The Red Cross describes being prepared as “being equipped with the proper supplies you may need in the event of an emergency or disaster.” This event or disaster can be anywhere from an earthquake to civil unrest. In order to keep you and your family safe, think about preparing easy-to-carry emergency preparedness kits for your home or to travel with. Having a well-thought out survival kit on hand really can mean the difference between life and death.
Our experts at Hikingware suggest that if you have not gotten your survival supplies yet that you go about getting them in an organized manner. Don’t try to get everything at once. Buy one item a week, and soon you’ll have everything you need in the event of a man-made or natural disaster.
The American Red Cross endorses the list below as a basic emergency inventory:
- Water—one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
- Food—non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
- Flashlight
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit – Anatomy of a First Aid Kit
- Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
- Multi-purpose tool
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
- Cell phone with chargers
- Family and emergency contact information
- Extra cash
- Emergency blanket
- Map(s) of the area
Once you have the basics secured and placed where they can be easily reached, you may want to consider adding these other items to help you through a disaster:
- Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, etc)
- Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
- Games and activities for children
- Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
- Two-way radios
- Extra set of car keys and house keys
- Manual can opener
Depending on where you live and the kind of natural disasters your area is prone to, you may also want to include some, or all, of the following:
- Whistle
- N95 or surgical masks
- Matches
- Rain gear
- Towels
- Work gloves
- Tools/supplies for securing your home
- Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
- Plastic sheeting
- Duct tape
- Scissors
- Household liquid bleach
- Entertainment items
- Blankets or sleeping bags
In addition, always make sure that you have a way of knowing where all your family members are at any given moment. Cell phones with GPS are now standard, so that may be the way your family wants to go. ID bracelets around the wrist are a very good idea for children who are still too young to give a coherent account of who they are and where they live in the event of a catastrophe.
Don’t become disturbed or fearful as you make the above preparations. Life is always going to be full of challenges, and it’s our duty and privilege to prepare to meet them. Remember these stirring words of Isabel Allende: “We don't even know how strong we are until we are forced to bring that hidden strength forward. In times of tragedy, of war, of necessity, people do amazing things. The human capacity for survival and renewal is awesome.”
Do you have any other suggestions for survival gear that’s missing from our list? Let us know in the comments! Who knows, maybe we’ll even start carrying some of your suggestions!
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