Many U.S. households lack some of the resources that can make travel, financial shocks, medical needs, and emergencies easier to manage. The reasons vary and can include cost, access, household circumstances, and whether a particular item is relevant to a person’s life. Not every entry below is a physical household item—or a necessity in every country—but each can improve preparedness or security.
Some items, such as first aid kits, disaster supplies, document protection, and fire extinguishers, are practical tools for specific emergencies. Others, including emergency savings, affordable health care, and passports, are broader resources whose usefulness or availability depends on individual circumstances.
To compile this list of often-overlooked resources, 24/7 Tempo examined the latest available data and guidance from the U.S. Department of State, Federal Reserve, U.S. Census Bureau, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Federal Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross, U.S. Fire Administration, and National Fire Protection Association.
This article was updated on November 4, 2026, to reflect the latest available data and safety guidance.
Passport
According to the U.S. Department of State, 27,348,416 U.S. passports were issued in fiscal year 2025, including 4,544,022 passport cards, and 183,170,240 valid U.S. passports were in circulation. Those totals count documents, not unique passport holders. The State Department notes that one person may have both a passport book and a card or, in some cases, more than one valid passport book. The circulation figure therefore cannot be used to calculate the percentage of Americans who hold a passport.
A passport book is required for international air travel, while a passport card has more limited uses and cannot be used for international air travel. For people who expect to travel abroad, applying well before a trip can help avoid delays. A passport is not an everyday household safety item, however, and its value depends largely on a person’s travel plans. Application fees, documentation requirements, and processing time can also be barriers for some applicants.
Emergency Money
Emergency savings can make an unexpected expense less disruptive, but many Americans do not have a large financial cushion. In the Federal Reserve’s 2025 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking, 63% of adults said they could cover a hypothetical $400 emergency expense using cash, savings, or a credit card paid off at the next statement. Twelve percent said they could not pay the expense by any means. The same survey found that 55% had set aside enough money to cover three months of expenses, meaning 45% had not.
A reserve fund can help with costs such as a major car or appliance repair, a medical bill, or a temporary loss of income without forcing a household to rely entirely on high-cost credit. There is no single savings target that works for every household. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends keeping emergency savings somewhere safe and accessible and starting with an amount that is realistic. Low income and high essential expenses can make saving difficult, so a lack of savings should not automatically be treated as a lack of planning.
Affordable Healthcare
Affordable health care is not an item stored at home, but it can have a direct effect on household security. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that 26.7 million people, or 7.9% of the population, were uninsured for all of 2025. Separately, the Federal Reserve found that 26% of adults went without some form of medical care in 2025 because they could not afford it. These figures measure different groups and should not be combined, but both show that coverage and affordability gaps remain.
International comparisons also require precise wording. A 2026 Commonwealth Fund analysis of 20 countries found that the United States and Mexico were the only two that had not achieved health coverage for all residents. The OECD reported that U.S. health spending reached more than $14,880 per person in 2024 after adjustment for purchasing power, about 2.5 times the OECD average. A 2022 Yale-led modeling study estimated that 338,594 deaths from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic through March 2022 might have been averted under a universal single-payer system; that figure is a counterfactual estimate, not an observed death count. These findings document high spending and access problems but do not, by themselves, establish one cause or one policy solution.
First Aid Kit
An often-cited CDC infographic said that 48% of Americans did not have emergency supplies and 44% did not have first aid kits, but that infographic dates to 2013 and should not be presented as a current measure of household preparedness. Current guidance is more useful: the American Red Cross recommends keeping a well-stocked first aid kit at home and in the car.
A first aid kit can help someone respond promptly to cuts, burns, sprains, and other injuries, but it does not replace professional medical care in a serious emergency. The Red Cross advises checking a kit regularly, replacing anything used or out of date, and adding personal items such as medications and emergency phone numbers. Training matters as much as supplies: household members should know how to use the kit and when to call 911.
Disaster Supplies
Emergency supplies are common in the United States, but they are not universal. In FEMA’s 2024 National Household Survey on Disaster Preparedness, 69% of respondents said they had assembled supplies for an emergency. Among that group, 88% said their supplies could last more than three days, while 34% said they could last more than two weeks. The right kit depends on local hazards and each household’s medical, mobility, dietary, and caregiving needs.
Ready.gov’s basic checklist recommends at least one gallon of water per person per day for three days and at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food, along with a first aid kit, flashlight, radio, extra batteries, medications, phone chargers, local maps, and a manual can opener. Some emergencies or local guidance call for more than three days of supplies. Include items for children, older adults, disabled household members, and pets; store the kit where it is easy to reach; and replace expired food, water, medications, and batteries. Supplies work best alongside an emergency plan, alerts, and a practiced evacuation route.
Safe for Important Documents
There is no reliable current national statistic showing how many Americans own a safe, so claims that most people store documents insecurely cannot be supported. FEMA instead emphasizes gathering and protecting the records a household may need after a disaster, including identification, insurance policies, property deeds or leases, financial information, medical records, wills, and emergency contacts.
FEMA’s Emergency Financial First Aid Kit recommends keeping paper copies in a fire- and water-resistant box or safe, a bank safe deposit box, or with a trusted person. Password-protected electronic copies can be kept on an external drive in a protected container or in a secure off-site storage service. A safe is one option, not a complete home-security system, and no container is indestructible. Check its tested fire and water ratings, keep copies in a separate location, and make sure a trusted person knows how to access essential records if you cannot.
Fire Extinguisher
The frequently repeated claim that almost 30% of U.S. homes lack a fire extinguisher comes from a 2020 Zebra survey in which 70.3% of respondents said they owned or had access to one; it describes survey respondents, not a verified share of all homes. Likewise, a Kidde survey finding that 90% owned an extinguisher but only 59% kept one within reach while grilling applied only to grill owners. The risk itself is substantial: the National Fire Protection Association estimated 329,500 home structure fires in 2024, resulting in 2,920 civilian deaths and $11.4 billion in direct property damage.
The correct extinguisher and proper training can help contain a small fire, but getting out safely comes first. The U.S. Fire Administration says to use an extinguisher only when the fire is small and contained, everyone else has left, someone is calling the fire department, and there is a clear escape route. If any of those conditions is not met, leave the building and call 911. Keep extinguishers accessible, follow the manufacturer’s inspection and replacement instructions, maintain working smoke alarms, and practice a household escape plan.