Peanut butter seems like the perfect survival food: cheap, dense, calorie heavy, rich in protein and fat, and able to keep you moving when everything else runs out. Every prepper knows one thing. When shelves go empty, fats become worth more than gold. Carbs are everywhere. Protein and fat are what keep you alive. So […]
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Below is a fully expanded guide to 50 Emergency Preparedness Gift Ideas, ideal for holidays, birthdays, care packages, housewarmings, and more.
When you’re choosing a gift, nothing says “I care” quite like helping someone become more prepared, more resilient, and more confident in their ability to handle unexpected emergencies. From power outages and winter storms to road trips and everyday accidents, these preparedness items are gifts that people actually use, and often don’t think to buy for themselves.
A solar lantern charges using sunlight and provides bright, dependable lighting without needing batteries. It’s perfect for power outages, camping, and nighttime emergencies.
A compact water filter, like a LifeStraw or a Berkey Water Bottle Filter, can turn unsafe water into drinkable water within seconds. This is a must-have for emergency kits, hikers, and travelers.
NOAA emergency radios provide critical weather alerts even when the grid is down. Hand-crank models don’t require electricity, making them reliable during storms.
From bandages to antiseptic wipes and medications, a complete first-aid kit can treat injuries quickly when urgent care isn’t available. First Aid Kit
Lightweight and heat-reflective, Mylar blankets help retain body warmth. They’re essential in winter weather or shock situations.
Shelf-stable meals provide peace of mind and security during evacuations or short-term emergencies. Mountain House MREs
When the power goes out, a strong backup charger keeps phones working for communication and updates.
Here’s a quick guideline on what to prioritize based on how you plan to use the power bank:
| Use Case | What to Prioritize |
|---|---|
| Mid-size capacity (15,000–20,000 mAh), at least two ports, decent wattage output | Compact size, ~5,000–10,000 mAh, USB-C + fast charging (≈ 18–20W), portability |
| Multi-device charging (phone + tablet / multiple devices) | Mid-size capacity (15,000–20,000 mAh), at least 2 ports, decent wattage output |
| Laptops / Freelance work / Long travel / Emergencies | High capacity (20,000 mAh+), high wattage output (30W+ or PD support), durability, multiple ports |
| Outdoors / Camping / Emergency Kits | Rugged build, safety protections, maybe solar or high-capacity, reliable output, compact enough for your gear |
One of the most practical gifts you can give. Perfect for kitchens, garages, and vehicles.
Durable containers ensure families have access to clean drinking water. Great for people in storm-prone regions.
Often includes jumper cables, reflectors, a flashlight, gloves, a blanket, a tire inflator, and roadside safety tools.
Bright, long-lasting, and reliable. Always needed in a home, a car, a garage, or a backpack.
A single tool with pliers, blades, screwdrivers, and more. Perfect for everyday tasks and emergencies.
Reliable fire-starting tools for camping, warmth, and emergency cooking. Types of Fire Starters to Stock.
Loud signal whistles can save lives during search-and-rescue situations to find you or others you’re looking for.
Small and lightweight, it allows families to boil water or cook meals when the power is out.
Simple but essential, especially when using canned emergency food stores.
Includes soap, wipes, toothpaste, deodorant, a washcloth, and sanitizer. Important for evacuations or extended outages.
Designed to retain heat in freezing temperatures. Critical for car kits and winter emergencies.
Protects passports, birth certificates, titles, and insurance papers from water, fire, and smoke. CIOEY Fireproof Document Bags – Fireproof Box.
Great for cleanup, repairs, firewood, and protecting hands during emergencies.
Keeps batteries of all sizes neatly stored and ready for flashlights, radios, and devices.
Digitally stores essential documents, photos, and medical info in a secure format.
Stores small bills for situations where ATMs or card readers aren’t working.
A perfect home safety upgrade, especially for older homes or rental properties. 10 Essential Ways to Prepare for Carbon Monoxide as a Prepper
A customized binder that helps families organize emergency contacts, documents, plans, and checklists. Free Emergency Binder Kit
Power small devices using the sun. Great for hikers, campers, and extended outages at home.
Compact, waterproof, and perfect for go-bags or glove compartments.
Allows homeowners to safely shut off gas lines after an earthquake or strong storm.
Safe light sources are invaluable for kids. Great for outages and nighttime emergencies.
Keeps phones, documents, clothing, and gear dry during floods, storms, and outdoor activities.
Protect lungs from wildfire smoke, dust, debris, and airborne particles.
Backup water purification when filters aren’t available. Lightweight and inexpensive. Water Purification Tablets
Space-saving pans and pots are used for emergency cooking or camping.
Improves visibility during roadside breakdowns at night or in bad weather.
Thicker and warmer than Mylar blankets, offering zippered protection from wind and rain.
Helps improve safety during walks, travel, or emergencies. Personal Alarm
High-calorie food bars with long shelf lives, perfect for go-bags.
A great stocking stuffer for hikers, families, and emergency kits. Emergency Whistle
Useful for communication, writing instructions, or tracking emergency supplies.
Strong, versatile rope with endless uses, from shelter-building to repairs.
Lightweight, long-lasting, and delicious, perfect for emergency storage.
More durable than soft kits and ideal for outdoor use or car storage.
Useful for sanitation, washing, carrying water, and campsite tasks.
A simple, inexpensive comfort item for cars, winter kits, and emergencies.
Useful for snow removal, digging out cars, camping, or clearing debris.
Instructional guides that cover water sourcing, shelter building, fire-starting, and more.
Simple, battery-powered communication when Wi-Fi and cell towers fail.
A life-saving car tool designed for quick escape after an accident.
A basic set of screwdrivers, a hammer, pliers, and tape, perfect for home emergencies.
A durable, comfortable bag to hold all survival essentials, making evacuation faster and easier.
35 Items Every Prepper Should Have When Traveling
Every item on this list makes life safer, easier, and more manageable when the unexpected happens. These gifts show thoughtfulness, love, and a deep desire to help someone feel secure and confident. Preparedness isn’t about fear; it’s about peace of mind. And that’s a gift worth giving any time of the year. May God bless this world, Linda
The post 50 Emergency Preparedness Gift Ideas appeared first on Food Storage Moms.
When things fall apart, there’s a brief window where the world hasn’t yet sorted itself into predators and prey. Folks who lived through the Rodney King riots remember those first hours well. So do people who’ve watched towns unravel after hurricanes or blackouts. There’s a fog that sits over everything right after the blow hits. […]
The post How To Become Invisible In 9 Hours After SHTF appeared first on Ask a Prepper.
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
A while back, I posted an article about 20 survival items to buy before winter arrives. That list was mainly about things you should keep in your vehicle during the winter, but this one is about winter survival items in general.
Every prepper worth their salt should be prepared to ride out an extended power outage. Doing this means stocking up on typical survival items like food, water, flashlights, medical supplies, and so forth. But preparing to do this in the winter requires an additional list. Below is a list of things you should add to your emergency supply for winter.
For splitting wood or chopping kindling will be needed. If you rely on your wood stove for heat, make sure you have wood chopped just in case you lose power.
Or gravel. They are similar to kitty litter. Throwing sand on icy patches or under a spinning tire will help give the tire the traction it needs. They're also a good idea for pickup trucks and cars that are rear wheel drive because the extra weight can help give you traction and keep you from fishtailing.
If the power goes out and you run out of batteries, candles can provide light for hours. Choose long-burning emergency candles, and always keep them in a safe spot away from flammable items.
If you're using propane or a wood stove indoors, you need one of these. Carbon monoxide is odorless and deadly. A detector could save your life. Make sure it's battery-powered.
A necessity if you live in an area with trees. Heavy snow and ice often cause limbs to fall or become a serious safety hazard. You will need a chainsaw to cut up any trees that have fallen.
This may seem like an unnecessary item, but the cold wind and dry air will leave you with painfully chapped lips. Choose one that moisturizes and heals.
Although the idea that the majority of your body heat escapes through your head is a myth, certainly a lot of body heat escapes that way if you don't have a hat. Plus, you don't want to risk getting frostbite on your ears.
If you have a fireplace, it's even better than a propane heater because you can also use it to cook food. Keep an extra cord of firewood if possible. If there are locals who use their fireplaces throughout the winter, ask them how many cords they go through.
These are great to have in brutally cold weather. Frostbite is no picnic. It's also a good idea to keep your mouth covered to avoid breathing in the icy cold air, which can lead to respiratory problems.
Preferably winter gloves that will stay dry while you move through snow. Cloth gloves will get wet and your hands will get even colder. Instead, get some polyester gloves that allow you to move your fingers freely.
These are wonderful to have in the winter. Just open the package and they start warming up and will stay warm for several hours. You can hold them in your hands, or you can put them in your pockets to help keep your body warm.
This is even better than kitty litter for porches and sidewalks. Just spread the pellets around and it will start melting ice immediately.
A good backup if you run out of propane or don't have a wood stove. Kerosene heaters put out a lot of heat and many models are rated safe for indoor use—just crack a window for ventilation.
This can be very helpful when there's ice. Put it under tires for traction if your vehicle slides off the road or gets stuck. You could also keep it on the porch and throw some on the steps before walking down them.
If you’re relying on canned food during a winter power outage, don’t forget this simple tool. Electric can openers won’t do you any good when the power's out.
These take up almost no space and can reflect body heat back toward you. They're cheap, lightweight, and useful for both indoor and outdoor emergencies.
This is to cover the windows can make a big difference. It will keep your home warmer and lower your heating bill. You can buy window kits or use nails to cover the windows with plastic.
Your phone is still important in an emergency. Keep a power bank charged and ready so you can use your phone to communicate or check the weather even during an outage.
Another must-have item if you don't have a wood stove. Although there are other ways to heat your home, I like propane space heaters because they're safe to use indoors and they can keep the room nice and toasty. The downside is that you'll have to buy plenty of extra propane.
This may be needed to pull the snow off your home's roof as well as any outbuildings. You don't want a roof collapse. Choose a rake that has an extension handle that will reach the top of your roof.
If you're forced to drive during icy conditions, snow chains or tire socks can dramatically improve traction. They’re especially important if you live in a hilly or rural area.
Like insulated bib snow pants will help keep you dry when you're working in the snow. Make sure they're waterproof because if they're not, they should only be worn for short bursts or in dry weather.
These are a must if you need to clear your driveway or a make pathway to your car. Don't just use a standard snow shovel. Get one with a steel blade and avoid the flimsy plastic ones, otherwise, you might find yourself purchasing a new shovel every year.
These are necessary to prevent snow blindness. If you are driving or working in the snow you will need to protect your eyes from the glaring white.
Layering is key in extreme cold. A good set of thermal underwear traps heat close to your body, making a huge difference in how long you can stay warm.
A very handy tool. If you get stuck, you'll be able to use any passerby that helps. Many people don't carry chains and will not be able to help you, even if they have the perfect rig to do so.
These are important in case you need to leave in a hurry. There might not be time to turn on the heater and wait for the windshield to defrost. The kind with a brush on one side is best as it allows you to remove the snow without getting your hands cold.
These are important for keeping your feet warm. Don't risk getting wet or cold when you're gathering wood for the fire or doing other outdoor tasks.
Another must. Wool is better and warmer than cotton or fleece. If there's a power outage, you'll need to cover up with warm blankets.
Keep several extra pairs on hand. Wool stays warm even when wet, unlike cotton, and dry feet are essential if you're spending time outside.
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