Don't Panic, But Do Prepare For An Emergency

A natural disaster can happen to anyone, at any time. Are you prepared? Here’s our best advice on what to have on hand.
Additional Reading:
• The Best Emergency Preparedness Supplies (www.nytimes.co...)
• How to Clean a Flooded Basement (www.nytimes.co...)
• Everything I Did to Flood-Proof My Old House (www.nytimes.co...)
• The Best Hurricane Preparedness Supplies and Strategies for 2024 (www.nytimes.co...)
• The Best Gear for Your Bug-Out Bag (www.nytimes.co...)
Products We Recommend:
• Best rigid water container: Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-Gallon (wrctr.co/3TxVR7U)
• Best flashlight: ThruNite Archer 2A V3 (wrctr.co/3zmqHK1)
• Best floating solar lantern: LuminAid Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern (wrctr.co/3B9b3Ce)
• Best weather radio: Midland ER310 (wrctr.co/4dfRlC1)
• Best portable solar charger: BigBlue 28W USB Solar Charger (wrctr.co/4d7htix)
• Best multi-tool: Leatherman Skeletool CX (wrctr.co/4gHwpqT)
• Folding saws Harry likes: Silky Pocketboy 130 mm Folding Saw Medium Teeth 340-13 (wrctr.co/47LVgFX) , Silky Professional BIGBOY Folding Saw 360mm Large Teeth (354-36) (wrctr.co/4gvXw7W) , Silky Zubat Curved Hand Saw 270mm Large Teeth (270-27) (wrctr.co/3Xt10zt)
• Harry’s favorite recent purchase: Aquatabs (wrctr.co/3Xt1fKT)
We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more› (www.nytimes.co...)
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Find edited transcripts for each episode at nytimes.com/wirecutter.

[@CarlosIowa]

Very, very good show. Thank You. I'm fine. Non Preppers needed to hear it.

[@monikalenz2559]

This fire season in California we've prepared to evacuate 3 times and evacuated once. We have a tiny 13ft trailer that is fully self contained and stocked with basics. I grab our bin of important documents and the pets and go to a nearby lake campground. We live in a rural mountain community that, in an earthquake situation, could be cut off from supply lines so a full pantry, generator, and plenty of propane and firewood are always on hand. The only thing we haven't invested in -yet - is solar for the trailer and house.

[@charlesbonnet8057]

In Michigan we had a bad storm with high winds this summer knocked out power for more than 300,000 houses / small businesses. The utility companies restored about 100,000 of those per day, but some people were out of power for 3 full days. It does make sense, even small steps to prepare in advance can make those events much easier to deal with.

[@kjs3431]

Live by major source of water (✔️). Have two weeks of stored food (✔️). Have serious solar panels (✔️). Tools/equipment to support full on camping(✔️). Guns, lots of guns and ammo, so you can “get” whatever you need [in a zero guns country, but I got mine] hahahah (✔️)