Are You Ready? The 25 Essential Emergency Supplies You Need To Survive Any Disaster in 2021

Written by Taylor Galla

In an instant, the world can change from calm and peaceful to full-on survival mode. Stores can go empty, self-defense gear can go into short supply and civilization itself can break down into dog-eat-dog chaos. The human race is constantly at the mercy of any number of tide-turning catastrophes from a destructive tornado to a global pandemic or even an alien invasion. In recent years, there have also been growing concerns about civil unrest and a breakdown of the constitutional system here in the United States. While 2020 was a difficult year, the true worst-case scenarios have not yet come to pass, *knocks on wood*, but we’re also not ruling it out.

Look, we’re not trying to scare you. (That’s what TV news is for.) We’re just telling you to be prepared.

When surviving any sort of emergency,  you’ll need supplies. There are certain supplies tailored to certain types of emergencies, and if you live in an area that frequently experiences one type of natural disaster, then we recommend stocking up accordingly. This could be an earthquake kit for neighborhoods frequently threatened with “the big one,” or a weather radio for areas with poor cell service and regular tornadoes.

However, if you live in an area where any number of disasters could happen, then you’ll want to prepare for it all. The most essential emergencies supplies, from emergency blankets to generators and even first aid kits, apply no matter what the emergency is. They’re made to keep you alive, fed and alert whether you’re contending with a dangerous storm or a dangerous breakdown of civilization. We’ve gathered the best emergency gear and disaster prep supplies below. We’ve also divided them up into the following categories to make it easier: emergency kits, health and medicine, food and water, power and energy, and self-defense and shelter. Explore it here.