Emergency Preparedness Gift Guide: Practical Gifts That Could Save a Life

Why preparedness gifts work

Most people know they should have an emergency kit, but few get around to building one. A preparedness gift fills that gap with something useful the person will be glad to have when the power goes out or a storm rolls in. Ready.gov's basic kit list is a good starting point: water, food, a flashlight, a radio, a first aid kit, batteries, a whistle and a way to charge a phone.

Stocking stuffers

• Headlamp: hands-free light that's handy every day, not only in emergencies.
• Personal water filter: small enough for a stocking or a glove box.
• Emergency whistle: a loud, pealess whistle for a go-bag, keychain or backpack.
• Hand warmers: air-activated heat for car kits, games and winter outages.
• Mylar emergency blankets: fold to the size of a deck of cards.

Mid-range gifts

• Hand-crank NOAA weather radio: receives emergency alerts without power or cell service, and many models can charge a phone.
• Power bank: keeps a phone alive for days of texts and alerts.
• First aid kit: a well-stocked kit for the home or car, paired with a first aid class if you want to go further.
• Car jump starter: starts a dead battery without another car, which matters most on cold mornings.
• Waterproof document box: keeps passports, insurance papers and deeds safe.

Big-ticket gifts

• Portable power station: silent, fume-free backup power for a fridge, CPAP, lights and phones, and safe to use indoors.
• Freeze-dried food bucket: a long shelf-life food supply that needs only hot water.
• Satellite messenger: sends texts and SOS messages without cell service. Requires a subscription.

Match the gift to where they live

Make it personal

Add a note explaining why you chose the gift, or pair it with a printed family emergency plan. You can also send them to our free Bunker Kit Builder to see what else their household may need.