Why Most People's Emergency Kits Are Missing the Same Few Things
Most people's outage preparation instinctively covers power and food, but commonly overlooks documents and cash (card payment systems and ATMs can be affected by a widespread outage too) and a non-phone-dependent communication method (a battery or hand-crank radio, since cell networks and home WiFi can also go down) — these categories are exactly where a generic "flashlights and canned food" mental checklist tends to fall short of genuine preparedness.
These gaps show up consistently enough across official preparedness guidance that they're worth calling out explicitly rather than assuming they're covered by common sense alone.
Why documents and cash matter more than people expect
A widespread or extended outage can disrupt more than lights and refrigeration — card payment terminals and ATMs often depend on the same grid power and network connectivity that's out, making small bills of cash and copies of key documents (ID, insurance, medical records) in a waterproof bag genuinely practical, not merely precautionary.
Why a non-cellular communication backup is worth having
Cell towers and home internet infrastructure can also be affected during a significant outage, especially a longer storm-related one, which is why a battery-powered or hand-crank radio (for receiving emergency broadcasts) remains a recommended item even in an era where most people default to relying entirely on their phone.