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What this page is for
The playbook says what to do at each colour. This page lists the gear those steps assume a household already has, grouped by what it is for.
Each group says what to check on any product of that kind. Specific picks will be few, chosen because we would buy them ourselves, and no seller pays to be listed. The kit never changes the condition colour, the lanes or the alerts.
As an Amazon Associate, Vyrana earns from qualifying purchases. Links marked “paid link” go to Amazon. Prices and stock are Amazon's, not ours.
Water storage and filtration
Clean water for drinking and cooking when the tap stops or the water is unsafe.
Green: keep two weeks of water rotated. Red: fill water containers.
What to look for
- About 1 gallon per person per day, for at least two weeks.
- Containers sold for drinking water, sized so one person can lift them.
- Filters tested to NSF/ANSI standards, with the rated capacity stated.
Picks
- Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration SystemSawyer · Amazon · paid linkA hand-sized 0.1-micron filter that removes bacteria and protozoa from rain or creek water without power. It does not remove chemicals or metals, so it never overrides a do-not-drink notice.
- Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-Gallon Water ContainerReliance Products · Amazon · paid linkFood-grade, stackable and still liftable when full, with a spigot; two of them hold several days of water for a small family.
Food storage
Two weeks of food the household already eats, that keeps without power.
Green: keep two weeks of food rotated.
What to look for
- Shelf life and a date printed on each pack.
- Meals that need little water or fuel to prepare.
- Allergies and diets in the household, checked before buying in bulk.
Picks
- Mountain House Classic Assortment BucketMountain House · Amazon · paid linkTwelve freeze-dried pouches with a long shelf life that only need hot water, so they cover a stretch of days with almost no fuel.
- Not chosen yet
Power and solar
Keeping phones, a radio, lights and small medical devices running through an outage.
Green: charge phones and power banks overnight. Red: charge everything.
What to look for
- Capacity in watt-hours, measured against what you actually need to run.
- Safe battery chemistry for indoor use, and UL or similar listing.
- Solar input rating, if you plan to recharge without the grid.
Picks
- EcoFlow RIVER 2EcoFlow · Amazon · paid linkA small LiFePO4 power station that keeps phones, a radio and lights going for days and recharges from a wall, car or solar panel.
- Not chosen yet
Masks and air protection
Breathing protection for wildfire smoke and dust, and for rarer chemical or radiological events.
Tripwire: a local radiation reading red. Also wildfire smoke days.
What to look for
- NIOSH-approved N95 or better for smoke, in sizes that fit each person.
- For full-face masks, a certified filter standard and a fit check.
- Nothing here replaces official shelter or evacuation instructions.
Picks
- Not chosen yet
- Not chosen yet
First aid
Treating cuts, burns and sprains at home when help is slow to arrive.
Yellow: refill any prescription due in the next month.
What to look for
- A kit sized for the household, with a printed contents list.
- Room for each person's own medicines and copies of prescriptions.
- A first aid course is worth more than any kit.
Picks
- First Aid Only 299-Piece All-Purpose First Aid KitFirst Aid Only · Amazon · paid linkA widely stocked, well-organised kit that covers everyday cuts, burns and sprains, with room left for the family's own medicines.
- Not chosen yet
Lighting and radio
Light at night and news when the phone network or power is down.
Red: charge phones, power banks and the radio.
What to look for
- A NOAA weather radio with alert tone, ideally hand-crank or solar.
- Headlamps and lanterns that share one battery type.
- Spare batteries, dated and stored apart from the devices.
Picks
- Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather RadioMidland · Amazon · paid linkReceives NOAA weather alerts, runs on hand crank, solar or batteries, and doubles as a flashlight and phone charger.
- Black Diamond Spot 400 HeadlampBlack Diamond · Amazon · paid linkA bright, water-resistant headlamp on AAA batteries that leaves both hands free for cooking, first aid or moving around in the dark.
Fire and warmth
Staying warm when the heat goes out in winter, without risking carbon monoxide.
Red: a winter outage. Gather in one room and keep it warm.
What to look for
- Heaters rated for indoor use, with tip-over and low-oxygen shutoff, run only with the fresh-air ventilation their manual requires.
- A battery carbon monoxide alarm in any room where fuel is burned.
- Blankets and sleeping bags for everyone, before any fuel at all.
Picks
- Mr. Heater Portable BuddyMr. Heater · Amazon · paid linkA propane heater rated for indoor use, with tip-over and low-oxygen shutoff, that can warm one room in an outage. Follow its manual's ventilation rules and run a CO alarm.
- SOL Emergency BivvySurvive Outdoors Longer · Amazon · paid linkA light, reflective emergency sleeping bag that holds in body heat; one per person fits in a car or go-bag.
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