Emergency preparedness kit for Airbnb: what to include

Category: Operations & Cleaning

By: Maria Gonzales

Posted: 2026-02-07T01:19:32.214Z

After a guest got stuck at my property during a power outage with no flashlight or candles, I realized I need to be better prepared for emergencies. I'm especially worried about rural/cabin properties where power outages, road closures, and bad weather are common. What should an Airbnb emergency kit include? And where do you keep it so guests can easily find it?

Reply by Kevin O'Brien:

Comprehensive emergency kit — I keep mine in a clearly labeled bin in the main closet with a "EMERGENCY SUPPLIES" label: **Power outage kit:** - 3 LED flashlights + extra batteries (not candles — fire risk) - Battery-powered or hand-crank AM/FM radio - Power bank (20,000mAh) — pre-charged, with Lightning + USB-C cables - LED lantern (battery or rechargeable) for ambient light - Glow sticks (kids love these, and they're safe) **First aid kit:** - Bandages (assorted sizes) - Antiseptic wipes - Gauze and medical tape - Tweezers (tick removal in rural areas) - Pain reliever (ibuprofen + acetaminophen — sealed/unopened) - Antihistamine (Benadryl — sealed/unopened) - Hydrocortisone cream (bug bites, rashes) - Thermometer - Ice pack (instant cold pack, no freezer needed) - First aid instruction card - Note: "This kit is for emergency use. For serious medical emergencies, call 911." **Weather emergency:** - Emergency blankets (mylar space blankets, $2 each) - Bottled water (1 gallon minimum) - Non-perishable snacks (granola bars, crackers) - Rain ponchos - Extra blankets and warm clothing placeholder **Property-specific:** - Fire extinguisher (accessible, not in the emergency kit — mounted on wall) - Smoke detector check card (when last tested) - Carbon monoxide detector: functioning - Property shutoff locations card: water main, gas shutoff, electrical panel - Neighbor contact info (in case host is unreachable) **Information card (laminated, in the kit):** - Property address (guests forget in emergencies!) - 911 and non-emergency police number - Nearest hospital name + address + directions - Nearest urgent care - Host phone number + 2nd emergency contact - WiFi network + password (may need it for communication) - Water main shutoff location (for pipe bursts) - Electrical panel location (for tripped breakers) - Gas shutoff location (if applicable) **Total cost: ~$80-100 per property** **House manual integration:** Include an "Emergency Information" section at the TOP of your house manual (not buried at the end). I also put the information card on the inside of the main bedroom closet door where the emergency kit is stored. Use the house manual generator at https://strspecialist.com/tools/house-manual-generator to include emergency procedures. This kit saved a guest at my mountain cabin during a winter storm. They were snowbound for 24 hours with a power outage. The flashlights, radio, water, and snacks made a scary situation manageable. They left a glowing 5-star review specifically mentioning the emergency kit.