Updated August 2026
When I first wrote this post in 2024, Sunshine Preppers was just getting started, and workplace emergency preparednesswas one of the first topics I tackled.
And looking back at it now, I can tell.
I had a list.
Actually, I had a very long list.
Water. Food. First aid supplies. Flashlights. Multitools. Blankets. Clothes. Hygiene supplies. A whistle. Maps. Cash. Chargers. Something to keep you from getting bored.
Apparently I thought we were all moving into our workplaces.
The basic idea, though, was a good one:
Emergencies don’t always happen when we’re safely at home with all the things we’ve prepared.
You may be at work. Your spouse may be somewhere else. Your kids or grandchildren may be at school. The dog may be home.
And suddenly the question becomes:
Now what?
Start With What’s Actually Likely
Here in Florida, I think about hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding, severe thunderstorms, extreme heat and power outages.
Your list may look completely different.
The point isn’t to prepare for every disaster that could possibly happen. It’s to think about the things that are reasonably likely where you live—and what could happen if you’re away from home when one occurs.
Maybe roads flood before you can leave work.
Maybe a severe storm makes driving unsafe.
Maybe the power goes out.
Or perhaps you can leave, but normal roads are blocked and your trip home takes much longer than expected.
You don’t need a bunker under your desk.
But a few things could make that situation considerably easier.
My Simple Workplace Emergency Kit
If I were putting one together today, I’d start here:
Water and a little food.
Not an entire emergency pantry. A few bottles of water and some shelf-stable foods you actually eat are enough to get started.
Your medications.
If you take something you really shouldn’t miss, think about what you would do if you couldn’t get home when expected. Follow the storage requirements for your medications.
Comfortable walking shoes.
This may be one of the most practical things on the entire list. If you normally work in dress shoes, heels or anything you wouldn’t want to walk several miles in, keep an old pair of comfortable shoes and socks at work.
A phone power bank and charging cable.
Keep the power bank charged. That’s the part I’d probably forget unless I put a reminder on my calendar.
A small flashlight.
Yes, the flashlight survived the 2024 list. 😂 They’re useful.
A few personal necessities.
Glasses. Hygiene products. A spare shirt. Sunscreen. Whatever would make an unexpected extra six or twelve hours away from home less miserable.
A little cash.
Nothing dramatic. Just enough in small bills to be useful if electronic payments aren’t working.
And one more thing that doesn’t take up any room at all:
Know your workplace emergency plan.
Where are you supposed to go during severe weather? When are employees expected to shelter in place? How will the company communicate with you? What happens if you need to evacuate?
Those answers may be more useful than half the things you could buy.
There’s One Thing I Still Really Like From My 2024 List
Number 13 was an emergency contact list.
On paper.
That one stays.
We keep everything in our phones now. I certainly do. But phones can be lost, damaged, dead or inaccessible.
Write down the handful of numbers you would truly need.
Your spouse or partner. Children. Another family member or friend. School or childcare numbers if appropriate. Your veterinarian or pet boarding contact if that’s part of your emergency plan.
You don’t need everyone’s number you’ve known since third grade.
Just the important ones.
Put a copy in your wallet or purse and another with your emergency supplies.
The Goal Isn’t More Stuff
That’s probably the biggest difference between the post I wrote in 2024 and the one I’m writing today.
I don’t want you to read a preparedness list and immediately go shopping.
Look around your house first.
You may already have an old backpack, comfortable sneakers, charging cable, flashlight, toiletry bag and most of the other things you need.
Put a few useful things together.
Take them to work.
And you’re more prepared than you were yesterday.
That’s enough for today.
One Question to Think About
Before you finish, ask yourself:
If I couldn’t get home from work tonight, what are the three things I’d wish I had with me?
Start with those.
You can always add something later.
And if you haven’t made a family emergency plan yet, I created A Simple Family Emergency Plan to help you work through communication, evacuation, pets, medications and other basics without making preparedness feel overwhelming.
Get your free Family Emergency Plan here.
Prepared = Peaceful.