The expensive version of emergency preparedness is easy to find: high-capacity generators, full freeze-dried food systems, solar-plus-battery setups, complete 72-hour kits in branded bags. These products exist for households that want comprehensive long-duration preparedness and have the budget for it.
The minimum viable version — the set of supplies that provides real protection against the most common emergencies most households face — costs considerably less. This guide builds a complete baseline for under $150, covering a two-person household for 72 hours.
The most common emergency for most American households is an extended utility outage: power out for one to five days following a severe weather event. That’s the scenario this plan is optimized for. Adjust the quantities up for larger households.
The $150 shopping list (two-person household)
Prices here are approximate retail as of mid-2024; actual prices vary by location and store. The goal is to demonstrate feasibility, not to specify exact products.
Water: ~$20–25
Six 1-gallon jugs of commercially bottled water — a 72-hour supply for two adults at the standard one-gallon-per-person-per-day planning figure. Store under a bed, in a cabinet, or in a closet. Date the tops with a marker and rotate annually.
Alternatively: one or two 6-gallon food-grade refillable containers ($10–15 each) filled from the tap. If you have a yard or balcony, this is a workable long-term approach that costs less per gallon over time.
Skip: expensive specialized water storage systems at this budget level. Commercial jugs or food-grade containers from the hardware store are functionally equivalent.
Food: ~$30–40
Two adults for 72 hours need approximately 12,000 calories total (2,000 per day per person). Options at typical grocery-store prices:
- 6 cans of tuna, salmon, or chicken ($8–12)
- 1 large jar of peanut butter, 18 oz (~$4)
- 2 boxes of whole-grain crackers ($5–7)
- 1 container of instant oats (~$4)
- 2 cans of beans or chickpeas (~$2)
- 2 cans of fruit or vegetables in water (~$3)
- Dried fruit and nuts, 1 lb (~$5)
- 1 manual can opener (~$4 if you don’t have one)
Total: roughly $35–40. This is calorie-adequate, nutritionally reasonable, and shelf-stable for at least a year without rotation.
Light: ~$20–25
Two LED headlamps with fresh batteries — approximately $10–15 each for a basic model. Headlamps are more useful than flashlights for most emergency tasks because they leave both hands free. One is a baseline; two means both adults have hands-free light simultaneously.
Alternatively: one headlamp ($12–15) and one LED lantern for room lighting ($10–15). The lantern covers ambient lighting that a headlamp provides less comfortably.
Extra batteries: two sets of AA or AAA (whatever your devices take), stored in a labeled bag outside the devices.
Information: ~$25–35
A battery-operated or hand-crank radio that receives NOAA Weather Radio (the 162 MHz band) in addition to AM/FM. Basic models start around $20–25. This is the most important single item on the list for weather-related emergencies: when cell networks are congested, NOAA Weather Radio is what delivers official warnings, watches, and instructions.
The NOAA Weather Radio is not optional. It is the gap between a kit and a real preparedness baseline.
Power bank for phones: ~$15–20
A 10,000–20,000 mAh USB power bank, kept charged, covers most phones two to four times. During an outage, maintaining phone communication and access to emergency information makes every other aspect of the situation more manageable. Buy one with at least two USB-A ports so both adults can charge simultaneously.
Keep it charged. Set a calendar reminder once a month to plug it in.
First aid: ~$15–20
A basic commercial first aid kit — wound care, bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain reliever. Most households already have elements of this; a dedicated kit keeps it together and accessible. The American Red Cross and Ready.gov both publish recommended first aid kit contents if you want to build from scratch.
Note: this kit does not replace prescription medications. If any household member takes daily medication, a rotating one-week supply stored with the kit is the single highest-value health preparedness step available. This costs nothing if you work with your pharmacy’s refill schedule; the barrier is remembering to maintain the rotation.
What the $150 plan covers
| Scenario | Coverage |
|---|---|
| 3-day power outage | Yes: food, water, light, information, phones |
| 5-day power outage | Marginal: food and water adequate; phone charging may run short |
| Evacuation in own vehicle | Partial: kit is packable; shelter destination not included |
| Medical emergency at home | Basic: first aid only; no prescription backup |
What it doesn’t cover
Extended outages beyond three days. Three days is the planning floor, not the planning ceiling, and extended outages after major storms regularly exceed it. The next layer of investment is more water storage, a larger food reserve, and either a portable power station or a generator for phone and critical device charging.
Cooking without power. The food plan above is entirely no-cook. If cooking capability matters to your household, a two-burner camp stove with two propane canisters runs approximately $30–50 and transforms the food options significantly. Operate outdoors only.
Backup heating or cooling. These are meaningful expenses that vary by climate and housing situation. The $150 plan doesn’t include them; the weatherization and backup power articles on this site cover the options when that investment makes sense.
Special medical equipment. CPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, insulin refrigeration, and other power-dependent medical equipment need their own backup power plan. A portable power station (starting around $200–300 for a useful size) is the most accessible solution; see the backup power discussion in related articles.
Building from here
The $150 plan is a real baseline, not a token gesture. A household with this kit and a written communication plan — where to go, who to contact, who picks up the children — is in a substantially better position than the majority of households that have no supplies at all.
The next three investments to make once the baseline exists:
- Communication plan. Costs nothing; see the household communication plan guide.
- Document file. A waterproof bag with copies of key documents. See the go-file guide.
- Larger water reserve. Adding two or three more gallons per person, or a refillable 6-gallon container, is a $15–25 step that extends the baseline meaningfully.
Start with the $150 plan this week. The next tier can wait; the baseline cannot.
FAQ
Is a 10,000 mAh power bank enough for an emergency?
For two people, a 10,000 mAh power bank can charge most modern smartphones two to three times total. A 20,000 mAh bank doubles that. If a three-to-five day outage is plausible in your area, a 20,000 mAh bank is worth the modest additional cost.
Should I buy a pre-made emergency kit instead of building my own?
Pre-made kits solve the assembly problem — you buy one thing and have most of the components. Their weaknesses are generic food (often items that don’t suit your household’s diet), thin water supplies (usually one or two small bottles rather than three days’ worth), and filler items at the expense of quality basics. If budget and time make a pre-made kit more likely to get done, it’s a legitimate starting point — just audit it against the four core items: water, food, light, and information.
How often should I replace the items in a $150 kit?
Battery devices: replace batteries annually or when the devices are used and batteries depleted. Food: rotate annually (eat and replace) or per the manufacturer best-by dates. Water: rotate annually or every six months if stored in refillable containers. Power bank: charge monthly; it should last several years before needing replacement.