Skip to content
FieldGrade
← Back to Home
Outdoor Gear

FAQ: Emergency Preparedness Kit — Frequently Asked Questions

5 min read min readBy FieldGrade Team

Last updated: 2026-05-28

Frequently Asked Questions: Emergency Preparedness Kit

How do I get a free emergency kit from FEMA?

FEMA does not provide free emergency kits to the general public. This is a widely searched question but reflects a misunderstanding of what FEMA provides.

What FEMA does offer:

  • FEMA.gov preparedness resources: Free guides, checklists, and planning tools for building your own kit. The Ready.gov site (FEMA-managed) has printable checklists and family communication plan templates at no cost.
  • Disaster assistance: Following a presidentially declared disaster, FEMA provides disaster assistance grants for affected individuals — this can include money for emergency needs, but it is post-disaster assistance, not a pre-built kit
  • Community preparedness programs: FEMA's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program provides training and some basic supplies to trained volunteer teams, not individuals

Some state and local programs do provide emergency supply assistance to low-income or senior residents — these vary by location. Contact your county emergency management office for locally available programs.

The most reliable path to a free or low-cost emergency kit: the American Red Cross sells pre-assembled kits and often makes them available at reduced cost through community disaster preparedness programs. Local fire departments sometimes distribute basic preparedness materials.

For building your own: FEMA's Ready.gov provides a complete shopping list where most items cost $75–$150 total for a basic 72-hour household kit.

Who is eligible for free survival kits?

No federal program provides free survival kits to the general public as a baseline benefit. The categories that may have access to reduced-cost or subsidized preparedness resources:

Low-income households: Some state and county emergency management agencies have programs. Contact your county emergency management department directly — programs vary significantly by location and funding cycles.

Senior citizens: AARP has partnered with local emergency management on senior-focused preparedness programs in some regions. Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) in your region may have preparedness resources.

CERT volunteers: Community Emergency Response Team volunteers receive training and sometimes basic equipment through FEMA's CERT program. The application and training process is open to most adults.

Disaster-affected individuals: Following a declared disaster, FEMA's Individual Assistance program may provide funds that can be used for emergency supplies. This is not a pre-disaster provision.

Veterans: VA medical centers sometimes offer preparedness materials through their social services programs.

For most households, building a kit independently from FEMA's Ready.gov checklist is the fastest and most reliable path. Basic 72-hour kit components cost $75–$150 at most hardware and big-box stores.

Do first aid kits have antihistamines?

It depends on the kit. Basic pre-assembled first aid kits typically do not include antihistamines — they focus on wound care (bandages, antiseptic, tape). Comprehensive first aid kits and camping-specific kits often do include diphenhydramine (the active ingredient in Benadryl) for allergic reaction management.

What to look for:

  • Adventure Medical Kits (Ultralight/Watertight series) include diphenhydramine in their camping and backcountry kits
  • Standard workplace first aid kits (ANSI-compliant) typically do not include antihistamines
  • Over-the-counter basic kits from drugstores (Johnson & Johnson, Curad) typically do not include antihistamines

What to add regardless: For any kit intended for field or emergency use, add:

  • Diphenhydramine 25mg (Benadryl) — for mild to moderate allergic reactions including environmental allergens and minor stings
  • Note that diphenhydramine does not substitute for epinephrine in anaphylaxis — if you or any household member has a known severe allergy, an EpiPen should also be in your kit (requires prescription)

For a complete emergency kit, include diphenhydramine whether or not the pre-assembled kit includes it.

Is cash important to have in a go bag?

Yes — cash is one of the most overlooked and most critical items in a go bag. The reasoning:

Infrastructure failure: Card readers require power and network connectivity. During widespread power outages, flooding, or infrastructure disruption, electronic payment systems fail. Cash transactions continue regardless of infrastructure status.

ATM availability: During emergencies, ATMs are either without power, emptied by other evacuees, or overwhelmed. Relying on ATM access during an evacuation is a planning failure.

Speed and friction: Cash eliminates transaction friction. Gas stations, small businesses, and individual sellers operating during a disruption often prefer or require cash.

How much to carry: $300–$500 minimum, in mixed small bills. Primarily $20s and smaller — making change for a $100 bill in informal transactions is often impractical. Large bills may be refused by vendors who can't make change.

Other considerations: Keep the cash in a waterproof bag (a simple zip-lock or purpose-built waterproof pouch). Rotate it every 12–18 months to ensure it remains valid tender and that you're not leaving a significant amount unused and forgotten. Separate it into two locations in your kit — don't store all cash in one place.

The question isn't whether to have cash. It's how much and in what denominations. For a family of four, consider $500–$800 to cover fuel, food, and short-term lodging if card systems are unavailable.

This FAQ section is formatted for insertion into an emergency preparedness kit article. Pair with affiliate links to Adventure Medical Kits, Faraday bags, waterproof document holders, and NOAA hand-crank radios.