subject: 72 Hour Survival Kits Made Quickly [print this page] Have you ever lost power in your residence? Could you find all the supplies you needed to care for your family and create a comfortable environment? In the past I would have had to say no, but by organizing four item categories, now I can say yes. Even if the power goes out for THREE DAYS, and if there is a snow storm or other disaster, you can be prepared.
Use your creativity and make family fun when choosing the "kit" for each member. Backpacks work well, but to ensure the items stay dry, place them in plastic zip-lock bags. Many ideas work well, just remember to update the items yearly and store them in an area that will have quick access in case you have to evacuate.
The four categories include personal items, adult items, food items and emergency items. Look through the suggestions below, think about your family's needs when choosing. Consider which items all family members should have in their kits and some items can be shared by all members.
Here are some items to think about:
Personal items for each family member include:
Hand sanitizer
Moist towelettes
Toilet paper (1 roll)
Extra clothing
Blanket
Prescription meds, eyeglasses, contact lens supplies, hearing aid batteries
Infants- formula, diapers, bottles and pacifier
Whistle
Flashlight and extra batteries
Cell phone charger
Food items for each family member should be customized to fit your family"s tastes and needs.
Here are some items worth considering:
Breakfast (X3) Tang in cup servings in baggies
Instant Oatmeal
Or
Hot cocoa mix in cup servings in baggies
1 Granola bar
Lunch (X3) Beenie Weenies with pop-up top
Fruit Roll-Up
Or
Lipton Soup
Raisins
Or
Easy Mac and Cheese
Graham crackers
Dinner(X3) 1oz. package beef jerky
Hot cocoa
Or
Stew/Pasta (canned)
Fruit Roll-Up
Or
Chili (canned
Fruit Roll-Up
Snack(X3)Gum
Jolly Rancher type candy
Misc.Plastic spoons (X3)
Paper or Styrofoam cups and bowls (X9)
Drinking Water -1 Gallon per person per day. I put enough for one day in each kit and placed the rest in an easy to grab tote.
Each kit needs 2L of bottled water for preparing the foods listed. Mix cup water for Tang and Hot Cocoa.
Emergency Items can be packed in a family kit. I don"t feel it is necessary for every member to have all these items:
Matches in waterproof container
Kitchen accessories, utensils, can opener
Portable battery operated radio and extra batteries
Flat fold stove and 24 fuel pellets
Adult Items can be packed along with other items in each adult"s kit or in the family kit. They include:
Photocopies of identification and credit cards
Cash and coins
Tools and a map of the local area.
Now you and your family are prepared for 72 hours either inside your home or evacuated. Make sure you have a meeting place outside your home and practice your evacuation plan.
Just think about how much peace of mind you can have knowing you are prepared to meet the needs of your family in an emergency.
