72 Hour Kits for Home Survival
Monday, February 22nd, 2010As the snow continues to fall in Dallas, and we surpass the previous records for snowfall, I realize this could be a problem. I never thought about snow being a potential survival situation here, until today. Do you have a survival kit for the unexpected?
What if I lose the electricity due to downed power lines? The temperature outside is in the 30’s and my home would probably start getting cold real quick. No worries, I have gas heat. Too bad the fan that moves the air is electric. My stove is electric and I don’t have a cord of wood stacked outside for the fireplace. Are you beginning to see that I could be in potential survival situation?
Since I am at home and have shelter, I will plan on staying in my home for now. With a home survival bag, I can concentrate on the tools and items I need without the worry of shelter. The items I need will help me get through the next couple days if needed. Here are the basic items I want to have available.
Water – Two liters per person per day is the recommended minimum amount to have available. Assuming that the running water has stopped because of the power outage, your choices could become limited. Having bottled water is a good option if you remember to rotate it occasionally and have enough stored. There are also other types of packaged water that are designed for years of storage with an expiration date printed on them. You might consider melting the snow, but contamination could be a problem.
Food – Not only is this necessary to keep our energy up, it can also be a great comfort. When packing for a disaster bag, consider foods that have a long shelf life and can be prepared with minimal effort. Canned foods are a good option as long as you aren’t relying on an electric can opener. MRE and freeze-dried options can provide a wide variety of options with little to no preparation. I keep some of both in my kit because of the variety.
Shelter – Although I am staying in the home, the temperature might be falling. Make sure you have some extra blankets or sleeping bags available, enough for everyone. Although these don’t need to be in your survival kit, they should be readily available.
Tools – Even if your garage is full of tools, could you use them without power? Consider the following as a minimum and keep them in your survival bag. A multi-tool can be used as a can opener and other unexpected situations. A set of flashlights, candles or glowsticks can provide the lighting you need and provide comfort at night. I use crank-type flashlights, in addition to candles and glowsticks so I don’t have to rely on batteries. Matches or lighters are essential for starting a fire or lighting candles. Be sure to place matches in a container to keep them dry and ready for use. A radio is also a great idea for keeping up with news/weather information. Just like my flashlight, I have a radio that uses a crank for power. This eliminates the need for extra batteries. As a final item, I like to keep a small notepad for talking/leaving notes.
The suggestions above are just that. You should use them as a guideline when creating your own suvival kit. No matter which items you choose, make sure you place them in a good container. This container can be a bag or something similar. Just make sure it can be found, even in the dark.
Discover more about the items you need in case of an emergency now! There are many provisions required for a preparedness kit to be effective. Having a disaster kit can protect you and your family in case of a disaster!

