Other than sufficient supplies of food and water, there are a number of other things that you should have on hand in your home in order to be prepared for the worst. While these items might not be as essential as food, water and shelter, the following are all necessities and belong in any set of emergency preparedness supplies.
Radio:
One thing that you’re going to want in an emergency situation is a radio to keep up to date with news and weather reports and other important information. Assuming that society hasn’t completely collapsed, a radio could be your only lifeline to the outside world. What you’ll want is either a hand cranked (or combination hand crank and solar) model or a battery powered radio – obviously, you’ll also need to have plenty of extra batteries around. A radio which receives shortwave and weather broadcasts as well as AM/FM transmissions is the best choice.
Tools:
You’re not going to need a full set of tools, but having a few of the basics around is a very good idea. For instance, you may need to turn off gas lines, which means you might need an adjustable wrench or pliers. A hammer and a screwdriver (flat and Phillips) are also good things to have; and a crowbar may well come in handy at some point too.
Flashlight(s):
If something really bad is going on, chances are that you’re not going to have electricity. This means that you’re going to need at least one flashlight and preferably more than one. Go for LED flashlights; they’re cheap and they have very long battery life compared to traditional bulb flashlights – keep some extra batteries handy for your flashlights in any case.
Sanitation:
No matter what’s going on, one thing never changes: the call of nature. However, your plumbing may well not be working, so you’re going to need to be prepared for this possibility. A supply of high quality garbage bags with ties is an absolute must; you’ll also want to have a stock of toilet paper and sanitary wipes. These may not be the first thing you’d think of when getting together survival supplies, but you definitely don’t want to be without them.
Road Flares, Whistles, Mirrors, etc.: You’ll want to have something on hand to signal for help if needed, so keep these around just in case.
Your phone:
Yes, if things are really bad, there may not be any mobile phone service, but as long as they’re operational, you’re definitely going to want your phone and a charger – preferably a solar charger, since there’s no guarantee that the electrical grid will still be operational in your area.
Respirators or Dust Masks: Depending on the situation, the air could be contaminated. While the best thing to do if this happens is to get out of the area, it may not be possible to do this immediately – in the meantime, respirators or dust masks are better than nothing. You might also want to think about keeping some thick plastic sheeting and duct tape around to seal off your windows and doors, if necessary.
Maps:
Maybe you’ll still have GPS service on your cell phone if something happens, but you shouldn’t count on it if you really want to be prepared. Get a map of your area and go over them carefully before you store it away in your emergency preparedness kit; you’ll want to know what your best escape routes are before something happens.
First Aid Equipment:
Since medical help may be either slow in arriving or completely unavailable, a well stocked first aid kit is an absolute must. You can buy first aid kits from a variety of retailers, but they may vary widely in terms of what’s included. Generally speaking, the bigger the kit, the better off you are, but one thing that most of these kits have in common is that they’re usually designed for emergency aid while medical help is on the way, rather than a serious crisis where no help may be coming at all.
As such, you might find that many commercially available first aid kits don’t include everything that you might want or need if you have to fend for yourself, especially for an extended length of time. The following list includes all of the basics which you’ll want on hand; you can use this as a guide for assembling your own first aid supplies or a checklist to help you decide what to add to a kit you’ve already bought:
Sterile bandages, adhesive bandages and gauze
Antibiotic ointment (Neosporin or the equivalent)
Burn ointment
Antibiotic/antiseptic soap (for cleaning wounds)
Antiseptic towelettes
Bottle of sterile saline solution (for use as eye wash, if needed)
Scissors (for cutting bandages)
Tweezers
Petroleum jelly
Thermometer
Sterile gloves – keep at least a few pairs of these in your first aid kit
Medical supplies, if applicable (blood glucose monitoring equipment, for instance)
Prescription medications – if you take any prescription medications, keep a supply of these on hand in your first aid kit and replace them when they’re starting to get close to their expiration date.
Over the counter medications:
Aspirin or other NSAID pain reliever/fever reducing medication – keep in mind that aspirin should not be given to children under the age of 14; if you have young children or if you’re allergic to aspirin, keep a supply of ibuprofen, acetaminophen or naproxen sodium on hand instead.
Cold and flu medicine
Antacids (not an essential, but nice to have)
Anti-diarrheal medication
Firearms:
Even if you’re not crazy about guns, there are times when you might find it necessary to have one. For instance, if you’re forced to hunt for food or to protect your home from looters, it’s an important thing to have. Consider getting one, learning to use it (safely and responsibly) and keeping it locked in a secure location in your home, just in case you need it in an emergency.
Emergency Preparedness Supplies for Your Car
It’s likely that you will have to leave in search of safety in the event of a disaster and more likely than not, you’ll try to drive out of the area. Because of this, it’s a very good idea to keep some survival gear in your vehicle so that you’re ready to go on a moment’s notice (you’ll also want to bring your go bag and other supplies along, assuming that you do have some time to pack).
Remember that you’re probably not going to be able to call AAA if you have a breakdown while you’re trying to find somewhere safer to stay, so the following list of emergency preparedness supplies to keep in your car also includes things you’ll need if you have to take shelter in your vehicle for a while. Depending on your climate, there are some things that you may or may not actually need to include; obviously, you won’t need some of these items in say, southern California, but they may be necessities in Minnesota. Take your environment into account when you’re getting your emergency supplies together, whether it’s for your car or anywhere else.
Radio: Sure, your car probably has a radio, but you also don’t want to waste a drop of gas in an emergency situation. As we saw in New York City and New Jersey in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, gas rationing could continue for some time after the disaster itself has passed, so it’s best to conserve any way you can. A battery powered, hand cranked or solar powered radio is an excellent way to stay informed about weather conditions and other important information without unnecessarily using gas. Obviously, you’ll want to have some extra batteries in the trunk as well if you’re using a battery powered radio.
Flashlight: You probably already figured out that this would be on the list, but don’t forget to keep one in your car, along with extra batteries. Again, LED flashlights are the best choice here.
First Aid Kit: This should be the same as the first aid kit for your home and just like your home first aid kit, it should include any medications or medical supplies you need.
Matches/Lighters: Whether for warmth or to signal for help, it’s always good to be able to start a fire if you need to. Keep at least one lighter and some matches (preferably water/windproof) in your car for emergencies.
Tea Lights: These small candles can give you a little light in your vehicle at night if needed as well as helping you to attract the attention of potential rescuers if you’re stranded.
Rope/Chain: If you need a tow, you’re going to need this.
Road Salt/Cat Litter/Sand: If you’re in an area where you can reasonably expect ice and/or snow, you should keep a bag of one of these in your trunk. The weight of the bag will give you a little more traction and of course, the contents can help prevent you from getting stuck in ice or snow. You can safely skip this one if you live somewhere where this isn’t a concern.
Swiss Army Knife: Just in case you don’t have time to grab your go bag before you have to get in the car, it’s good to have one of these ultra handy multipurpose tools.
Fire Starting Equipment: If you’re stranded, especially in damp weather, you may need more than just a lighter or matches to get a fire started. Consider keeping some waterproof tinder tabs or a duraflame log in your trunk to make it easier to get a fire going, even when the weather isn’t cooperating.
Extra Gas: A spare can of gas can be a lifesaver. Don’t neglect to keep a (full) can in your vehicle for emergencies.
Emergency Signaling Equipment: Road flares, a loud whistle and a mirror are all must-have items for your vehicle emergency preparedness kit, in case you need to signal for help.
Fold-Up Shovel: A folding shovel is an excellent addition to your vehicle emergency preparedness supplies if you live in a climate where getting stuck in the snow is a possibility. They’re surprisingly compact and there are also models of fold-up shovel which include other handy tools, which makes them well worth considering.
Cell Phone Charger: If you don’t already keep a charger for your cell phone in your glove compartment, get one specifically for keeping in your car. Assuming that you’re still able to make and receive calls, the last thing you want is for your phone to run out of power.
Windshield Scraper
Sleeping Bag/Blankets: If you’re in a cooler climate, these are essential. You can probably get away with lighter ones if you live somewhere relatively warm, but don’t assume that you won’t need them.
Contractor Bags: These take up very little room in your car and have a lot of different uses. They can be used as rain protection or improvised shelter, for starters.
Extra Clothes: A few items of extra clothes, especially warm clothes, are a very good idea. Extra socks, hats and so on are all good choices, especially in a colder climate – obviously, you’ll want to consider the weather in your area when you’re getting these supplies together.
Water: You can’t be sure that you’ll have access to potable water while you’re headed somewhere safer, so make sure to have some in your car. How much you should take is dependent on the size of your household, but the rule of thumb is one gallon per person per day; it’s a good idea to bring enough for at least a couple of days. If you live somewhere that frequently sees the mercury drop below freezing, don’t fill your water containers all the way – otherwise they could burst when the water inside freezes and expands.
Food: Non-perishable food is the name of the game here. You’re not going to be able to pack your car with enough food to last for a terribly long time, so go for calorie dense items like granola bars and dried fruit. If you think you may be using your vehicle as shelter for a longer time, then you might want to think about dried soups (ramen is a good choice here) as well as a mess kit and/or utensils of some kind.
Small Pot or Pan:
Not only can you use this for cooking, but you can also use it to boil water before drinking it to ensure its safety. If you have to survive in the outdoors for any length of time, you’ll be glad that you have this.
Pocket/Go Bag Kits
While it might be easier to take refuge in your home during a disaster, there are a lot of situations where this isn’t going to be possible, so you need to be prepared to leave to find somewhere safe – and you need to be ready to go on very short notice. Because of this, you’ll want to have a small set of survival supplies on hand; a go bag, as it is often called. You might even want to have a small, pocket sized kit ready. Along with a small supply of water and non-perishable food, this could form the basis of a well stocked emergency kit for on the go.
There are small survival kits which you can find at sporting goods stores, some larger department stores and online. However, if you’d prefer to put together your own, the following list of items includes things that you should think about including in your kit:
Emergency Signaling Equipment: It’s always good to be able to signal for help if you need it; a small whistle and a mirror are both good choices.
Compass: You definitely don’t want to end up getting lost in the wilderness while you’re trying to make your way to safety, so try to find a small compass with a luminous dial so you can travel by daylight or under the cover of darkness.
Flashlight: A small flashlight is a survival kit essential. A LED flashlight is best, since they have much longer battery life and you won’t have room for a lot of spare batteries.
Swiss Army Knife: You’re definitely going to need a knife and a Swiss Army knife gives you a variety of other tools as well as a blade; this is a must-have item.
Matches: Actually, these belong in any survival kit, whether it’s in your go bag or along with your home emergency preparedness supplies. Always choose waterproof and windproof matches; conventional matches will only do you so much good in inclement weather. You might also want to bring along a couple of waterproof tinder tabs in case you find yourself needing to start a fire in wet weather.
Wire Saw: A saw can be an incredibly useful tool if you need to survive outdoors. You might need firewood or small tree limbs to improvise a shelter – and a wire saw is incredibly compact. This is something you should strongly consider including in your kit.
Zip Ties: These come in handy for all kinds of things; and they can make it a lot easier to put together shelter on short notice. Definitely include a handful of these in your kit.
Adhesive Bandages: It’s pretty obvious why you might need these.
Chlorine Tablets: You might not have an easy time finding water which is safe to drink, but these little tablets will help you make almost any water potable. Keep at least a dozen of these in your kit, more if you can.
Space Blanket: These compact foil blankets take up very little space, but they’re waterproof and can keep you warm even in pretty cold weather.
A Ziploc Bag: A heavy duty zip-seal bag can serve as a canteen in a pinch. Make sure to get one which is watertight.
Safety Pins: These come in handy for many different things, including improvised fish hooks and making emergency repairs to your clothes, if needed.
Small Magnifying Lens: You can use one of these to start a fire (at least on a sunny day), which makes it a must-have if you have the room for it.
Fishing Line: Not only can you use this for fishing, it’s also great for setting snares for small game or rigging up a lean-to. Twine is another good thing to have with you in your kit, since you can use it for the same purposes.
Bouillon Cubes/Packets: If you’re sweating a lot, you’re losing a lot of salt – bouillon is a great way to get the salt you need to keep your electrolyte balance as well as being an emergency source of food if you’re truly desperate. It definitely couldn’t hurt to have a few bouillon cubes handy.