Clothing

In most parts of the United States, there is a good argument for having emergency clothing on hand. Having extra clothing is particularly important when you're traveling in a vehicle, and it could come in handy at home as well.

If a major snowstorm takes out the electricity to your home, having warm clothing to layer on and bundle up in could save your life. If you're traveling and the car breaks down, you have an accident, or you're caught in a surprise storm, having clothing on hand to protect you from the cold can also save your life. So extra clothing -- warm clothing -- is a critical item to have on hand in colder areas. Believe it or not though, warm clothing is also essential in desert areas such as Arizona and Nevada. Even if the daytime temperatures are above 100 degrees, the night time can drop into the 40's and 50's. This can seem quite cold in contrast to the blistering hot days, and it's made even worse if you have gotten sunburned or you work up a sweat from walking or other exertions.