13 Items FEMA Says Every American Needs Before Harshest Winter Nights — Veterans Already Have All 13

A brutal winter night can turn dangerous faster than most people expect. Heavy snow, ice and extreme cold can knock out electricity, block roads and leave families without normal heating or easy access to stores. So what does FEMA actually recommend Americans have ready before severe winter weather arrives? In this video, we’re breaking down 13 practical emergency supplies based on federal preparedness guidance, including water, non-perishable food, a flashlight with spare batteries, a NOAA weather radio, first-aid supplies, medications, phone charging options, sanitation supplies, cash and other essentials. FEMA’s Ready campaign recommends keeping enough basic supplies to survive for several days rather than waiting until a storm is already approaching. Winter preparedness requires a few additional items. FEMA's winter-storm guidance recommends keeping warm clothing, boots, mittens and blankets available. For vehicles, its checklist includes jumper cables, a flashlight, shovel, ice scraper, tow rope, water and snacks, along with traction equipment where appropriate. And there’s an interesting connection with military preparedness. The U.S. Army's current Ready Army program recommends emergency kits capable of supporting a household for at least 72 hours. Its basic list includes one gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable food, first aid, prescription medication, flashlights, a NOAA weather radio, spare batteries, sanitation supplies, cash and tools for shutting off utilities. That overlap isn't accidental. Both approaches focus on the same problem: being able to function independently when normal services temporarily aren't available. There is one important clarification behind the title, however. FEMA doesn't publish a special list called “13 items every American needs before the harshest winter nights,” and there’s no evidence that veterans universally already own all 13. The 13-item format is a useful way to organize recommendations drawn from official emergency and winter-preparedness guidance. In this video, we'll reveal all 13, explain why each matters during a winter outage, and show which supplies should stay inside your home versus your vehicle. How many of these 13 do you already have? 0:00 13 Winter Storm Items FEMA Recommends 0:43 #1 Indoor-Safe Propane Heater 1:25 #2 Enough Propane for a Multi-Day Outage 2:01 #3 Battery-Powered Carbon Monoxide Detector 2:48 #4 Foam Pipe Insulation 3:22 #5 Heat Tape for Vulnerable Pipes 3:55 #6 Emergency Water Storage 4:43 #7 No-Cook Emergency Food 5:23 #8 Wool or Synthetic Base Layers 6:18 Why Cotton Is Dangerous in Extreme Cold 6:51 #9 Calcium Chloride for Ice 7:23 #10 Sand or Cat Litter for Vehicle Traction 7:52 #11 Cold-Weather Sleeping Bags 8:30 #12 Chemical Hand Warmers 9:01 #13 Winter-Specific First Aid Supplies 9:42 Final Winter Storm Preparedness Advice #WinterPreparedness #FEMA #EmergencyPreparedness #Veterans #Prepping