Why Every Airbnb and Holiday Home Should Have an Emergency Kit (Storm or Blackout)
More Airbnb and holiday home owners across Australia are adding compact emergency kits to their properties. Storms, blackouts and unexpected events can happen fast being prepared shouldn’t be left up to your guests.
Guests book your place to relax, not stress about storms or blackouts. As an Airbnb host, adding a compact, tamper-resistant emergency kit is a simple way to help them feel safe and protect your property at the same time.
We’ve seen more orders for our Ultimate Storm Bucket and Blackout Bucket going to Airbnb's, holiday rentals and coastal homes. They’re ready made, sealed emergency kits that are easy to store, easy for guests to use if an emergency happens.
Shop the Ultimate Storm BucketShop the Blackout Bucket
Why emergency kits make sense for Airbnb's & holiday rentals
Short-stay guests don’t know your area the way you do. They might not be familiar with local weather patterns, fire danger ratings, or what to do in a blackout. But if something goes wrong while they’re staying at your place, they’re looking to you the Airbnb host to have thought ahead.
An emergency kit in your Airbnb or holiday home helps:
- Keep guests safe and calm during storms, blackouts or extreme weather.
- Reduce panic and confusion by giving them clear tools and supplies in one place.
- Protect your property by helping guests manage minor issues before they escalate.
- Show you’re a thoughtful, safety-conscious host, which guests remember in reviews.
It’s a small, one-time upgrade that can make a big difference in how guests feel if things don’t go to plan.
Meet the Storm Bucket & Blackout Bucket
Both of these kits are designed for real homes and rentals packed with practical gear and sealed in tough, compact buckets that fit neatly in cupboards or drawers.
Ultimate Storm Bucket
Built for severe weather, storms and cyclones. The Storm Bucket is roughly 24cm square, making it easy to store in a kitchen cupboard or linen press.
Packed with 90 essential survival supplies, the Ultimate Storm Bucket is a 4-person emergency kit designed to keep you safe, connected and calm during the first 72 hours of a natural disaster.
Blackout Bucket
Purpose-built for power outages and night-time emergencies. The Blackout Bucket is around 23cm square, compact enough to tuck into a TV unit, hallway cupboard or wardrobe.
Designed for Australian households, this blackout emergency kit is packed with reliable emergency supplies to get you through blackouts, storms, or grid failures. Packed with 50 essential supplies
Both buckets are tamper-resistant and easy to reset after each stay. You always know what should be inside, and guests have a clearly marked “grab me in an emergency” kit ready to go.
Why buckets work better than loose supplies
You could scatter torches, candles and supplies around the place but in a real emergency, your guests won’t know where anything lives.
Tamper-resistant & predictable
Because everything is sealed in one bucket, it’s easier to see if anything has been used or removed between guests.
Quick to grab in a panic
Guests only need to remember one thing: “Grab the emergency bucket.” No hunting through drawers with a phone torch.
Easy to store in small spaces
The compact 23–24cm square footprint fits neatly into cupboards, drawers or under a bench ideal for apartments and tiny homes.
Simple for cleaners & managers
Property managers and cleaners can quickly check that the bucket is still there and closed, without needing to inspect every cupboard.
Where to keep an emergency bucket in your Airbnb
For guests, clarity is everything. The bucket should be:
- Easy to see and reach (not hidden behind heavy boxes).
- Kept in a consistent spot so cleaners and managers know where it lives.
- Mentioned in your house manual or welcome guide with a simple “In case of emergency, use the [Storm/Blackout] Bucket kept in the cupboard.”
Popular storage spots include:
- A kitchen or pantry cupboard.
- The hallway linen press.
- Under the laundry sink.
- In a clearly labelled TV unit or entry cupboard.
What about my own home or family holiday place?
While this blog focuses on Airbnb and short-stay rentals, the same idea applies to family holiday homes, coastal shacks, farm stays and weekenders. If you or your guests spend time there, it deserves the same level of preparedness as your main home.
If you’d like to go beyond buckets and kit out your own place as well, you can explore our full range of ready-made emergency kits here:
Explore All PrepMates Emergency KitsAirbnb & Holiday Rental Emergency Kit FAQs
Do I really need an emergency kit for my Airbnb?
You’re not legally required to have one in most places, but it’s a smart move. An emergency kit helps guests stay safe and calm during storms, blackouts or extreme weather — and shows you’ve taken reasonable steps to prepare your property.
Which kit should I choose: Storm Bucket or Blackout Bucket?
If your property is in a storm or cyclone-prone area, the Ultimate Storm Bucket is ideal. If you mainly worry about power outages, the Blackout Bucket is a great fit. Many hosts choose one of each storm gear in a cupboard, blackout gear near the lounge or bedrooms.
Will guests tamper with the kit?
The buckets are designed to be tamper-resistant and easy to check. You can add a small label like “For emergencies only” and ask cleaners to visually confirm the bucket is still sealed and in place between stays.
Where should I mention the emergency kit to guests?
Include it in your digital house manual, listing description or welcome message. A simple line like “In case of power outage or emergency, please use the Storm/Blackout Bucket in the kitchen cupboard” works well.
Are these kits suitable for normal homes too?
Absolutely. The Storm and Blackout Buckets were originally designed for everyday Australian households. They’re just as useful in your own home as they are in an Airbnb, holiday unit or family shack.
Give your guests peace of mind when it matters
You can’t control the weather, the power grid or every surprise that comes with running an Airbnb or holiday home. But you can control how prepared your place is when something goes wrong.
Adding a Storm Bucket, a Blackout Bucket or.. both is a simple, one-time upgrade that helps your guests feel genuinely looked after and protected, and sets your hosting apart from the rest.
You can:
- Equip your place for storms with the Ultimate Storm Bucket
- Prepare for power outages with the Blackout Bucket
- Or explore all options in our Emergency Kit Range
