Tools You Might Not Think About for Emergencies

When preparing for disasters, most people focus on food, water, and first‑aid kits. But at a recent disaster preparedness learning display, I found a round table covered with tools that go far beyond the usual household items. Things you might not immediately associate with emergency kits, yet they can be incredibly helpful after earthquakes, typhoons, or sudden water and power outages.

These tools aren’t for major rescue work. They’re simple, practical items that help you stay safe, check your home, clear small obstacles, and manage unexpected situations until professional help arrives. The display table included a surprisingly wide range of items:

• Hard hat; essential when checking your home for damage or entering areas with falling debris
• Hand saw; useful for cutting small branches or broken wooden pieces blocking doors or pathways
• Wrench; helpful for tightening loose bolts or shutting off utilities
• Tape measure; for checking shifts, gaps, or structural changes after an earthquake
• Toolbox; keeps everything organized and easy to grab
• Jack; a small lifting jack for raising lightweight debris or freeing stuck doors
• Lantern; hands‑free lighting when the power is out, safer and brighter than candles
• Pump; typically, a hand or air pump, useful for inflating emergency bedding or operating manual siphon pumps

In fairness, these tools aren't for everyone. I don't expect many people will go out and buy a hard hat or handsaw, just in case. But if you live in an area where falling rocks and / or landslides are a possibility, it might be worth considering a hard hat, hand saw and jack.

Have you any of these items in your emergency kit?