Disaster Kits

Prepare your own diaster survival kit

While disaster survival kits may seem like a lot of unnecessary trouble, they have the power to save your life in emergency situations. Experts recommend that you keep disaster kits both in your home and in your car, and if you go camping or hiking, you should add 72-hour survival kits to your list of mandatory gear.

Essentials for Disaster Preparedness Kits

At the end of the day, we all have the same basic needs. Disaster survival kits should meet all basic needs while remaining light and transportable, in case you have to evacuate or move on. As a basic rule, all disaster kits should contain:

  • Water – at least a half-gallon per person, per day
  • Food – canned items that need little or no cooking
  • Cash
  • Spare clothing – one change of clothes per person
  • Sleeping bags or blankets – one per person
  • Matches and lighters (pack extra ones)
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit, including wound dressings, antiseptics, painkillers and broad-spectrum antibiotics

It's worth noting that World Health Organization disaster kits also typically include water purification tablets. These are relatively inexpensive and can be a lifesaver if you're not able to lug around heavy, encumbering bottles of water, or if you run out of treated water before you're rescued.

Some special-needs items that you should also include, if needed, are prescription drugs and copies of prescriptions, a spare pair of glasses and baby supplies. You might also want to make copies of important identification documents and a spare set of car keys.

While purely optional, it's not a bad idea to add a deck of playing cards or some simple toys to the kit. These can help you pass the time while you wait for help – which can be essential to keeping a level head and avoiding panic.

Prepare for the Unexpected with 72-Hour Emergency Kits

72-hour kits are specifically designed to be compact and relatively lightweight. Typically intended for single-person use, they're popular with campers and hikers who are venturing into unfamiliar territory.

In addition to the basics like water, food, a change of clothing, a blanket, a means of making fire and a means of generating light, 72-hour emergency kits should contain first aid books, road flares and maps of the local area. They're designed to help you survive until you're able to find help, and assume that help is relatively close at hand.