Guides
Guides
Plain guides to getting a household ready, written from the public emergency guidance and sourced at the bottom of every page.
Australian guides United States guides
Australia
- AustraliaBug out bag list for Australia: a 72-hour checklistA bug out bag list for Australia built from official kit lists: water, food, light, radio, first aid, documents, cash and power for 3 days (72 hours).
- AustraliaEasy-to-install security cameras in AustraliaEasy-to-install security cameras need no drilling and no cable. Four types, the legal checks to make before you mount one, and a plain 5 step setup.
- AustraliaEmergency radio in Australia: what to buy, how to tune inAn emergency radio is a battery radio already set to your local ABC station. What to look for, how to tune in, and what a radio will not tell you.
- AustraliaHome security for renters in Australia: no drillingHome security for renters in Australia: what you can add without drilling, when written permission is needed in Qld, NSW and Victoria, and how to ask.
- AustraliaHow much water per person per day in an emergency?At least 3 litres of water per person per day is the Get Ready figure. See the sums for 1 to 6 people over 3 and 7 days, and how to store it.
- AustraliaPrepping for beginners in Australia: a calm first-week planPrepping for beginners in Australia, without the drama: a 7 day plan covering water, food, light, first aid, documents and a go bag from official sources.
United States
- United States72 Hour Kit vs Build Your Own: Which Should You Buy?A ready-made 72 hour emergency kit or build your own? Compare cost of effort, water, what gets missed, and our 72 hour kits and packs for 2, 4 and 5 people.
- United States72-Hour Kit List for a Family, With Free PrintableA sourced 72-hour kit list for a family: water, food, light, radio, first aid, documents and more, built from Ready.gov, with a free printable checklist.
- United StatesAffordable Home Security for Renters: Sensors, Locks, LightsAffordable home security for renters: door and window alarms, motion lights, a keypad deadbolt and a video doorbell, what each does, and what to ask your landlord first.
- United StatesBest Bug Out Bag: How to Choose a Pack and a KitHow to choose a bug out bag or go bag: pack size, what Ready.gov says to carry, and our 30 L, 40 L and 75 L backpacks and survival kits compared.
- United StatesBest Emergency Food Supply for a Family: Buckets and BundlesHow to choose an emergency food bucket or bundle for a family: what Ready.gov says to store, what to check on a listing, and our buckets and Alpineaire bundles compared.
- United StatesBest First Aid Kit for Home and Car: How to ChooseHow to choose a first aid kit for the home and the car: kit size, case, what to check inside the lid, and our Mutual Industries and contractor kits compared.
- United StatesBug Out Bag List for a Family of FourA bug out bag list for a family of four: one bag each plus a shared list, built from Ready.gov, with kid, infant and pet items. No weapons on the list.
- United StatesEmergency Radio Buying Guide: Hand Crank and NOAA WeatherHow to choose a hand crank emergency radio in the US: NOAA weather band, power options, phone charging, and our Guardian, Emerson and crank radios compared.
- United StatesHome Security for Renters: No-Drill OptionsHome security for renters without drilling: sensors, battery cameras, doorbells and lights, plus lease, camera privacy and Wi-Fi checks from the FTC.
- United StatesPower Outage Emergency Kit: Full List and Safety RulesA power outage preparedness kit list built from Ready.gov, CDC and CPSC: light, radio, charging, food, water, plus the generator and carbon monoxide rules.
- United StatesPrepping for Beginners: A Calm 7-Day PlanPrepping for beginners in plain words: a calm 7-day plan covering water, food, power, first aid, documents and a go bag, sourced to FEMA and Ready.gov.
- United StatesWinter Storm Preparedness Kit: A Checklist for HomeA winter storm preparedness kit list from Ready.gov, CDC and NWS: heating and carbon monoxide safety first, then warmth, food, water, light and a car kit.