You know it will one day happen. That big earthquake. The mega storm. Kodos getting elected. There is no electricity or water, and you need to live semi-comfortably for three to five days. Here is a list of things you should gather.
Storage
- 2-3 plastic storage bins with lids and handles: To hold all of your supplies. The handles are for easy transport to your backyard or the trunk of your car.
Food/Water
- 1 gallon of water per person per day: Don’t forget water for your pets. Clearly mark with a Sharpie when you bought the water. It’s a good idea to rotate them out after a while.
- Meals Ready to Eat (MREs): These are self-contained military meals. They cost around $10 each or $100 for a case of 12. Make sure each meal comes with a food heater as some don’t. You don’t want to be eating a cold cheese omelet. An army/navy surplus store is a great place to buy MREs.
- Granola bars: These are handy and nutritious snacks. I have tested many brands and my favorite is the Luna bar.
- Plastic utensils
Sanitation
- Luggable Loo: It’s a 5 gallon plastic bucket with a toilet seat lid. Before you christen it, you can use it to store small, miscellaneous emergency supplies.
- Bags for Luggable Loo
- Deodorant chemicals for Luggable Loo
- toilet paper
- paper towels
- wet naps
- hand sanitizer
- feminine hygiene products
- toothpaste
- toothbrush
Medicine Cabinet
- Old pair of glasses
- Medications: Make sure you rotate them out before they expire.
- First aid kit with instructions: This came highly recommended by an outdoor survival instructor. Having instructions that go with the kit is essential.
- Extra gauze: The same instructor also told me that you can never have enough gauze. So get more.
Shelter
- Tent
- Space blanket
- Sleeping pads (inflatables are generally more comfortable than foam roll-ups)
- Tarp: For use underneath the tent if it’s wet out.
- Duct tape
Rescue
- Regular crowbar
- Small crowbar: Keep a smaller crowbar near the living room or bedroom. After an earthquake, your door frame may shift and you will need help jimmying the door open.
- Fire extinguisher: Make sure it is replaced before it expires.
- Wrench for gas shutoff: And learn how to shut it off beforehand.
- Swiss army knife: I got one of these.
- Work gloves
- Dust masks
- Whistle
- Flashlight
- Batteries for flashlight: Make sure these are fresh.
Communication
- Crank/solar/battery powered radio/flashlight/phone charger
- Phone cord for the charger
- Pad of paper
- Pencil
- Photocopies of your ID, credit cards: You may want to keep these in a more secure place.
- Homeowner’s insurance info: Insurance company name, claims office number, your policy number.
Diversion
- Books: I got used copies of Moby Dick and Don Quixote at the library book store for a dollar each.
- Deck of cards
- Tiny bottles of booze
Clothing
- A change of clothes
- A pair of old shoes: It’s also a good idea to keep another old pair under your bed. You don’t want to step on broken glass with your bare feet.
For Your Pet
- Leash
- Bowl for water
- Bowl for food
- Food
- Poop bags
- Medication
Money
- Cash in various denominations: The ATM will not be working.
- Tiny bottles of booze: Barter with your neighbors.
Parting thought: Everyone has different needs. You may not need some of the items listed. There may be items that you need that are not listed here. Be practical and creative. But most importantly, put that emergency kit together NOW!
