Cheapest peace of mind for water
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
For under $40, a filter that makes questionable water safe to drink — the highest-value item you can put in a family kit.
Family of 4 · evacuation
A grab-and-go bag that lets your family evacuate calmly in five minutes, packed and waiting by the door.
The whole point of a go-bag is that the thinking is already done. When an evacuation order comes, you grab it and go — no scrambling, no “wait, where are the passports?”
Ours centers on the things you can’t improvise on the way out: a way to communicate if the cell network is down, safe water, copies of important documents, medications, phone chargers, and a comfort item for each kid. Pack it once, store it by the door you’d actually leave through, and check it every spring before fire season.
Cheapest peace of mind for water
For under $40, a filter that makes questionable water safe to drink — the highest-value item you can put in a family kit.
Best when cell towers fail
A pocket-sized satellite communicator that lets you text family and call for help when the cell network is down — the ultimate "just in case."