Last updated: February 2025
Your car might be the last place you think about when preparing for an earthquake — but it shouldn't be. Americans spend an average of nearly an hour per day driving, which means there's a meaningful probability you'll be behind the wheel when an earthquake hits. And even if you're at home when it strikes, a well-stocked car kit can be your lifeline if roads are damaged, bridges fail, or you're stranded away from your primary supplies.
A standard roadside emergency kit handles breakdowns. An earthquake car kit handles survival.
This guide covers the best pre-built car emergency kits, what to add for earthquake-specific scenarios, and how to keep your kit current year-round.
Key Takeaways
- Standard roadside kits cover breakdowns but lack critical earthquake survival items like water, food, dust masks, and sturdy shoes.
- Keep a dedicated earthquake car kit in your trunk year-round — you can't predict when or where an earthquake will hit.
- Replace water every 6 months and check food expiration dates annually.
- The best approach: start with a quality pre-built kit, then supplement with earthquake-specific items.
- Work gloves, an N95 dust mask, and sturdy walking shoes could be the most important earthquake-specific additions to any car kit.
Why Your Car Needs an Earthquake Kit
Earthquakes don't wait for you to be at home near your supplies. Consider these scenarios:
You're on the freeway when a major earthquake hits. Overpasses crack, the road buckles, or a section of elevated highway collapses ahead. Traffic stops. You might be sitting in your car for hours — or you might need to abandon it and walk.
You're at work, 20 miles from home. The earthquake damages roads and bridges between you and your family. Cell networks are overloaded. Your normal 30-minute commute could become a multi-hour walk through debris-strewn streets.
You're picking up the kids from school. Power outages knock out traffic signals. Roads are gridlocked. A drive that normally takes 15 minutes turns into a two-hour crawl — or you end up parked and walking.
In all of these scenarios, the supplies in your trunk determine your comfort, safety, and ability to get home. After the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was closed for a month. After the 1994 Northridge earthquake, ten freeway structures collapsed or were severely damaged, stranding thousands of commuters.
Car Emergency Kits Compared
| Product | Items Included | Earthquake-Ready? | Includes Water/Food? | Bag Type | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAA Excursion Road Kit (76-piece) | Jumper cables, flashlight, first aid, rain poncho, bungee cords, duct tape | Partial — good basics, needs supplements | No | Soft-sided bag | $55–$75 | Reliable roadside baseline |
| Lifeline AAA Destination Road Kit (68-piece) | Jumper cables, flashlight, first aid, blanket, basic tools | Partial | No | Zippered bag | $35–$50 | Budget roadside coverage |
| Swiss Safe 2-in-1 First Aid Kit (120-piece) | Comprehensive first aid, emergency blanket, moleskin, cold compress | Medical only — no roadside or survival | No | Dual hard case | $25–$35 | Medical preparedness addition |
| Ready America 70280 Auto Kit (1-person, 3-day) | Water pouches, food bars, blanket, light stick, poncho, dust mask, first aid | Yes — designed for earthquakes | Yes (3-day supply) | Backpack | $25–$35 | Earthquake-specific auto kit |
| Sustain Supply Co. Comfort4 Car Kit | Water pouches, food bars, blanket, hand warmers, flashlight, first aid, hygiene items | Yes | Yes (72-hour supply) | Duffel bag | $70–$90 | Premium all-in-one solution |
| Earthquake specific DIY additions | Work gloves, N95 mask, pry bar, walking shoes, cash | Fully customizable | Add your own | Varies | $40–$80 for items | Supplementing any pre-built kit |
Pre-Built Kit Reviews
AAA Excursion Road Kit (76-piece)
AAA Excursion Road Kit (76-piece) — A solid roadside emergency kit with jumper cables (8-gauge, 10-foot), a 10-foot tow strap rated at 4,500 lbs, a hand-crank flashlight, first aid supplies, rain poncho, bungee cords, duct tape, and an assortment of basic tools including pliers and a screwdriver. Comes in a soft-sided carrying bag. $55–$75. Best for: a reliable foundation that you supplement with earthquake-specific items.
The AAA name carries weight here — they know roadside emergencies, and this kit reflects that. The jumper cables are adequate gauge for most passenger vehicles, and the tow strap is genuinely useful. The first aid kit covers basics like bandages, antiseptic, and gauze.
What it lacks for earthquake preparedness: no water, no food, no dust mask, no work gloves, no sturdy shoes. It's designed for "my car broke down on the highway," not "a magnitude 7.0 just destroyed the road I'm on." Use this as your foundation and add the earthquake essentials listed in the supplemental section below.
Lifeline AAA Destination Road Kit (68-piece)
Lifeline AAA Destination Road Kit (68-piece) — A more budget-friendly version of the AAA roadside package. Includes jumper cables, flashlight, first aid supplies, an emergency blanket, and basic tools. $35–$50. Best for: budget-conscious drivers who want basic roadside coverage.
The Lifeline kit does the job at a lower price point, but the components reflect that savings. The jumper cables are lighter gauge, and the overall build quality is a step below the Excursion. The emergency blanket is a nice inclusion for earthquake scenarios — it's lightweight and takes up almost no space.
Like the Excursion, this kit needs earthquake-specific supplements to be truly preparedness-ready.
Swiss Safe 2-in-1 First Aid Kit (120-piece)
Swiss Safe 2-in-1 First Aid Kit (120-piece) — A comprehensive first aid kit with a large main case and a smaller portable case that fits in a glovebox or daypack. Includes bandages, gauze, trauma shears, splints, moleskin, cold compress, CPR mask, and various medications. $25–$35. Best for: adding serious medical capability to any car kit.
This isn't a car emergency kit in the traditional sense — it has no jumper cables, tools, or survival supplies. But the medical coverage is substantially better than what comes in most pre-built roadside kits. After an earthquake, you're far more likely to need quality first aid supplies than jumper cables.
The dual-case design is practical: keep the main case in the trunk and the mini case in the glovebox or a backpack. The moleskin is a surprisingly useful inclusion — if you end up walking miles to get home after an earthquake, blisters become a real issue fast.
Ready America 70280 Auto Kit (1-person, 3-day)
Ready America 70280 Auto Kit (1-person, 3-day) — A survival-focused kit designed specifically for earthquake and disaster scenarios. Includes water pouches (three 4.227-oz pouches), 2,400-calorie food bar, emergency blanket, 12-hour light stick, poncho, N95 dust mask, first aid kit, and emergency preparedness guide. Comes in a backpack. $25–$35. Best for: an affordable earthquake-specific auto kit for one person.
This is one of the few pre-built car kits that actually addresses earthquake survival rather than roadside breakdowns. The N95 dust mask is a critical inclusion — after a major earthquake, the air can be thick with dust from collapsed buildings and damaged infrastructure. The backpack format means you can grab it and walk if you need to abandon your car.
The water supply is minimal (about 1.5 cups total), and the food bar, while calorie-dense, is a single item. This kit gets you through the immediate emergency, but it's designed as a 3-day survival minimum, not a comfort package. For a family, you'd need one per person.
Ready America also makes a 4-person version (model 70385) for about $65–$80 if you need to cover the whole family.
Sustain Supply Co. Comfort4 Car Emergency Kit
Sustain Supply Co. Comfort4 Car Emergency Kit — A step up in quality and completeness. Includes Datrex water pouches (72-hour supply), SOS food rations (72-hour supply), emergency blankets, hand warmers, flashlight with batteries, basic first aid, and hygiene items including wet wipes and tissues. Packed in a durable duffel bag. $70–$90. Best for: a premium all-in-one solution with better food and water provisions.
The Sustain Supply kit distinguishes itself with the quality of its provisions. Datrex water pouches and SOS food rations are Coast Guard-approved and have a 5-year shelf life, meaning you can stash this kit in your trunk and largely forget about it for years. The hand warmers are a thoughtful inclusion — if an earthquake hits in winter and you're stuck in your car without heat, they matter.
The duffel bag is less convenient than a backpack for walking, but the overall contents are more generous than the Ready America kit. The main limitation is the same as most pre-built kits: no work gloves, no dust mask (add your own), and no sturdy shoes.
What Pre-Built Kits Are Missing: Earthquake-Specific Supplements
No pre-built car kit fully addresses earthquake scenarios. Here's what to add to any kit:
Critical Additions
Work gloves (leather or heavy-duty): After an earthquake, you may need to move debris, broken glass, or damaged materials to clear a path. Standard cloth gloves won't protect you from nails, sharp metal, or jagged concrete. A pair of leather work gloves weighs almost nothing and could save your hands. $10–$20.
N95 dust mask (or P100 respirator): Earthquakes produce enormous amounts of dust from crumbling drywall, concrete, brick, and soil. If you're walking through a damaged area, that dust can contain silica, asbestos (from older buildings), and other particulates you don't want in your lungs. If your pre-built kit doesn't include one, add a pack of N95 masks. $1–$2 per mask.
Sturdy closed-toe shoes: This is the one item people forget that matters most. If an earthquake hits while you're in dress shoes, sandals, or heels, walking through debris becomes dangerous and painful. Keep a pair of sturdy walking shoes or lightweight hiking boots in your trunk. Old running shoes work in a pinch — anything with a thick sole and ankle support. $0 (use shoes you already own).
Water — more than the kit provides: Most pre-built kits include minimal water. Add at least two 1-liter bottles per person in the car. Replace every 6 months (set a calendar reminder). Commercial water bottles with intact seals can handle trunk temperatures, though extreme heat degrades the plastic faster. $2–$4.
Cash in small bills: ATMs and card readers won't work without power. Keep $50–$100 in small bills ($1s, $5s, $10s) in your kit. This can buy gas, food, or water from vendors who are still operating.
Strongly Recommended
Compact pry bar (12–15 inches): Useful for prying open jammed doors, moving debris, or breaking a car window in an emergency. Stanley makes a 15-inch FatMax model that's affordable and rugged. $15–$25.
Whistle: If you're trapped in your car or under debris, a whistle carries much farther than your voice and requires far less energy. Most emergency kits include one, but verify. $3–$5.
Headlamp: Hands-free lighting is dramatically more useful than a handheld flashlight when you're climbing over debris or doing any kind of physical work. Black Diamond and Petzl both make reliable, affordable headlamps. $20–$35.
Multi-tool: A quality multi-tool (Leatherman, Gerber) provides pliers, a knife, screwdrivers, and other tools in a compact package. Useful for everything from cutting seatbelts to basic vehicle repairs. $30–$70.
Phone charger (battery pack): Keep a charged portable battery bank in your car. A 10,000 mAh pack can fully charge most phones 2–3 times. Make sure to recharge it monthly. Anker makes reliable options in the $20–$35 range.
Printed map of your area: GPS may not work if cell towers are down. A paper map of your metro area, with your home, workplace, kids' schools, and evacuation routes marked, costs nothing to prepare and could be invaluable.
Car Kit Buying Guide
What to Look For
Shelf-stable food and water with long expiration dates: Look for Coast Guard-approved water pouches and food bars (Datrex, SOS, Mainstay brands). These are rated for extreme temperature storage — important for trunks that bake in summer — and typically have 5-year shelf lives.
Backpack or grab-bag format: If you need to abandon your car and walk, you want a kit in a bag you can carry comfortably. Backpacks are ideal. Hard cases and toolbox-style kits are awkward to carry any distance.
Quality over quantity of items: A kit that advertises "300 pieces!" is often padding the count with individual bandages and safety pins. Focus on the critical items — water, food, warmth, first aid, lighting — and their quality.
Temperature tolerance: Your trunk is not a climate-controlled environment. In Phoenix, trunk temperatures can exceed 150°F in summer. In Minneapolis, they drop well below freezing in winter. Make sure your kit's contents can handle the extremes in your area. Water bottles may freeze and crack; food bars can melt. Coast Guard-approved rations are designed for exactly this problem.
What to Avoid
- Kits with no water or food: A roadside kit is not an earthquake kit. If it only covers breakdowns, it's incomplete for preparedness.
- Kits with cheap, untested components: Off-brand jumper cables that are too light gauge, flashlights with no-name batteries, first aid supplies with no certifications.
- Storing your kit in the passenger cabin: In an earthquake, unsecured items in the cabin become projectiles. Keep your kit in the trunk, secured so it doesn't shift.
- "Set and forget" mentality: Even the best kit needs maintenance. Water should be swapped every 6 months. Batteries should be checked annually. Food bars should be replaced before their expiration date. Medication in your first aid kit expires.
Maintaining Your Car Kit
Your car kit is only useful if its contents are current and functional. Build these habits:
Every 6 months (spring and fall): Replace water bottles. Check food expiration dates. Test the flashlight and replace batteries if needed. Inspect the first aid kit for expired medications. Recharge your battery bank.
Annually: Check work gloves for wear. Verify your printed map is still accurate (road closures, new routes). Update the cash supply if you've used any. Check shoes for deterioration (rubber soles can degrade in extreme trunk temperatures).
After any use: Immediately replace anything you've used from the kit. If you used the first aid supplies for a minor emergency, restock them that week.
A practical approach: set two calendar reminders per year — one when you change your clocks for daylight saving time, and one six months later. When the reminder pops up, spend 15 minutes checking your car kit.
what to do during an earthquake
Building a Family Car Kit Strategy
If your household has multiple vehicles, you don't need to duplicate everything in each car. Consider this approach:
Every vehicle gets: Water (minimum 2 liters per person), food bar, emergency blanket, flashlight, first aid basics, dust mask, work gloves, walking shoes, and cash.
Primary vehicle gets the full kit: Comprehensive first aid, pry bar, multi-tool, portable battery charger, full 72-hour supply of food and water, and a complete copy of your family emergency plan with contact numbers and meeting points.
Secondary vehicles get a lighter kit: Basic survival supplies focused on getting the driver safely home or to the family meeting point.
Each family member's daily bag should include: A small flashlight, whistle, $20 in cash, a list of emergency contacts (on paper, not just in your phone), and any personal medications.
FEMA Vehicle Emergency Kit Guidance
FAQ
How often should I replace the water in my car emergency kit?
Every 6 months for regular water bottles. Coast Guard-approved water pouches (Datrex, SOS) can last up to 5 years, even in high-temperature environments. If you use standard water bottles, mark the replacement date on the bottle with a permanent marker.
Will the extreme temperatures in my trunk ruin my emergency supplies?
They can. Standard water bottles may leach chemicals at very high temperatures (above 120°F), and they'll crack if water freezes and expands. Food bars can melt or go rancid in heat. This is why Coast Guard-approved rations are recommended — they're designed to withstand temperature extremes from -40°F to 300°F. For other items, avoid storing anything temperature-sensitive (medications, batteries, electronics) without appropriate protection.
Is a pre-built kit worth buying, or should I build my own?
Pre-built kits offer convenience and ensure you don't forget critical items. Building your own kit lets you choose higher-quality individual components and tailor the contents to your specific needs. The sweet spot for most people is buying a reasonably priced pre-built kit (like the Ready America 70280) and supplementing it with earthquake-specific items and personal necessities.
What should I do if I'm driving when an earthquake hits?
Pull over to the side of the road as soon as it's safe. Avoid stopping under overpasses, bridges, power lines, or near buildings. Set your parking brake. Stay in your car until the shaking stops — your vehicle's suspension provides some protection. After the shaking stops, proceed cautiously, watching for road damage, fallen debris, and downed power lines. If a road is damaged, don't cross it.
Should I keep an earthquake kit in my car if I live in a low-risk area?
If you regularly drive through or to earthquake-prone areas, yes. And even in lower-risk zones, a well-stocked car kit serves double duty for other emergencies: severe weather, power outages, winter storms, or simply breaking down in a remote area. The earthquake-specific items (dust mask, gloves, sturdy shoes) take up minimal space and add negligible cost to a general emergency kit.
What's the one item most people forget to include?
Walking shoes. If you commute in dress shoes, sandals, or heels, and an earthquake forces you to walk miles through rubble, broken glass, and debris, your feet will suffer. Throw an old pair of sturdy shoes in your trunk. It costs nothing and could make the difference between getting home safely and not.
Sources
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "Vehicle Emergency Kit." Ready.gov. https://www.ready.gov/car
- American Red Cross. "Car Emergency Kit." https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/car-emergency-kit.html
- California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. "Earthquake Preparedness." https://www.caloes.ca.gov/
- U.S. Geological Survey. "Earthquake Hazards Program." https://earthquake.usgs.gov/