Storms knock out power far more often than most of us plan for. Hurricanes, ice storms and blizzards can leave a home without electricity, heat or phone signal for days, and the shops are always busiest the day before the storm arrives. The best time to put a kit together is while the skies are clear.

This checklist is built around the official guidance from Ready.gov, the US government's preparedness site, which advises having enough supplies to get by on your own for several days after a disaster. We've added the gear we stock and ship from our US warehouse, so you can tick off the hard-to-find items in one order.

Why storm season isn't over yet

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, according to NOAA, and storms occasionally form outside those dates. Right behind it comes winter: Ready.gov's winter weather advice warns that extreme winter weather can leave communities without utilities for long periods, and recommends gathering supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power. One kit covers both.

The storm-season kit checklist

Based on the Ready.gov basic supply list:

• Water: one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation.
• Food: at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food, plus a manual can opener.
• Radio: a battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.
• Light: a torch (flashlight) and spare batteries.
• First aid kit.
• Phone power: chargers and a backup battery.
• Signalling and shelter: a whistle, dust masks, plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape.
• Sanitation: moist towelettes, rubbish bags and plastic ties.
• Tools and maps: a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, and local paper maps.

Don't forget prescription medicines, pet supplies and copies of important documents.

1. A way to hear the warnings

When the power and mobile data drop, a radio is often the only way to hear official updates. Ready.gov recommends a battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio. Our hand-crank solar radio does both jobs: it picks up AM, FM and NOAA weather bands, never needs mains power, and can give your phone an emergency top-up from its USB port.

Stay informed

Hand-Crank Solar Emergency Weather Radio

• AM/FM plus NOAA weather bands
• Charges by hand crank, solar or USB
• Built-in torch and phone-charging USB output

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Treat injuries

500-Piece First Aid Kit

• 500 first aid essentials
• Tough 600D nylon bag
• Sized for home, car or basecamp

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2. Light that doesn't need the grid

Ready.gov's power outage guidance says to use torches, lanterns and battery-powered lights, never candles or gas stoves, and to have a torch for every household member. A lantern lights a whole room so the family can stay together. Solar models keep topping themselves up through a long outage, as long as you stand them in a sunny window during the day.

Light the room

Solar Rechargeable Camping Lantern

• Solar and USB recharging
• Several brightness modes
• Light, with a carry handle

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Light plus power

Solar Folding Lantern and Power Bank

• Folds flat, pops up to light a room
• 3 LED modes, waterproof
• Charges your phone over USB

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3. Power for your phone and warmth for your hands

Ready.gov suggests planning for portable chargers or power banks, keeping phones charged before a storm, and dimming your screen to save battery. If a winter storm cuts the heating, a rechargeable hand warmer takes the edge off without any fumes, and it doubles as a 5000mAh power bank.

Keep warm

Rechargeable Hand Warmer and 5000mAh Power Bank

• Heats in seconds, no disposable packs
• Doubles as a phone power bank
• Pocket-sized, 168 g

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4. A back-up for clean water

Stored water comes first: one gallon per person per day. A personal filter straw is a compact back-up if your supply runs low or you have to leave home. Treat it as a back-up rather than a replacement for safe stored water, and follow local boil-water notices if your utility issues one.

Back-up water

Personal Water Filter Straw

• Filters sediment and bacteria
• Packs into any drawer or go-bag
• Use alongside stored water

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5. Hot food when the stove is off

A hot drink and a proper meal make a long outage far easier. A camping cookware set with a compact stove lets you cook if the power is off for days. Only ever use a camp stove outdoors. Ready.gov says generators, camp stoves and charcoal grills should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and garages, because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Cook outdoors

16-Piece Camping Cookware and Stove Set

• Pots, pan, kettle and stove
• Nests into one carry bag
• For outdoor use only

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Pack it, check it, store it

• Keep everything in one or two easy-to-carry bags or bins near an exit.
• Build a smaller kit for the car: Ready.gov suggests jumper cables, sand, a torch, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and snacks.
• Charge radios, lanterns and power banks every few months, and before any forecast storm.
• Check food, water and medicine dates twice a year. Changing the clocks is a handy reminder.
• Install battery-backed carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home.

This guide is for general preparedness and doesn't replace instructions from your local emergency officials. Always follow evacuation orders and official alerts in your area.