Essential equipment for an emergency kit — for cars or suitcases

However, doesn’t everyone always have an emergency box containing an extra twenty packs of Maruchan Ramen? I can’t be alone in this.

Excellent flashlight

Photography: Martin Cizmar

Olight

Arcfield Pro Flashlight

Dare we suggest…the best flashlight ever? One that you can drown in water, then purify the water with its light?

lantern

Courtesy of Coleman

Coleman

4D LED camping lantern

Flashlights are great for walking around. But for stability, you’ll want a lantern. There are plenty of fuel-based options available, of course, but the Coleman Long-Lasting Battery-Powered LED Lantern ($22) is a tried-and-true, no-frills option that promises 175 hours of life before you have to change the batteries.

First aid kit

You can, of course, purchase a ready-made emergency kit from the American Red Cross ($43), or this one meant to stay in your car. Adventure Medical Kits also makes the more extravagant Mountain Series Explorer Medical Kit ($83).

But for the frugal, check out this guide to putting together a better emergency kit yourself for less money.

Face masks

Courtesy of Honeywell

Honeywell

DF300 N95 Safety Disposable Respirator

Sometimes what worries you is illness. Sometimes it’s forest fire smoke. Or particulate matter from God knows what else. But have you ever regretted having some bland filtering face masks?

Backups of digital documents

The biggest category people tend to neglect when thinking about emergency preparedness is intangibles, Suri says. This can be as simple as having a family communication plan and meeting points arranged in advance, so you know what to do if your family members get separated. But it’s also important to have digital backups of key documents because, as Suri said, “anything of high value that might be damaged in the event of a disaster.” This may include insurance policies, home and car titles, and medical information such as prescription medication lists and instructions, doctor contact information, and passport and state ID photos.

You likely have access to one form or another of cloud storage. Check out WIRED’s guide to the best cloud storage services for every need and device type, and be sure to use a good password manager to keep any sensitive data safe. But especially if Internet access isn’t guaranteed — or you’d rather not store some documents on the cloud — another safe option is a portable external storage drive that can easily fit into a waterproof bag. WIRED reviewer Scott Gilbertson recommends OWC’s Envoy Pro Elektron SSD ($179) as a portable storage drive that can stand up to the elements and can get wet—and travel with you anywhere. Or just store the essentials on a USB flash drive like WIRED’s top pick, the SanDisk Extreme Pro ($42).

A burner phone, a passport, and a Faraday bag

Wait, does that sound dramatic? Well, maybe, but better to be safe than sorry. Disasters take many forms, some of which are humanitarian. Here’s WIRED’s guide to how to buy and set up an untraceable burner phone. But to avoid trackers on phones, you’ll also need a Faraday bag to block tracking signals, like the SLNT Faraday Bag from Silent Pocket. Real feature phones are not purchased online. But if all you need is a secure phone for cross-border research, what you really want is an affordable alternative phone separate from the incriminating data: the Moto G Stylus 5G will meet your needs here.

Portable power banks

The world runs on electricity. The electrical grid can be fragile. Lithium-ion power packs are the modern solution, but they can be a fickle technology, so you don’t want to resort to just the cheapest. Among the larger-capacity portable power banks and power stations, WIRED testers have long recommended portable ones from Jackery — ranging from the 8-pound, 288-watt-hour 300 model that also includes solar options to a 62-pound behemoth with about seven times that capacity.

For your car: quick start

In addition to basic power banks, you’ll probably want to make sure you can jump in your own vehicle without (exhausting) emergency personnel. WIRED testers have had excellent luck with devices from Noco and Gooloo.

radio

Courtesy of Sony

Yes radio. You know, that thing in your car that you sometimes plug your iPhone into? However, whatever is happening on the Internet or satellite, radio is a good source of information in emergency situations. Get one. The classic setup tip is a crank radio. But in short-term emergencies, batteries are also important.

Emergency phone apps downloaded

Courtesy of Risco

Another thing people forget to do until the internet actually goes out? Download emergency phone applications. As of October 2025, FEMA has an app. Your local municipality or state government likely also has emergency push notifications: consider subscribing. WIRED has also cataloged a number of other personal safety apps, including a subscription service called Rescu that can connect you directly with first responders.

Extra batteries

What battery-powered portable devices do you own? Have extra batteries for them.

Cooler and ice packs

Courtesy of Pelican

A cooler helps keep food fresh, of course. But also, many medications need to be temperature controlled, noted Suri, the disaster preparedness expert in Colombia. So, if this is a member of your family, a mini cooler can also be a piece of emergency equipment, when combined with an ice pack or two from the freezer.

Games for children

Courtesy of Nintendo

This is another overlooked item recommended by everyone from emergency experts to anyone who has ever met a child. In stressful or prolonged situations, rely on distraction. This can be as simple as a puzzle book, a good building kit, or foresighting your way out the door to grab a Nintendo Switch 2 and a small power bank like Nimble from WIRED.

Medical and personal items

In addition to prescription medications, over-the-counter pain relievers and antacid tablets are useful additions to any emergency kit. As well as feminine hygiene products. As well as toothbrush and toothpaste.

Disinfectants

An emergency is a bad time to have a stomach bug or any type of infection. “Anything to maintain cleanliness is very important,” says Suri. “Especially if we don’t have running water, we don’t want to be exposed to any type of viral transmission, fecal-borne bacterial infection, or oral-borne infection.” And so hand sanitizers eventually became… a big problem. Also good disinfectant wipes.

Nitrile gloves

Courtesy of Medpride

Medpride

Powder-free nitrile gloves

The world is full of terrible things. In some emergency situations, pollutants are a real concern. Nitrile gloves will help you avoid touching them, and they are resistant to cuts and tears. It is also necessary in first aid situations.

Pet business plan

Are you planning to leave Fido or Meuser behind when the rain comes to wash these streets? Assuming no, maybe keep a pet carrier with portable food and water dishes handy. If you have horses? You’ll need to have a trailer and something that can tow it. If you have a pet boa constrictor, I don’t have good advice. [I do have a pet boa constrictor, and I recommend putting it in a pillowcase. —Ed.]

Additional useful items

Can opener, for opening cans. A pair of scissors for all kinds of things. Masking tape and tarps to build temporary shelters or provide cover from the rain. A box of matches in a ziplock bag. Notebook and pen. Unbreakable plates and cups, whether paper or metal.

Paper maps of your area

Yes, they still exist. Yes, it’s a good idea.