There are tons of websites online and videos on YouTube showing how to put together basic survival kits. But always remember to think soundly and logically--and realistically--about your personal needs for an emergency situation. Don't go buying every little gizmo you see or you will run out of money quick. At a minimum, you would need the following:
WATER. I cannot stress this enough. WATER. And lots of it. Red Cross states 1 gallon per person per day. More if you have pets. And more if you live in a hot climate. Plan on having a month's worth on hand. WSHTF (when the shit hits the fan), there isn't going to be time to do it. Help won't be coming (at least not for a while) and you will need to take care of yourself. And for sure don't count of FEMA to bail you out.
SHELTER. If you must evacuate your home, either know where your local shelter is or have a tent (or tarp and means to pitch it) for you and your family. Have a plan about where you would go should you be away from home. Keep your shelter in the car when you are at work, running errands, etc. After you get in the habit of loading your gear up, it will be like grabbing your lunch bag in the morning. It should be that automatic. Sleeping bags are nice, but a surplus wool blanket and ground tarp (both available cheap at any Army/Navy store) will do in a pinch. I got the blanket (85% wool & poly), 8' x 10' camo tarp, 100' of paracord, and ground tarp for $49.95). I also bought a small tent by Wentzel for $29.00 that I keep in my BOB at home. I have two--a large one in a 'summit pack' that stays at home at all times with a lot of duplicate items, and my daypack version that pretty goes everywhere with me now.
FOOD. You should have a month's worth of food stashed in your house and at least 72-hours worth in a kit to keep in your car. Have at least 24-hours rations close at hand at all times. Try to avoid foods that need a lot of water to digest like protein bars, or are thirst provoking like salty foods. The Mainstay food bars are great for a BOB--nine portions in a foil pouch. I've tried them--they have a light lemony flavor and are very tasty.
COOKING. You're going to want a hot drink at some point or perhaps boil some water to purify it. I highly recommend the Esbit Stove (Google it) and buy extra fuel tabs. It's compact and super easy to use. Make sure you have something to boil water in (even a mini loaf pan folded for storage) and a folding camp cup (Google it). Your food, stove, fuel, and cup can all go in a small stuff sack.
LIGHT. Keep a flash light (Maglite makes a great little mini AAA model that will fit on a keychain) or headlamp close at hand at all times. When the lights go out you will thank yourself. Keep lightsticks in your home for emergencies, too.
WHISTLE. This should go on your keychain along with your mini flashlight--that way it's always with you. If you get trapped somewhere don't waste your energy yelling. One of the Coast Guard 'howler' whistles will do the trick! They are lightweight and work even when wet (unlike the old style with the cork ball inside them).
FIRE. Have the means to start a fire to keep warm should you find yourself stranded. Have multiple means of accomplising this, too. Go on YouTube and search "Firemaking"--and don't get overwhelmed.
EMERGENCY BLANKET. These mylar temporary heat retention blankets are cheap and lightweight. There's no excuse not to have them stashed all over the place.
KNIFE. The value of a knife cannot be estimated. It is the best defense/tool you can own. Since earliest times, the edged tool has been invaluable to humans, used for cutting, scraping, chopping, and protection. Even cultures that only had stone tools had knives fashioned from stone. Buy a heavy duty one for cutting and chopping (such as a Ka-Bar Heavy Bowie) and a small clip-on folding pocket model (too many to mention here--and it is really affordability and preference) for everyday carrying.
WATER PURIFICATION. Again, a Google or YouTube search will bring up an overwhelming amount of information. Chose the simplest and easiest to use for your level of expertise and comfort. This should be part of everyone's BOB kit.
PARACORD. Again, a multitude of uses, from lashing things together to rigging a tarp shelter. Buy the military style with the 7-strand cord, and buy at least 50' (100' is better) and don't cut it unless you absolutely need to. The inner strands of this cord can be used for snares, fishing line, etc. Only limited by your imagination.
You may have heard the term BOB (bug out bag) or some such term. Make one. Buy an inexpensive but good quality day pack and put your emergency kit in it. Keep it in your car during the day and by your bed at night.
Depending on where you live, your kit may vary. Mine is geared toward a mostly urban environment, because that where I dwell. But I've got loads of camping and backpacking experience since early childhood, so I'm ready for most anything.
And here's the final and most important tip: PRACTICE. Play with your stuff. Get to know how it works and how to use it. Then when you are all stressed out in an emergency situation, it will be second nature. You can always replace consumables. You can also write down instructions and notes on how to use items like water purification tablets and how many drops of chlorine bleach to add to water to keep in your kit. Then you won't waste precious time trying to remember or figure things out in a crises situation.
BE PREPARED. BE PREPARED. BE PREPARED!
No comments:
Post a Comment