Family Preparedness Kit — Roswell / Alpharetta (Family of 4)
Date: 2026-09-09
Household: Two adults + Henry (school-age) + Lachlan (younger)
Use: Dual-track — daily resilience + grid-down; kit can ride to Morganton STRs if needed
Pricing: Approximate street prices as of 2026-09-09; confirm at checkout
Sources: Manufacturer / Amazon / Home Depot / brand pages. No invented links.
Disclaimer: Not legal, medical, or fire-code advice. Georgia firearm rules summarized elsewhere in the cost memo — verify before purchase/carry. Rotate food and water. Test gear before you need it.
Download phased buy list (CSV)
Honest headline on the “safe”
There is no consumer fireproof + waterproof safe in the ~$1,000–$1,500 band that fits 1–2 packed 40L go-bags.
SentrySafe / First Alert fire+water chests top out around ~2 cu ft interior (fine for documents, drives, cash, small electronics — not stuffed backpacks). Tall gun/home safes (Liberty Centurion) can take bags but are fire-rated, not flood-waterproof like the SentrySafe SFW line.
Recommended strategy:
- 1. Fire+water document safe for valuables
- 2. Go-bags staged ready (closet / car-accessible), not crushed into the safe
- 3. Optional: Liberty Centurion if you want fire-rated bag storage and accept no flood rating
1. Safe options (2–3)
A — Best fire + water for valuables (budget under $1k)
SentrySafe SFW205GQC (digital) or SFW205DPB (dial)
| Exterior | 23.8" H × 18.6" W × 19.3" D |
|---|---|
| Interior | 19.6" H × 14.8" W × 11.9" D (~2.0 cu ft) |
| Weight | ~125 lb |
| Fire | UL Classified 1 hour @ 1700°F |
| Water | ETL Verified 24 h in up to 8" water |
| Lock | Digital keypad (GQC) or combination dial (DPB) + keys/bolts |
| Price (approx.) | $400–$700 |
| Fits packs? | No — documents/valuables only |
| Links | https://www.sentrysafe.com/product/SFW205GQC · Home Depot dial: https://www.homedepot.com/p/SentrySafe-2-0-cu-ft-Fireproof-Waterproof-Safe-with-Dial-Combination-Lock-SFW205DPB/205442448 |
| Pros | True fire+water; bolt-down; proven consumer class |
| Cons | Won’t hold go-bags; heavy |
B — Similar class, slightly different footprint
First Alert 2096DF Waterproof Fire Safe (digital)
| Exterior | ~24.13" H × 17.63" W × 23.38" D |
|---|---|
| Interior | ~19.69" H × 13.50" W × 13.88" D (~2.1 cu ft) |
| Weight | ~145 lb |
| Fire | UL 1 hour @ 1700°F |
| Water | Brand waterproof / flood seal claims |
| Lock | Digital + override keys |
| Price (approx.) | ~$500 |
| Link | https://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-2096DF-Waterproof-Digital/dp/B000WUJ5X6 |
| Pros / cons | Same role as SentrySafe; compare door clearance in your closet |
C — Near $900–$1,250: pack volume, fire only
Liberty Safe Centurion 12 (~$899 Home Depot) or Centurion 24 (~$1,200 class)
| Centurion 12 ext. | ~59.25" H × 18.25" W × 16" D |
|---|---|
| Fire | ~30 min @ 1200°F (weaker than SentrySafe 1hr/1700°F) |
| Water | Not ETL flood-rated like SFW |
| Lock | Electronic EMP E-Lock (12) |
| Link (12) | https://www.homedepot.com/p/LIBERTY-SAFE-Centurion-12-Gun-30-min-fire-rating-EMP-E-Lock-59-25-in-H-x-18-25-in-W-x-16-in-L-Black-Gun-Safe-Lifetime-Warranty-CN12-BKT-E/319958172 |
| Pros | Tall enough for go-bags if shelves cleared; near budget |
| Cons | Not waterproof; depth tight for fat packs; overkill if you only need documents |
Pick for this family: SFW205 (A) for the safe + bags outside it. Add Centurion only if you specifically want fire-rated bag storage.
2. Food storage containers (≥1 week family food)
| Product | Why | Approx. $ | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAMMA2 Gamma Seal Lid (fits 3.5–7 gal buckets) | Airtight screw lid for rice/beans/oats | $10–20/lid | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08YH9FG91 |
| Food-grade 5-gal buckets (Home Depot / Lowe’s / Walmart) | Pair with Gamma lids | local | Buy in-store (SKU varies) |
| Rubbermaid Roughneck 10 Gal tote, 6-pack | Stackable garage totes for kits/pouches | ~$150/6-pack | https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rubbermaid-Roughneck-10-Gal-Storage-Tote-Container-in-Black-6-Pack-RMRT100019/328942618 |
| Sterilite Ultra•Seal 16-cup | Airtight opened staples | — | https://www.sterilite.com/product/ultraseal-16-0-cup-rectangle/ |
Recommendation: 2–3 Gamma buckets for dry staples + 2 Roughneck totes for pouch kits / kitchen overflow.
3. Exact ≥1 week food for 4
Calorie target: ~2,000 kcal/person/day × 4 × 7 = ~56,000 kcal (stretch toward 2,500/day = 70,000).
Caveat: “Servings” on emergency buckets are often ~200–260 kcal — always use total calories, not serving count.
Preferred exact buy (primary)
| Qty | Product | Calories / notes | Shelf life | Approx. $ | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Augason Farms 4-Person 72-Hour Emergency Food Supply Pail | 26,440 total kcal each → 52,880 total (~2,203 kcal/p/day for 4 people × 3 days per pail; two pails ≈ 6.6 days at 2,000) | Up to ~25 yr cool/dry | ~$80–$120 each | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EHWCWNY |
| 1 | My Patriot Supply Family of 4 Starter Pack (1 Week) alternative single kit | Claims 56,140 kcal (~2,000+/p/day × 4 × 7) | Up to 25 yr | ~$500 | https://www.mypatriotsupply.com/products/family-of-4-starter-pack-1-week-supply?variant=44195667968093 |
Skeptic (Augason ASIN B01EHWCWNY): Confirm ASIN still shows 26,440 total kcal at checkout — brand may list ~22.9k / 119-serving kit; if so recompute or buy 3 / add pantry. Explicit: 2× Augason ≈6.6 days @ 2,000×4; pantry top-up makes a full week.
Top-up pantry (exact local staples — buy Costco/Walmart/Kroger)
| Item | Why | Approx. add |
|---|---|---|
| White rice 20–50 lb (food-grade bucket) | Dense, cheap, long store | $15–40 |
| Dry beans / lentils 10–20 lb | Protein + fiber | $15–30 |
| Peanut butter 4–6 jars | Dense calories, no cook | $20–35 |
| Rolled oats 10 lb | Breakfast | $10–20 |
| Canned chicken/tuna 24+ cans | Protein without freeze-dry | $30–50 |
| Cooking oil 2× large | Calories + cooking | $15–25 |
| Salt, sugar, spices | Morale + preservation | $10 |
| Electrolyte packets (Liquid I.V. / Pedialyte powder) | GA heat | $20–40 |
| Honey or hard candy | Morale / kids | $10 |
Optional morale / speed (premium)
| Product | Notes | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain House 14-Day Emergency Food Supply | ~1,718 kcal/day per 1 person for 14 days — buy 4 kits for family week-equivalent at that calorie level, or use as premium pouches on top of Augason | https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-House-14-Day-Emergency-Supply/dp/B01BI30V3I |
| Mountain House 3-Day kit | ~1,706 kcal/day × 1 person × 3 days; 4× covers family × 3 days | https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Emergency-Supply-Survival-Servings/dp/B0CJX139G3 |
| ReadyWise 150 Serving bucket | Use as calorie top-up, not sole week for 4 | https://www.amazon.com/READYWISE-Emergency-Essentials-Adventure-Emergencies/dp/B0CR5DCFTJ |
Why this mix: Augason QSS-style pails hit real calories; pantry staples are familiar to kids; Mountain House tastes better when morale matters; long shelf life on kits; rice/PB need less specialty skill.
Water to rehydrate: Freeze-dried kits need gallons of water — store ≥28–56 gal separately (see cost memo A2).
4. Power (not whole-home) — 2–3 options
Dual-use: TV / laptops / phones day-to-day; emergency fridge cycling, lights, medical devices. Car-portable to Morganton.
| Budget/mid: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | Mid: BLUETTI AC180 | Mid/strong: EcoFlow DELTA 2 / DELTA 3 class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wh | 1,070 | 1,152 | ~1,024 |
| AC out | 1,500W / 3,000W surge; 3 outlets | 1,800W class; 4 outlets | 1,800W / high surge |
| Weight | ~23.8 lb | ~35 lb class (confirm listing) | ~27–28 lb |
| Solar | up to 400W (SolarSaga) | up to 500W | up to 500W |
| Price (approx.) | $499–$599 (+ panel kit) | $449–$499 | $629–$699 |
| Link | https://www.jackery.com/products/jackery-explorer-1000-v2 | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1SMJTDT | https://us.ecoflow.com/products/delta-2-portable-power-station |
| + | Lightest of the ~1 kWh class; UPS on v2 | Strong Wh/$ | Expandable ecosystem; fast AC charge |
| − | Jackery panels ecosystem | Heavier | Price fluctuates |
Also: Anker SOLIX C1000 (~1,056 Wh, ~27.6 lb, up to 600W solar) — https://www.ankersolix.com/products/c1000
Solar pair (pick one ecosystem): Jackery SolarSaga 200W with Jackery unit; EcoFlow / BLUETTI 200–220W folding panel matched to brand. GA sun helps daytime recharge.
Fridge reality: Modern fridge often 100–200W average while cycling. A ~1 kWh station can cover phones+lights+intermittent fridge for hours to ~1 day; multi-day needs solar discipline + keeping the fridge closed.
Pick: Jackery 1000 v2 for car-to-Morganton weight; step to DELTA / AC180 if you want more outlet headroom.
5. Every gear item (exact where researched)
| Item | Product | Batteries / power | Spares | Runtime / notes | Shelf / life | Field use | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlamp ×4 | Petzl ACTIK CORE | CORE Li-ion or 3× AAA | 8–12× AAA + spare CORE | ~hours on mid; 625 lm max | — | Hands-free light | https://www.petzl.com/US/en/Sport/Headlamps/ACTIK-CORE |
| Lantern ×2 | Streamlight Siege AA | 3× AA | 12× AA | 200/50 lm + red | — | Room light; floats IPX7 | https://streamlight.com/en/products/detail/siege-aa |
| NOAA radio | Midland ER310 | Internal Li-ion + solar/crank; 6× AA backup | 6–12× AA | Weather alerts; USB trickle out | — | Grid-down weather + news | https://midlandusa.com/products/er310-portable-emergency-crank-weather-radio |
| Water filter (BOB) | Sawyer Mini | None | Spare O-rings / syringe | Thousands of gal (manufacturer) | Flush/store wet-dry per instructions | Creek/tap backup | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EKQ7Y76 |
| Water (home) | LifeStraw Family | None | — | ~4,755 gal claim | — | Gravity purify for family | https://lifestraw.com/products/lifestraw-family-emergency-water-filter |
| First aid | AMK Mountain Series Hiker | — | Refill trauma add-ons | — | Check dates yearly | Cuts, blisters, guide inside | https://adventuremedicalkits.com/products/mountain-series-medical-kit-hiker |
| Multitool | Leatherman Wave Plus | — | — | — | Lifetime warranty culture | Cuts, repairs, food cans assist | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GDKXBKH |
| Fire | BIC ×6 + ferro rod + UCO stormproof matches | — | Extras in tote | — | Matches sealed | Cooking/heat start | Walmart / Amazon “UCO stormproof” |
| Power banks ×2–4 | 20,000–27,000 mAh USB-C PD | Li-ion | Keep charged monthly | Phones 2–4 fills | Cycle yearly | Leave station for fridge | Anker/Anker Solix class (confirm ASIN) |
| Pack 40L | Osprey Farpoint/Fairview 40 class | — | — | — | — | Go-bag | REI / Osprey |
| Maps | DeLorme GA Atlas & Gazetteer | — | — | Offline roads | — | Nav without phone | https://www.amazon.com/DeLorme-Atlas-Gazetteer-Georgia-Delorme/dp/1946494461 |
| Survival guide | SAS Survival Handbook, 3rd | — | — | Water, fire, shelter, navigation, first aid | — | Offline skills | https://www.amazon.com/SAS-Survival-Handbook-Third-Surviving/dp/0062378074 |
| Outdoor skills | BSA Fieldbook | — | — | Campcraft, knots, outdoor living | — | Family skills | https://www.amazon.com/Fieldbook-Manual-Advanced-Outdoor-Adventure/dp/0839531044 |
| First aid manual | Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual | — | — | CPR, bleeding, shock | — | Medical offline | https://www.redcross.org/store/first-aid-cpr-aed-participants-manual/754200.html |
What the guides teach (offline life): water finding/purifying, firecraft, shelter, navigation/maps, knots/cordage, first aid/CPR, signaling, food hygiene, weather awareness — practice before crisis.
6. Organization — what goes where
(a) IN THE SAFE (SFW205 / 2096DF)
- Passports, birth certificates, Social Security cards, insurance policies, deed/title copies
- USB encrypted backups / external SSD of photos + docs
- Emergency cash (small bills)
- Spare house/car keys
- Jewelry / irreplaceables that fit
- Printed emergency contacts + Rx list
- Not: go-bags, food buckets, water jugs, power station
(b) IN THE GO-BAG (each adult 40L; kids tiny packs)
- Clothes 1 spare set + socks ×2
- Water bottles + Sawyer Mini + tabs
- 48–72 h calorie-dense food
- Headlamp + spare AAA
- Compact first aid + personal Rx 7-day
- Power bank + cable
- Rain shell / poncho
- Multitool (one adult)
- Copies of IDs (not all originals — those in safe)
- Cash float
- Comfort item for kids
- Whistle
(c) IN THE FOOD CONTAINER / tote
- Augason pails / My Patriot kit
- Gamma buckets (rice/beans/oats)
- Peanut butter, canned proteins, oil, electrolytes
- Manual can openers ×2
- Written cook/rehydrate instructions printed
(d) STAYS ACCESSIBLE ELSEWHERE
- Power station + solar (garage shelf, charged monthly)
- Water jugs / LifeStraw Family
- NOAA radio
- Lanterns
- Propane cook (outdoor only) + cylinders
- Fire extinguishers
- GMRS radios (if purchased — see cost memo)
- Vehicle kit (jumper, inflator)
- Printed atlas in car
7. Priority / buy order (phased)
Phase 1 — This week (~$400–800)
- 1. Water store 7–14 days + Sawyer Mini + tabs
- 2. Midland ER310 + headlamps + AA/AAA spares
- 3. First-aid upgrade (AMK Hiker) + Rx buffer plan
- 4. Cash float + document pouch (even before big safe)
- 5. Pantry top-up (rice, PB, oats, cans)
Phase 2 — Two weeks (~$600–1,200)
- 6. 2× Augason 4-person 72-hr pails + Gamma lids/buckets
- 7. Roughneck totes
- 8. LifeStraw Family
- 9. Power banks ×2–4
- 10. Guides + GA atlas
Phase 3 — Month 1 (~$1,000–1,800)
- 11. Jackery 1000 v2 (or AC180 / DELTA) + matching solar panel when budget allows
- 12. SentrySafe SFW205 fire+water
- 13. Osprey 40L go-bags ×2 + pack contents
- 14. Streamlight Siege lanterns; fire kit
Phase 4 — Optional stretch
- 15. Liberty Centurion if you want fire-rated bag storage
- 16. Mountain House pouches for morale
- 17. Second power station if one stays home and one rides to Morganton
- 18. GMRS family radios (cost memo)
8. Budget / mid / premium snapshot
| Layer | Budget | Mid (recommended) | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safe | SFW205 dial ~$400–500 | SFW205 digital ~$500–700 | Centurion 24 + SFW205 |
| Food week | 2× Augason + pantry | Same + electrolytes + kid snacks | + My Patriot or MH pouches |
| Power | Jackery 1000 v2 | + 200W solar | DELTA/AC180 + second unit |
| Bags | One solid 40L + school packs for kids | Two adult 40L | + dedicated kid packs |
Explorer · preparedness site pack · 2026-09-09 · prices approximate; confirm at checkout.