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Are You Prepared for an Emergency? Recent Stats Show 57% of Americans Are Not

It’s true. According to a 2024 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) survey, only 43% of Americans have some level of emergency preparedness. There are many reasons people don’t prepare for emergencies, including cost, believing they don’t need an emergency kit, and time constraints.

Are you prepared for an emergency? Are you prepared for a medical emergency?

It’s always better to be safe than sorry—especially when living with Utah’s intermittent extreme weather conditions. Keep reading to learn how to build an emergency preparedness kit on a budget.

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Utah’s Risk Snapshot: Outages, Heat, and Weather Extremes

Fortunately, Utah is a state that doesn’t experience many natural or man-made disasters—on average, two disasters are declared annually. In this case, a “disaster” is an official designation or when a formal request for federal help is sent to the president.

Common Utah natural disasters that can cause a power outage include extreme heat, high winds, and winter weather. As a result of these disasters, broken lines and fallen trees can also cause outages.

Natural disasters often occur in September, October, and November, but they can happen any time, which is why it’s always good to be prepared.

Of course, man-made factors like an aging electrical system can also cause outages. The University of Wisconsin-Madison estimates that America’s electricity grid is 50–75 years old.

The amount of electricity needed in modern times often overwhelms the system, making outages more common. For example, nearly 70% of power transformers are over 25 years old, which makes them vulnerable to failing.

The combination of both man-made issues and natural disasters makes having an emergency preparedness kit and a functional home electric system more essential than ever.

What Counts as a “Complete” Emergency Preparedness Kit?

According to experts, a complete emergency preparedness kit has enough supplies for three to five days. For those who do have emergency supplies, 88% say that their kits can last more than three days—34% say the supplies can last more than two weeks.

The Red Cross has a handy list of essential supplies for an emergency kit that includes:

  • Water (one gallon per person, per day)

  • Food (3 days' worth of unperishable food)

  • Flashlights

  • Batteries

  • Battery power or a hand-crank radio

  • First aid kit

  • A week’s worth of medications

  • Multipurpose tool

  • Hygiene items

  • Copies of personal documents

  • Cell phone and charger

  • Blankets

  • Cash

  • Map of the area

  • Emergency contact information

However, a complete emergency kit for your family may include:

  • Baby supplies (bottle, diapers, baby food, formula)

  • Pet food, leash, carrier

  • Entertainment (books, board games, etc.)

  • N95 or surgical masks

  • Rain gear

  • Towels

  • Extra clothing

  • Plastic sheeting and duct tape

  • Matches

  • Fire extinguisher

  • Sleeping bag

  • Trash bags (for waste disposal)

  • Gas for a generator

Why Emergency Kits Matter During Power Outages

In power outages, emergency kits keep you and your family safe. When the power goes out, we often only think of lights or entertainment disappearing. In actuality, things such as refrigerators, microwaves, and electric-powered HVAC systems will stop working.

This can leave you and your family without food, light, communication, and even heat/cold until the power comes back.

In 2024, Utah experienced power outages that lasted 120 minutes on average, and usually took around 116 minutes to fix.

While Utah’s response time is very good right now, it’s still important to have a kit in case these times grow longer.

How to Build a Kit Without Overspending

According to FEMA, the biggest challenge to building an emergency preparedness kit is cost (26%). But, you can prepare a kit without breaking your budget—especially if you make your own instead of buying a prepared kit.

By preparing ahead of time, you have more options. You can buy things on sale instead of at a premium. You can use what you have or buy used items at garage sales. Or, you buy things a little at a time, so you don’t break your budget.

You can also try connecting with community groups that offer discounted or free supplies.

The Most Important Items to Pack First

Here are the essential emergency supplies you should start with:

  • Water (one gallon per person for three to five days)

  • Nonperishable food

  • Flashlight

  • First aid kit

  • Medication

  • Blankets

  • Hygiene supplies

  • Personal documents

  • Batteries

  • Cash

  • Cellphone

  • Charger/power bank

What You Might Already Have Around the House

Think about what you may already have in your home:

  • A bag to put everything in (it doesn’t have to be fancy, any duffel bag or backpack can work)

  • Extra clothes

  • Nonperishable food

  • Water bottles

  • First aid kit (even just bandages are a good starting point)

  • Plastic bags for waste disposal

  • Milk jugs that can be filled with water

  • Blankets

  • Entertainment

  • Medication

  • Personal documents

  • Trash bags (for plastic sheeting)

  • Flashlight

  • Batteries

  • Matches/lighter

  • Cash

  • Cell phone

  • Charger/power bank

  • Extra napkins and plastic utensils from restaurants

Are Battery Backups Helpful During a Power Outage?

Yes, battery backups can be helpful during a power outage. They provide power to crucial electronics, such as medical equipment or heat, for a short amount of time.

How Does a Battery Backup Work?

A professional installs a battery backup into your electrical system, and it gathers energy while in standby mode. When there is a power outage, it will automatically activate.

How Much Battery Backup Do I Need?

The amount of battery backup you need depends on what you want to power. The higher the electrical demand, the larger battery capacity you need. For example, medical equipment would need a more powerful battery than a cell phone.

How Long Do Backup Batteries Last?

How long a backup battery lasts depends on the model you use and what you are powering.

Need Help Protecting Your Home Before the Next Outage?

If you want to ensure your home’s electrical system is strong and secure, get it checked out by professionals. Maybe your electrical panel needs an upgrade? You can also get a generator installed before you need one.

Or maybe you need a maintenance check to give you peace of mind or detect problems before they grow too big. Surge protectors can prevent home and device damage when the grid acts funny.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The first thing to do in an emergency is to stay calm and assess the situation. Find your emergency kit, check to see if anyone is injured, and if they are, perform first aid. After that, get to a safe place where your other emergency supplies are nearby.

To protect your home in a power outage, unplug all electronics to prevent surges, keep your refrigerator and freezer closed, don’t use a gas stove/oven to heat your home (carbon monoxide risk), and only use a functional generator outdoors.

Utah households should add insulation if they haven’t already (or had it replaced in a while) to assist with maintaining heat during a power outage. You can also invest in alternative heating appliances, such as wood or pellet stoves, or a backup generator.

If someone in your home depends on medical equipment, you need to prepare for a power outage before it happens. You can do this by registering your household as a priority customer with your utility company, getting a backup battery or generator, or finding backup medical equipment that doesn’t require power.