Now more than any other time in history we need to be prepared for a disaster. The last few years have seen earthquakes, floods, tornados, wild fires, record amounts of snow, and many other natural disasters in parts of the country and world that have not seen them in the past. You can add to that the chance of a man made disaster like oil spills, terrorism threats and wars the world over. It can be overwhelming to think that it could happen where you live, I’m sure it was for the people of New York before September 11, 2001 or the people of New Orleans before hurricane Katrina in 2005. But if it were to happen would you be prepared for it?
I am not advocating food hoarding or going to your local gun shop for a couple shot guns & automatic rifles, but I do suggest that we follow the example set by those living in areas that have frequent natural disasters, like earthquake prone California, and keep enough supplies on hand (and dedicated) to last about 72 hours (3 days) per person in the home. If you can, or want, to store more by all means do it. Just make sure you are rotating the food and water you have stored every few months to keep it from going out of date.
“It sounds like a lot, where do we start?”
To start you probably have a lot of the stuff you need already on hand. If you enjoy spending time in the outdoors it’s a good bet that you already have some type of white gas or propane stove to cook on, just keep some extra fuel on hand for it. The same can be said for other equipment like tents / tarps, chairs, sleeping bags, or lanterns (though I would recommend one of the hand crank varieties, it eliminates the need for extra fuel or batteries). It’s always better to have gear dedicated to the purpose of your emergency kit but to start use what you have and swap it out as you find the time and money to do so. If you don’t have any gear to start I would recommend hitting garage / moving sales, EBay, Craigslist, or end of season sales at your local department and sporting goods stores. You can also find some great deals if you want to take the time to search the internet.
Remember, all the gear and supplies in the world will not help you if you do not keep it together in one place where it can be accessed or if you don’t know how to use it. I know people who store their stuff in plastic tubes with labels on the outside to keep it organized, people who store their stuff in 5 gallon pails with lids so everything is watertight, and people who just keep it all in a closet or on shelves in the garage were they can get to it quickly. After you decide were and how to store it, try to plan a couple times a year that you get everyone in the house together to practice how to use the gear you have. It’s important that every family member know how to use the kit you put together.
“What should we keep on hand?”
Wow, there are as many answers to that as there are things to keep on hand! Let’s take it one step at a time and see if we can at least get the basics covered here. To be prepared for the unexpected you need to have a family communication plan with at least two different places for your family to meet if an emergency occurs. The first can be the home, but if you can not reach the home then a second like a park or civic location close to the home should be used. Make sure everyone is aware of the locations. It’s also a good idea to keep copies of important family documents like insurance policies, identification, etc, in a waterproof, portable container such as a large Zip Lock bag that can be taken with you, remember that your kit can and should change with the seasons. Setting up your kit for a summer emergency will not help much if it is -5°F and there are about 10 inches of snow on the ground.
OK, before we get to the kit its self there are a few things you will want to decide before we go any farther. Like how much space do you have to store your kit in? If you have enough items to fill a small room but only have a closet to work with you will have to rethink your kit. How much money are you willing or able to spend? You don’t have to drop $400 on an expedition quality tent (especially if it is to be dedicated to your emergency only kit) when a sturdy tent can be purchased from a local department store for a quarter of the price. Sure you may have to waterproof it after a couple of years but the cost savings is worth it. Lastly, what “special” items need to be included? Does a family member wear glasses; have asthma or some other health concern that requires medication? Do you have an infant that requires formula or diapers? Where are you going to go to the restroom at? It may sound funny, but anyone of these could be detrimental to your well being in an emergency. Don’t worry too much, you can find everything from a toilet seat that snaps onto a 5 gallon bucket to specialized composting toilets to take care of that last one!
So onto the kit! Let’s start with food and water. A general rule of thumb is 1 gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. If you choose to add dehydrated or freeze dried foods to your kit you will need to add more water to re-hydrate them. How you store the water is up to you, you can purchase refillable water jugs (usually in 2 ½ or 5 gallon styles), or the pre-filled 1 to 2 ½ gallon varieties sold in most stores. The food needs to be kept in such a way as to keep rodents or pests out of it while it is being stored (another good use for those 5 gallon pails with lids). Try to choose foods that your family will eat and that have a long shelf life. I also recommend clearly marking the dates on all items with a permanent marker so you can keep them rotated.
For starters you can consider:
• Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits & vegetables
• Protein or fruit bars
• Dry cereal or granola
• Peanut butter
• Dried fruits and nuts
• Crackers
• Canned juices or brick pack milks
• Ramen noodles or ready-to-eat soups
• Hard candies
• Instant coffee, tea, powdered drink mixes
• Vitamins
• Infant food (if applicable)
• Instant oatmeal
• Freeze dried meals or military style MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat)
• Non-perishable comfort / stress foods
Try to avoid salty foods as they tend to make you thirsty, frozen foods or foods that require refrigeration, and remember to pack a manual can opener and some cooking utensils. There are several options on the market for eating and cooking utensils, I recommend the Light My Fire and Guyot Designs sporks and the plastic bowls with screw on lids (ex. Zip Lock 2 Cup Storage bowl) for a good all around mess kit. Both are light weight, take up little space, but are still sturdy.
We touched on the basic gear above but let’s go over it again.
• Shelter – this could be a tent, large tarp, large sheet of plastic (4-6 mils), rain gear (ponchos or rain suits), and/or extra clothing.
• Plastic – it’s a good idea to keep a roll of plastic (4-6 mils) with your kit, you will find a use for it. Also you will want to keep a box of heavy duty garbage bags for refuse, a small box of the quart and gallon sized zip lock bags for storage.
• First Aid Kit – make sure there is room to add any personnel medications that you may need and check the dates from time to time. You may want to add some Latex gloves, eye wash, tweezers, thermometer, and scissors if they are not already included. Keep first aid reference materials with the first aid kit.
• Tool Kit – small to medium zippered tool bag, hammer, slotted and Phillips screwdrivers, utility knife with extra blades, pliers (slip joint & channel lock varieties), pry bar, pipe wrench, work gloves (preferably leather) for each person, 25’ tape measure, 1 roll duct tape, 1 roll of electrical tape, miscellaneous sizes of zip ties, small knife sharpener, folding or bow saw, hatchet / small axe (optional).
• Cooking – stove and fuel (use it to figure out how much fuel you will need to keep on hand), a family sized cook kit or a couple of pots with lids and a frying pan, cooking utensils (large spoon, spatula, 1-2 sharp knives), sponge, scrubbing pad, dish towels, dish pan, bowl, plate, cup, and eating utensils for each person.
• Lighting – at least one lantern (battery, crank, propane, white gas, kerosene, candle, or lamp oil), several packs of emergency candles, a flashlight or LED headlamp per person (the crank or shake style lights do not require batteries), if you have kids it is nice to throw in a few of the 12 hour light sticks. It saves on batteries and helps them feel more in control of their surroundings.
• Hygiene – a bar of soap (anti bacterial), hand sanitizer, wet wipes, towel & washcloth, toilet paper (1 roll per person), small toothbrush and toothpaste for each person. Feminine hygiene supplies for those needing them.
• Pet Care – don’t forget your pet, it will need food and water as well.
• Clothing – each person should have a complete change of cloths, jacket / coat, hat, long sleeved shirt, long pants, a thermal layer, and sturdy shoes / boots, extra socks (2 per person, merino wool is recommended), and rain gear.
• Safety – whistle to signal for help & dust mask to filter air for each person, important family documents, a battery or hand crank NOAA weather radio, cash (around $50), local maps and compass, fixed blade or folding style knife per person, small note pad and pencil, fire extinguisher, matches in a waterproof container, disposable lighter, and dry tinder in a waterproof container (cotton balls covered with petroleum jelly work well), a way to purify water (water filter, iodine tablets, etc), water bottle or canteen per person (32oz / 1 liter size), a day / school sized backpack per person, household chlorine bleach (do not use scented, color safe, or bleaches with added chemicals) to use as a disinfectant.
When diluted 9 parts water to 1 part bleach, bleach can be used to disinfect water. Or in an emergency you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops (from a medicine dropper) of regular household bleach per gallon of water. Let it set for an hour or two before using, it will still have a chlorine taste.
• Bedding – a sleeping bag (15°F - 30°F rating depending on your climate), extra blanket per person (wool or fleece, most military surplus carry for a good price),
• Entertainment – to pass the time include books, board games, puzzles, or other activities for children
• Miscellaneous – 50’ to 100’ of general purpose rope, 50’ to 100’ of Para cord or small diameter cord, at least 1 shovel (camp / folding shovel works well), extra batteries, mirror, bug repellent, bug head net per person, sunscreen, basic fishing equipment, 20 or 12 gauge shot gun or 22 caliber rifle for hunting (optional), and ammunition, prepaid cell phone with a list of emergency contacts, and a solar or disposable charging device for the phone.
Though many other items and amounts could be added to you’re your kit, this should give you a good start. Another place to get information is your local government for copies of city / state emergency plans and/or suggested supplies for your area of the country. You can also go to the internet and find a wealth of information from preparedness blogs and videos on Youtube.
Pictures are from Yahoo Images.
