US government urge Americans to prepare for emergency

The US government has revealed a list of items Americans should keep on hand in case of an emergency.

Officials warned that households should be prepared to survive on their own for several days if disaster strikes, with no immediate access to outside help.

The Department of Homeland Security recommends storing enough water, food, and medical supplies to sustain every person in a household during an extended emergency.

At the top of the list is water, at least one gallon per person per day, along with several days’ worth of non-perishable food.

Americans are also urged to keep critical safety items such as flashlights, radios, batteries and first-aid kits readily available in a portable emergency supply kit.

‘Work on your general preparedness. Power outages often go hand in hand with supply chain disruptions, so keep food, water, fuel, etc., on hand. Planning for three days of self-sufficiency is a good starting point,’ Sean Gold, Air Force veteran and founder of TruePrepper, previously told DailyMail.

Currently, the conflict with Iran has not impacted the US homeland, but officials say preparedness remains critical regardless of immediate threat levels.

The guidance comes as global health officials warned of potential worst-case scenarios tied to the US war with Iran.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) have both prepared response strategies in the event of a nuclear-related incident.

Speaking to Politico, WHO director Hanan Balkhy said: ‘The worst-case scenario is a nuclear incident, and that’s something that worries us the most.’

However, on Monday, President Donald Trump said Iran wants to ‘settle’ with the US to end the war.

He also doubled down on his claim that Iran has agreed to never have a nuclear weapon.

‘With Iran, we’ve been negotiating for a long time, and this time, they mean business … they mean business. They want to settle, and we’re going to get it done; hopefully, this will be possible,’ Trump said, adding that strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure have been paused for five days.

Officials said non-perishable foods, including canned or dried items, are preferred because they require little to no preparation during emergencies.

While modern technology dominates daily life, officials stressed the importance of keeping battery-powered or hand-crank radios, including NOAA weather radios, to receive emergency updates if power or cell networks fail.

‘[The radios] run between $15 and $80, so they can fit most budgets and do some heavy lifting in emergencies,’ Gold explained.

Extra batteries for both radios and flashlights are also considered essential for maintaining visibility and communication during prolonged outages.

A first-aid kit is considered essential, allowing families to treat minor injuries when emergency medical services may be delayed.

Officials also recommend whistles to signal for help in low-visibility conditions or situations where individuals may become trapped.

Air quality can deteriorate quickly during disasters, making air-filtering dust masks an important addition to emergency kits.

Shelter materials such as plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape are recommended for sealing windows and doors if outside air becomes contaminated or hazardous.

Sanitation supplies, including moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties, are also advised to help maintain hygiene during extended emergencies.

Officials stress that households should also learn how to shut off utilities, including natural gas, and keep tools such as a wrench or pliers available if needed.

Officials warn that GPS systems, internet access and cell networks may fail during major emergencies, making printed local maps a valuable backup resource.

‘Make an emergency communication plan to coordinate with loved ones and have set procedures that do not rely on power [or] cell phones in the event of an outage,’ Gold advised.

Backup battery packs and mobile charging devices are also recommended to keep phones operational when electricity is unavailable.