1-Person Survival Kits

One-person emergency kits are some of the easiest things we sell, and some of the easiest to keep putting off. Nobody calls a family meeting about it. Nobody asks whether it's handled. It just sits on the someday list, quietly.

The good news is that preparing for one doesn't have to be complicated. Whether it's for you, a kid heading to a dorm, or a mom three states away who keeps insisting she's fine, start with where the kit will be used and what you want it to cover.

Some one-person kits are designed to stay at home. Others are compact enough for a car, a commute, or an everyday bag. Coverage varies too, from fuller emergency supplies to lightweight essentials meant to be there when you're away from home.

One thing worth checking before you choose: how each kit handles food and water. A compact kit can't carry the same reserves as a larger home kit, so check what's included and plan for stored water where it makes sense.

Pick one. Put it somewhere you'd find it in the dark. Then add the things only you can.

A woman sits at a wooden table in a home setting, looking down at a red, white, and black emergency preparedness kit bag. She holds a red packet of ReadyWise Apple Cinnamon Energy.

What One Person Actually Needs

What should a 1-person emergency kit include?

The basics don't change because you're preparing for one person. Food, water, first aid, lighting, communication, shelter and warmth, hygiene, and the personal items only you can add.

What changes is how much you can store or carry, and where the kit will live. A compact car kit does a different job than a fuller kit kept at home, so check what's included before you choose.

How much water does one person need?

One gallon per person per day, for drinking and sanitation. For one person over three days that's three gallons, weighing about 25 pounds.

That's more water than any compact kit can carry. Check how each kit handles water, because some include starter drinking water and some expect you to supply it. For a kit kept at home, store water alongside it.

Which kit here fits?

Each kit here answers the same question differently: where is it going to live?

SureStep. Built for sheltering at home. Emergency food plus a portable stove and fuel tablets, so it is the one that makes a hot meal when the kitchen is out. The meals need water you add, so store water alongside it.

PitStop. A full roadside kit at 19 pounds, built for the trunk rather than the glove box. Jumper cables, tow rope, shovel, warning triangle, safety vest and a deluxe first aid kit, alongside a 400-calorie food bar and 12 ounces of water. Those are starter supplies for an unexpected wait, not a 72-hour reserve.

FirstMile. A compact car or commute kit with emergency food, starter water, lighting, an emergency blanket, and an orange HELP flag. An away-from-home reserve rather than a full 72-hour kit.

What about someone who lives alone?

Living alone doesn't call for a different kind of kit. What matters is that the supplies are reachable, and that the plan works without assuming someone else will be there to help.

Think about where the kit is stored, whether it can be moved easily, and whether medications, medical equipment, hearing or vision needs, or mobility needs belong in the plan. For broader senior-specific guidance, our Senior Emergency Kits collection covers it.

What to add yourself

No pre-packed kit includes the things specific to you.

  • Prescription medications and a refill plan
  • Copies of identification, insurance information and emergency contacts, kept dry
  • Water stored nearby, especially for a kit kept at home
  • Glasses, hearing aid supplies or medical device needs
  • One person who knows your plan and where your supplies are kept

If the power went out tonight and you were on your own, how long would it take you to put your hands on a flashlight?

Where to Keep a Kit So You'll Actually Find It