whatever Snickers bars, granola, ramen packets, and other dry goods you’ve got in the house on your way out the door. Sury says nutrient-dense canned foods like beans or sardines are also a great option, with the caveat that cans tend to be a bit heavy and often require a can opener.

Nothing is quite as portable and durable as dehydrated food, including the backup crate of ramen I always somehow have. One of the oldest makers of dehydrated food kits in the country, with roots in military rations, is Oregon brand Mountain House, which offers portable, three-day emergency meal kits ($70). Nutrient Survival also offers a 14-day emergency food kit ($179) that includes lasagna and mac and cheese. Just don’t expect rehydrated food to taste quite like the original.

Even if you don't camp, you may nonetheless want to pick up a good camping stove for emergency use—or another means of cooking without need of electricity. Note that most