The Emergency Kit You Already Have

Preparedness doesn’t have to be difficult or costly. You can start at home with what you already have. During any emergency your immediate goal is to have Water, food, and shelter (warmth and dryness).

Water: The rule is one gallon per person, per day of preparedness. That means a family of 4 sheltering for 3 days should have 12 gallons of water. This is enough for drinking, washing and cooking in an emergency situation. It is suggested to not use milk jugs but they will work in an emergency. I have about thirty of them which I empty, clean, and rinse and refill every 6 months or so. You can also use plastic juice bottles or two litter soda bottles, just make sure to clean them thoroughly first. Remember, a gallon of water weighs approximately 8 pounds so this part can add up in weight very fast. If you need preparedness for a week for two people, that’s approximately 112 pounds.

Food: 1200 calories per day is the minimum suggestion and that’s only if you are not going to be very active. Most of us have canned soups, stews, vegetables, ravioli, and even assorted meats like Tuna, Vienna sausages, deviled ham or Spam. Two to three assorted cans per person per day should do you just fine. Now, I do know a few folks who count calories but the majority of us just don’t do it. Watch out for one number though: sodium. Too much of it isn’t good on a normal day and in an emergency situation it can dehydrate you even faster. It’s also a good idea to keep a few candy bars or hard candy on hand, both for sugar content. If you have pets, don’t forget spare food for them too.

Shelter: you need to stay warm and dry. This means dry clothing which you rotate for the given season—you don’t want to find shorts in an Emergency in December! A small backpacker’s tent, a tarp about 10ft by 10ft or even just several large garbage bags will provide shelter in an emergency.

Now for the miscellaneous items.
Toiletries: a roll of toilet paper, toothbrush and toothpaste, a small bar of soap or liquid soap or even just a large package of baby wipes, feminine products, shampoo and razors if you desire.

Tools and utensils: can opener, flatware, plastic dishes, multi-tool or pocket knife, small saw if available, matches AND lighter, several candles, a baggie of dryer lint packed tightly, an empty metal coffee can (this will help you with cooking), small roll of duct tape, cup or drinking container and a small pot with a lid.

First Aid: about 10 each several assorted size bandages, triple antibiotic ointment, gauze, cotton balls, aspirin or other pain reliever, milk of magnesia or pepto bismol, Beano if you have it and any prescription medication that is required.

We also plan as a family for some comfort items. Hot Chocolate, Instant coffee and cream and sugar packets (picked up over several visits to local restaurants), instant foods such as mashed potatoes and oatmeal that now come packaged in single servings, and children’s fruit snacks.  For moral, a deck of cards or other small travel sized games.

Now, gather all of this together in the middle of the kitchen table and put it in a back pack or duffel bag. Keep the water and food stored in a separate area where it is easily accessible and can be rotated. See? That really wasn’t hard at all was it?