Be Prepared: Simple Things to Have on Hand for an Emergency
A few weeks ago, we had a tornado come through our area, and we ended up losing power for a couple of days.
Thankfully, everyone was okay, but the experience definitely made me realize something:
I wasn't as prepared as I thought I was.
There are a lot of things you don't think about until you suddenly don't have electricity, can't easily get what you need, or realize that the thing you need most is sitting at the store instead of in your house.
After going through that experience, I started thinking about the things I would want to have on hand if we had another extended power outage or another unexpected emergency.
So I decided to make a list—not only for myself, but for you, too.
With Amazon Prime Big Deal Days coming up October 6–7, this seemed like a good time to put together some practical things that can help you be a little more prepared before you need them.
I'm not talking about becoming a doomsday prepper or filling your basement with years' worth of supplies.
But I am talking about the everyday emergencies that can happen to any of us: a power outage, severe weather, a storm that keeps you home for a couple of days, or something unexpected that makes your normal routine a little more difficult.
Here are some of the things that might help out...
Things for When the Power Goes Out
Losing power for a few hours is one thing.
Losing it for a couple of days is a completely different experience.
These are some of the things I'm making sure I have ready.
Flashlights and Lanterns
This one seems obvious—until you're trying to find a flashlight in a dark house.
It's a good idea to have several flashlights in different areas of your home, rather than keeping one tucked away in a drawer somewhere.
A larger lantern can also be useful for lighting an entire room without having to carry a flashlight around.
I did find some small lanterns at Dollar Tree that worked surprisingly well. I believe they were around $1.50 each and only require three AA batteries, which I picked up there too.
We started with a few and liked them so much that I went back and bought more. We ended up with six of them, and they were really useful during the power outage. They put out plenty of light and were easy to move around the house when we needed them.
Battery Organizer
If you're going to keep extra batteries around, it's helpful to actually know where they are and what sizes you have.
A battery organizer keeps everything together and makes it easy to see what needs replacing.
And after our outage, this is definitely something I'm putting higher on my list.
Portable Power Bank
Your phone becomes even more important when the power is out.
It's how you can check weather updates, communicate with family, look up information, and stay connected.
A portable power bank gives you another way to keep your phone charged when you can't plug it into the wall.
Rechargeable Lights
Rechargeable lights can be another handy option during an outage, especially if you don't want to constantly rely on batteries.
Some can also be used as regular lights when the power is on, so they're not something that just sits in a closet waiting for an emergency.
Things That Help When Something Breaks
Not every emergency is weather-related.
Sometimes something in your house simply breaks at the worst possible time.
Having a few basic supplies available can save you from making an emergency trip to the store.
Basic Tool Kit
If you don't already have a basic household tool kit, this is a good place to start.
You don't need a giant professional set. A hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, measuring tape, utility knife, and a few other basic tools can handle a surprising number of everyday repairs.
Duct Tape
It's not glamorous, but duct tape is one of those things that's worth having around.
Sometimes you just need a temporary fix until you can properly repair or replace something.
Work Gloves
A sturdy pair of work gloves can come in handy for yard work, moving things, cleaning up after a storm, or dealing with whatever unexpected mess you suddenly find yourself handling.
A Few Things for Your Emergency Supplies
You don't need to build an enormous emergency kit.
But having a few basic supplies together in one place means you aren't trying to find everything while you're already dealing with a problem.
First-Aid Kit
A basic first-aid kit is one of those things you hope you don't need very often.
But when you do need it, you'll be glad you know exactly where it is.
If you already have one, take a few minutes to check the contents and replace anything you've used or anything that's expired.
Water Storage
Having drinking water available is especially important if an emergency affects your normal water supply.
You can keep a reasonable supply of bottled water or use reusable water containers designed for storage.
A Small Emergency Tote
I like the idea of keeping the smaller emergency supplies together in one easy-to-find tote or storage bin.
You could keep things like flashlights, batteries, a power bank, a radio, basic first-aid supplies, and other small essentials together.
That way, you aren't searching through several rooms when you need something quickly.
Don't Forget the Boring Stuff
Some of the most useful emergency supplies aren't particularly exciting.
They're just the things you use all the time.
It's worth checking your supply of:
Batteries
Light bulbs
Cleaning supplies
Paper products
Pet supplies
Personal-care items
Shelf-stable food
Phone charging cables
Basic first-aid supplies
You don't need to buy a year's supply of everything.
Just pay attention to the things your household uses regularly and try not to let yourself get completely down to the last one.
What I'm Doing Differently
Our power outage made me realize that being prepared isn't something I want to think about after something happens.
I want to have a few things ready now.
I'm not trying to prepare for every possible scenario. I'm just thinking about what would have made those couple of days without power easier and what I would want to have available if something similar happened again.
And honestly, that's probably a good way for all of us to approach it.
Think about what you would have needed during the last unexpected situation you dealt with.
What did you wish you had?
That's probably a pretty good place to start.
A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way
You don't have to buy everything on this list.
Start with the things you don't already have or the things you know you would have wanted during an emergency.
Maybe it's a better flashlight.
Maybe it's a power bank.
Maybe it's finally putting together a small emergency tote so you know exactly where everything is.
Or maybe it's simply making sure you have extra batteries and enough basic supplies to get through a couple of days at home.
Amazon Big Deal Days are October 6–7, so if you've been meaning to pick up a few things, it may be a good time to see what's available and what's on sale.
I'll also be sharing some of my personal Amazon favorites in my emails during Big Deal Days, so keep an eye on your inbox if you'd like to see what else I’m looking at.
Hopefully you won't need any of these things anytime soon.
But if you do?
You'll be glad you had them before you needed them.
Before you go:
You might also be interested in…
How to Make Your Printable Planner Pages Look Better at Home
Free Printable: Simple Fall Reset Checklist to Get Organized
(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.)
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Prepare for unexpected emergencies with simple, practical things to have on hand, from flashlights & power banks to first-aid supplies & emergency essentials.