Emergency Food Supply: How to Choose a Kit, and Is Ready Hour Worth It?
A winter storm knocks out power for three days. A hurricane closes the roads. Store shelves empty out in a few hours. Most of us don’t plan for it until it happens.
An emergency food supply is like a spare tire. You hope you never need it, but you are glad it’s there. In this guide we explain how much food to store, what to look for, and how the Ready Hour kits compare, from a small 72-hour bag to a full year.
Quick summary
- What it is: ready-made emergency meals in pouches and stackable buckets. Just add hot water.
- Sizes: 72 hours, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 3 months and 1 year.
- Shelf life: up to 25 years in good storage, according to the seller.
- Good to know: free shipping over $149 (lower 48), but delivery can take 8 to 14 business days.
How much emergency food do you need?
Emergency agencies like Ready.gov suggest keeping at least a few days of food and water at home. That is the bare minimum. Many families aim for 2 to 4 weeks, which covers most storms and long outages.
A simple rule: plan for about 2,000 calories per adult per day. A family of four for two weeks needs roughly 56 “person-days” of food. Kits that list calories per day make this math much easier.
- Start with 72 hours. One kit per person in a closet or car.
- Build to 2–4 weeks. Enough for most power outages and storms.
- Go long-term if you want. 3 months to 1 year for full peace of mind.
What to look for in a kit
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Calories per day | Some cheap kits count small servings. Look for about 2,000 calories per adult per day. |
| Shelf life | Longer shelf life means you buy once and forget it. Storage temperature matters a lot. |
| Preparation | Add-water meals are easiest. No fridge, no oven, just a small stove or kettle. |
| Packaging | Sealed pouches in sturdy buckets stack well and resist moisture and pests. |
| Variety | Eating the same meal for two weeks gets old fast. More varieties keep morale up. |
Ready Hour kit options
Here is a simple overview of the main sizes. Pick the one that matches your household and your storage space.
72-Hour Kit
A small bag for the car, the office or a go-bag. The seller lists 16 servings, averaging about 1,666 calories per day for 3 days.
2-Week Supply
One bucket for one person for 14 days. The seller lists 118 servings at 2,000+ calories per day.
4-Week Supply
One person for a month, with 16 food varieties. The seller says it covers 100% of the daily value of 12 vitamins and minerals.
3-Month Supply
Several buckets that can cover one person for 3 months, or a family of four for about 3 weeks.
1-Year Supply
The largest kit: 2,000+ calories per day for one person for 360 days, per the seller.
Kit details as listed by the seller. Contents and prices may change, so check the official page before ordering.
What we like about Ready Hour
The biggest plus is choice. You can start with a small 72-hour kit and add a bucket at a time. That spreads the cost and lets you taste the food first.
The meals are simple comfort food: pasta dishes, rice, soups, oatmeal and pancakes. Most only need hot water. That matters when the power is out and you are cooking on a camp stove.
The buckets also make storage easy. They stack in a closet, under a bed or on a basement shelf. One 4-week bucket takes up about as much space as a small trash can.
Add-on gear worth a look
Food is the core, but a few basic tools make any kit more useful. These are some of the seller’s newest gear items.
Prices as shown on the seller’s website in November 2026 and may change.
What buyers say
“After a long outage two summers ago, I wanted something I didn’t have to think about. The 4-week bucket sits in my closet now.”
“I tried a few meals first. The pancakes and the mac and cheese were honestly better than I expected. Just add hot water.”
“We keep the 72-hour kits in both cars. It took a while to ship, so order ahead of storm season.”
“I like that the buckets stack. My wife and I went with the 3-month supply and rotate a few pouches each year.”
Representative testimonials based on publicly available customer feedback. Individual experiences vary.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Kits from 72 hours up to a full year, so you can start small
- Meals only need hot water, no fridge or cooking skills
- Stackable, flood-resistant buckets for closets or garages
- Brand-stated shelf life of up to 25 years in good storage
- Free shipping on orders over $149 to the lower 48 states
- U.S.-based phone support, 7 days a week
Keep in mind
- Shipping can take 8 to 14 business days when demand is high
- You need water to prepare meals, so store water too
- Shelf life depends on cool, dry storage conditions
- Bigger kits are a real upfront cost
Shipping and support
Orders over $149 ship free to the lower 48 states. The seller currently notes 8 to 14 business days for delivery because of high demand. So don’t wait for a storm warning to order.
Phone support is based in the U.S. and open every day: Monday to Friday 8am–10pm and weekends 9am–9pm (Eastern), per the seller’s website.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the official Ready Hour website?
No. This is an independent guide. Orders, shipping and returns are handled by the official seller.
How much emergency food should I store?
Agencies like Ready.gov suggest keeping at least a few days of food and water at home. Many families start with 2 to 4 weeks, then build up over time.
How long does it really last?
The seller states up to 25 years for its food kits under optimal storage. That means a cool, dry place, ideally below 75°F, away from sunlight. Hot garages shorten shelf life.
How do I prepare the meals?
Most pouches are freeze-dried or dehydrated. You add hot water, stir and wait about 10 to 15 minutes. Check each pouch for exact steps.
How long does shipping take?
The seller currently notes 8 to 14 business days because of high demand. Order before storm season instead of the week a storm is forecast.
Which kit should I start with?
If you are unsure, the 4-week supply is a balanced starting point for one person. The 72-hour kit is a low-cost way to taste the food first.
Our verdict
So, bottom line: if you want a simple, ready-made emergency food supply, Ready Hour is a solid choice. The kits cover every size, from a car bag to a full year, and the meals are easy to make.
Just plan ahead. Order before storm season, store the buckets somewhere cool and dry, and keep water next to them. For most households, the 4-week supply is the best place to start.