March 13, 2026
Welcome to Emergency Kit, your newsletter course dedicated to helping you prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies. For the next week, you’ll hear from us every other day with practical advice and rigorously tested gear recommendations.
For the latest live weather-event coverage from The New York Times, head here.
Today’s emergency prep: Keep your most important devices running with backup power
Dana Davis/NYT Wirecutter
Emergency supply checklists are all over the internet, but a lot of advice can be intimidating in its breadth and specificity, not to mention the cost of supplies. So we’ve organized this series into four primary themes you can tackle one at a time. Our goal here is to provide you with a solid foundation of both supplies and practical advice — whether you plan to shelter in place at home or assemble the basics of a go bag that you can grab in the event of an evacuation. A few things to keep in mind:
- We believe that you can assemble the basics of a well-stocked emergency kit using stuff you might already own. But we’ve got recommendations for anything you don’t — including a couple of big-ticket items you may find worth the investment, depending on your geographical location, desired comfort level, and budget.
- Remember that tools are only as good as your ability to use them. Anytime you purchase something for an emergency kit, read the instructions and understand how it works — before you actually need it.
Today, we’re starting with communication and power, because it’s crucial to stay informed and keep important devices running during an emergency. Let’s get into it.
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Start here: Get an emergency weather radio
Sarah Kobos/NYT Wirecutter
If the power goes out and cell towers are down, a good emergency weather radio is vital. It can tune in to AM/FM stations, provide continuous weather information, and broadcast loud alerts if a dangerous weather event is headed your way.
The best emergency weather radios→
OUR TOP PICK
The Midland ER310 is a durable, compact radio that doubles as a flashlight and charging station.
How to keep small devices running
NYT Wirecutter
Even if you own a generator or portable power station (more on those below), having a supplemental way to charge phones in the event of a power outage frees up space on larger generators for devices that require more juice.
- A portable solar charger is great for generating some energy. This Allpowers one can charge multiple devices, yet it’s small and light enough to store in an emergency kit.
- Once the sun goes down, though, so does the source of power. We suggest also keeping a small power bank or a high-capacity battery pack on hand to transfer the power onto. That way, you can stockpile power during the day with your solar charger, and plug phones and other small devices into the battery packs to charge at night.
- Keep spare cables on hand, in case you need to charge multiple devices at the same time.
More on portable chargers and power banks for emergencies→
Safe to use indoors: A portable power station
Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter
Portable power stations are essentially large batteries. Despite being less powerful than a gas-powered generator, they’re useful as an emergency power source for just about anyone — but especially apartment dwellers without access to outdoor space. Plus, these devices don’t require the same level of maintenance as a gas-powered generator. You should always keep your portable power station charged so it’s ready to roll when you need it.
The best portable power stations→
OUR TOP PICK
The EcoFlow River 2 Pro offers lots of power in a portable, durable, easy-to-use package and has a wide array of charging ports.
If you have outdoor space: Consider a portable generator
Doug Mahoney/NYT Wirecutter
Portable generators come in a variety of sizes and wattages. The largest we’ve tested has enough juice to power appliances like space heaters and small air conditioners. A few important notes:
- Many of these machines run on gasoline, so when they’re running, they need to be at least 20 feet away from your home. Say it with us: Never use a gas-powered generator inside! The fumes can be deadly, and carbon monoxide can build up even in an open garage.
- To use any gas-powered generator, you also need a gas can for extra gasoline and a heavy-duty extension cord to reach from outside into your home through a window or door.
OUR TOP PICK
This Westinghouse generator runs on either propane or gas, so you have options for fuel storage or if there’s scarcity in an outage. It’s big enough to power the basics and then some.
Plus: Even more advice for customizing your emergency kit
Dana Davis/NYT Wirecutter
To create a customized checklist of Wirecutter-tested gear that meets your needs: Tell us what threats you’re most likely to face, who you’re planning for, and what kind of home you have.
Build your own disaster-prep kit→
Do this one thing now: Pick your point person
When you’re rationing power during an emergency, texting and calling multiple people will deplete battery life. So designate an out-of-town contact now to serve as your point person.
Your point person can notify others about your situation and keep them up-to-date on your status. And they can try to inform emergency services about your location if you need help and are unable to get through on your own.
You should keep your contact’s name and number in your wallet, and if you’re able, offer to be their emergency point person in return.
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See you in two days, when we’ll share our expert advice for emergency lighting and tools.
Thanks for being here with us. You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.
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