Guides
Guides for United States
Plain guides to getting a household ready, written from the public emergency guidance and sourced at the bottom of every page.
- 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.