Be Prepared: Emergency Kits

Earthquake kit, bug-out kit, car kit, 72-hour kit — an emergency kit by any other name is equally important.  An emergency kit should be easily portable and able to hold basic necessities for survival for 72 hours (three days) in case of evacuation. Each person in the family needs his/her own kit. A backpack is an excellent choice for your kit, although other containers can work, too. Keep it in an easily accessible place, such as the front coat closet, or near your bed.

 

 

Basic Necessities

• Water—one gallon per person, in unbreakable bottles, canteens, etc.
• Food—MREs (Meals ready-to-eat), dehydrated food, crackers, cereal, trail mix, granola bars, peanut butter, soup mix, jerky, etc. Remember, if you bring food that requires water for preparation, you must bring extra water. And water is heavy, so plan carefully.
• Shelter—emergency blanket, poncho, tarp, tube tent
• Clothing—A complete change of clothing, including socks, shoes, and underwear.
• Medications—if you’re taking vital medication, talk to your doctor about getting extra samples or another prescription for your emergency kit.

You’ll Be Glad You Did

• Heat—hand warmers, waterproof matches, lighter, gloves, jacket
• Light—light sticks, flashlight with extra batteries, emergency candles, flares/signals
• Communication—solar-, battery-, or handcrank-powered radio; cell phone; whistle on a lanyard; two-way radios
• First Aid Kit, pain reliever, lotion, salve
• Hygiene—soap, toothbrush/paste, hand sanitizer, washcloth, toilet paper, plastic garbage bags, feminine products, wet wipes, sunblock, insect repellent, deodorant
• Equipment — Multitool, twine/fish line, work gloves, Swiss army knife, safety pins

Keeping Your Sanity

• Entertainment — Books, games, cards, crayons, paper, pen, etc.

Don’t Forget

• Special needs, such as formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, etc. for a baby, or special foods for a diabetic.
• Emergency contact numbers, copies of important documents
• Cash—small bills (nothing bigger than $20) and quarters

If You’re Driving

Some emergencies will require that you leave on foot, such as flooding, or road damage from an earthquake. However, if you own a car, there’s a good chance you will be able to use it to evacuate, especially if you have advanced warning, such as with a hurricane, wildfire, blizzard, etc. Consider having a secondary emergency kit packed and ready to go with your backpacks. This can be a duffle bag, suitcase, anything portable that can be thrown into the back of your car as you leave. Use this opportunity to pack things that you would be unable to carry on your back.:

• Extra water
• Warm, heavy blankets (wool-blend recommended)
• Extra food
• Camping stove, kerosene lantern, full-size tent
• Sleeping bags
• Coats, gloves, scarves, boots
• Rain gear, galoshes, umbrellas
• Camping shovel, hatchet
• Bucket with seat/lid for use as a toilet, with extra plastic bags
• More books and games to entertain children

Also, this is a good time to remind you to keep an emergency kit in your car as well.  Make sure to include things specifically for your car, such as road flares and repair equipment.

What if…

…my child can’t carry his own backpack, or walk on his own? 

If you have a stroller, particularly one with a storage basket underneath for your child’s kit, you can use it for evacuating on foot.  Now that my kids all walk on their own, we no longer have a stroller, but we still have a wagon, which would come in handy for hauling tired children or extra supplies.  A bike with a travel trailer on the back would also work. 

…I keep my important documents in a safe deposit box/fire safe/filing cabinet?

Make photocopies to keep in your emergency kit.  This could include copies of your driver’s license, birth certificate, social security card, passport, important deeds and ownership papers, etc.  You can also scan the documents and save them digitally on a flash drive, which would take up very little room in your backpack.

…I can’t fit everything in my backpack?

Get creative, and be selective.  You can’t avoid the bulk and weight of water, but you can choose compact supplies and lightweight food.  My shoes took up too much room in my backpack, so I tied them onto the outside by their shoelaces.  I do the same thing with my kids’ kits;  everytime they get a new pair of shoes, I tie the old ones onto their backpacks. 

…I think the whole idea is stupid, and nothing is ever going to happen anyway?

Good luck with that.