Good point about fires. She'll be living in an urban college dorm towards the center of town, surrounded by other buildings and businesses. Hmmm, maybe some solar yardlights in case the power goes out? She won't have a vehicle until next year so if she has to leave she'll have to catch a ride with someone, which is another reason for small gear. Based on previous comments, I am dumping the mess kit and fuel tab stove.
-Blast

Good point - A plan of people and resources would be most useful;
-local health care
- friends in the area
-what to do if...
- Alternate ways to stay in communication

prompted a memory; I have a couple of these solar lanterns:
https://www.lightinthebox.com/en/p/luminaid-packlite-12-aufblasbare-solarlaterne-solar-aufblasbare-faltbare-teleskop-airbag-beleuchtung-shows_p8518462.html?currency=USD&litb_from=bing_shopping&sku=276_344678&country_code=us&utm_source=bingshopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=bingshopping&litb_from=paid_bing&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=%5BEN%5D%5BBSC%5D%5BLITB%5D%5Bc229%5D%5BS%26O%5D(US)(shopping)(L1)&msclkid=7225f4a4f98e1136dc59947301bb7fcf

I guess now they can charge a smartphone too... I've had mine for a few years and they've held up well.

A recent development in Cal if the preemptive shutoff of electricity during high fire hazard situations - annoying, but much better than the flames. You need some sort of renewable backup for lights, phones, etc. Solar is often the best, most reasonable option.

to expand from a "kit" topic to roving power outage... my dorm years at the Univ of Florida were before central air conditioning...a window fan really aided sound sleeping... today, some form of personal battery powered fan (using your preferred re chargable cells) might be a consideration... additionally to provide some hot water, a 2gal pump up garden sprayer painted black could be placed in the sunlight to provide a little warm water for a quick shower...open flame cooking is most likely prohibited, but an Asian style flat stove outside in a court yard area could provide a hot meal or drink.. if the rolling blackout is announced transfer to any perishable food to a 7 day cooler

Grid down could be expanded to "Problems a student hasn't encountered alone yet"
- loss of an atm card
- needing help in a new city
- focus/ panning
- heartbreak

Various models of sun showers are available from camping goods suppliers - basically plastic bag capacity one to four gallons or so. I have used such for weeks at a time on field projects and they are quite satisfactory, as well as cheap and light. I have several in my emergency supplies and have also used them during power outages.

We've been working on those adult skills for years so I'm not too worried about these...except for the coming heartbreak when she moves 1000 miles from her boyfriend. I think it'll hit her hard.
-Blast

A big part of this figuring out the best gear that'll fit in a shoe box. The dorm rooms are very small so a lot of these things that would be great to have in an emergency just aren't possible.
-Blast

A 'shoe box kit' is a great exercise in planning