Essential Tools for Emergency Preparedness

A natural disaster can happen to anyone, at any time. Are you prepared? Here’s our best advice on what to have on hand.

Guest: Wirecutter senior editor Harry Sawyers

Additional Reading:

• The Best Emergency Preparedness Supplies
• How to Clean a Flooded Basement
• Everything I Did to Flood-Proof My Old House 
• The Best Hurricane Preparedness Supplies and Strategies for 2024
• The Best Gear for Your Bug-Out Bag

Products We Recommend: 

• Best rigid water container: Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-Gallon
• Best flashlight: ThruNite Archer 2A V3
• Best floating solar lantern: LuminAid Titan 2-in-1 Power Lantern
• Best weather radio: Midland ER310
• Best portable solar charger: BigBlue 28W USB Solar Charger
• Best multi-tool: Leatherman Skeletool CX
• Folding saws Harry likes: Silky Pocketboy 130 mm Folding Saw Medium Teeth 340-13, Silky Professional BIGBOY Folding Saw 360mm Large Teeth (354-36), Silky Zubat Curved Hand Saw 270mm Large Teeth (270-27) 
• Harry’s favorite recent purchase: Aquatabs

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more›

Wirecutter Social and Website

Instagram: /wirecutter

Threads: /@wirecutter

Twitter: /wirecutter

Facebook: /thewirecutter

TikTok: /wirecutter

LinkedIn: /nyt-wirecutter

Website: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/

Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/newsletters/

The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

Find edited transcripts for each episode here: The Wirecutter Show Podcast