Selecting an emergency/disaster kit is not as easy as one might think. There are so many different types and so many different options to consider. In this writing, I will discuss some of the basic things to consider.
- Size of Kit: Generally, it is recommended that your kit be able to sustain you for at least 72 hours. That could mean enough food, water, and supplies to be able to provide for everyone using the kit for at least 72 hrs. It is recommended that you have a gallon of water per-day-per-person, and 1200 calories of food per-day-per-person. But the size can be reduced by including supplies that allow you to forage for food, water, and shelter rather than stocking it all. Most of us will not be in a wilderness situation: there will be homes, businesses, etc. that you can access for supplies. You need a water carrier, water filtration &/or treatment, and some tools to allow you to break into where the food and water may be.
If you live close to a designated community shelter, you may only need 24 hours of supplies. You will definitely want some water per person for the immediate disaster aftermath. Surviving a disaster is a thirsty business! It will take some time to get organized, find and treat injuries, and listen to the radio for instructions. You should have 24 hours of supplies to cover this situation. - Access and Portability:
You would not believe how often I have heard “we have everything we need already; for camping and such”. When asked where there gear is, the reply is usually something like: “I think some is in the attic, some is in the basement, and I think some is in a cabinet under the sink”. That is not an Emergency Kit. You will not likely have time to conduct a scavenger hunt to find everything you need. You should have separate gear stored all together in its own designated container(s).
Will your attic be accessible? Will it even still be there? Will your basement be accessible? Or will it be filled with your attic? Careful consideration must be given to where to store your disaster kit. Pick somewhere you think will be accessible in the worst-case disaster scenario. It is generally a good idea that your emergency kit also be portable. Garbage cans are often recommended as a way to store emergency gear. But, will it be too heavy to move? What if the strongest member of the household is injured and a child, perhaps, has to move it? Putting it on wheels, having a hand truck stored with it, or breaking it up into smaller containers are some ideas for dealing with this issue.
See Grab & Run Case or Rolling Trunk for samples of cases. - Types of Emergency Kits:
Design and type of emergency kit is not really a separate issue from size, access, and portability. They all work together to define what you need. However, there are some basic types of kits that may help you figure it out.
Road Emergency Kit: The Road or Travel Emergency Kit should be in every car. It is targeted to the kind of emergencies you might have while traveling in your vehicle. Jumper cables, tow strap, spare fuses, road flares, and warning lights are a few of the basics you will want. But, if there is any chance you may be stuck somewhere for a while, like in snow crossing mountains, you will also want food, water, extra blankets, and fire starters. A good basic vehicle emergency kit is one like the Benton County Vehicle Emergency Kit
Evacuation Kit: If the type of disaster you are planning for would most likely necessitate your leaving the area as soon as possible, you need an evacuation kit. An example would be in a Tsunami Zone. That means you want 24 hours of supplies stored in a backpack, suitcase, or duffle bag stored somewhere you can get it and get out quickly. A front closet, the front of the garage, are some ideas. An RV is actually an excellent mobile emergency kit! You can also store your supplies in the trunk of your car so that it is always ready and with you wherever you are. You will want to be sure to include spare clothes and a hygiene kit, as you may be spending a considerable time in a shelter with a lot of other people.
Grab & Run Kit: If the type of disaster you are planning for has the risk of your home or building collapsing (e.g. earthquake or tornado) you will want a Grab & Run Kit. This is similar to an evacuation kit, but you will want 72 hours of supplies, so it is likely larger. You may want to include supplies allowing you to live outdoors for a time, as your home may not be livable and your designated shelters may not be accessible. A suitcase or foot locker with wheels located in a front closet or front of the garage may be the answer. Some have a separate backpack for each family member to make the kits portable. And, as with the Evacuation Kit, having it in the trunk of your car(s) or in an RV could be your solution.
See Grab & Run Kit for a sample of a Grab and Run kit.
Shelter in Place Kit: Many disaster scenarios involve the need to shelter in place. Your home may not be damaged, or only moderately damaged, but you may not have power, water, heat, etc. You may need to “live” there for an extended time before you are rescued or the situation is resolved. Terrorist attack with gas or viral agents may be one such situation. In this situation you can have a larger kit, as you would not need to move it. But, you may want such items as plastic and duct tape, N-95 rated dust masks (anti-viral), and water purifiers. Note that the plastic and duct tape for toxic situations is not intended as a long-term thing. You could suffocate if you shut yourself in with no air circulation! The plastic and duct tape is also useful for patching leaks or making temporary rain coats. The Family Care Kit is an example of a kit that can be used either for Shelter in Place, or for Grab and Run.
more to come...
