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Being prepared means being equipped with the proper supplies you may need in the event of an emergency or disaster. Keep your supplies in an easy-to-carry emergency preparedness kit that you can use at home or take with you in case you must evacuate. Take the short quiz below to test your knowledge, then scroll down for our full list of recommended supplies.
Additional supplies to keep at home or in your survival kit based on the types of disasters common to your area:. Anatomy of a First Aid Kit. We like the gravity-fed design because it's hands-free, so it's great for conserving your energy in an emergency situation. Filters like these are also great backups for your home water storage. When an emergency shuts down the power grid, it also shuts down most grocery stores and restaurants. In an emergency situation, when it comes to food, easier is better.
In your preparedness kit, include easy-to-eat foods like energy bars, beef jerky, nuts, and dried fruit. But don't just grab whatever is cheapest—be sure to keep foods on hand that you and your family like. Eating unappetizing food is a real morale-killer when you're already under pressure. When you're planning your food, be sure to include food for babies and pets as well, if needed. If you want to expand your kit to include options for hot meals, canned foods are inexpensive don't forget to put a can opener in your kit , or you can get freeze-dried meal pouches for a lighter, more portable option.
If you want to stock up on calories without breaking the bank, food ration bars are easy to toss in any emergency kit. Pro tip: To keep your food supply fresh, plan to eat from it and replace what you've eaten about once every six months. A good guideline is to check your emergency food supplies every time daylight saving time begins or ends. We usually rely on local news, internet, and cellphones to stay in touch with what's happening, but these forms of communication often get less reliable in a disaster situation.
In an emergency, knowing what's going on around you could mean the difference between life and death. Having a NOAA weather radio in your preparedness kit will keep you informed of changes in weather, evacuations, and other important emergency information.
Many weather radios now come as handy combination devices that also include lights and cellphone chargers, reducing the number of electronics you'll have to keep in your kit. For safety reasons, it's important to also have easily accessible individual lights on hand for every member of the household.
If the power goes out, they'll illuminate automatically so you're not fumbling around in the dark, and they're always charged and ready to use. Pro tip: Look for a weather radio that can run off non-battery power using a hand crank or solar panels, like the Kaito 5-Way Powered Voyager Radio.
Disasters aren't called disasters for no reason—the damage typically isn't limited to landscapes and buildings. When all is said and done, you or someone you love may need some patching up, and you want to be prepared for the job.
Like the other items on our list, it's a good idea to build your first aid kit with what you already have. Gather bandages, gauze, antibiotic ointment, and pain medications to create a basic just-in-case kit. Gradually add items like burn cream, elastic bandages, allergy medicine, tourniquets, and other first aid items.
Supplement your first aid kit as needed with extra prescription medications, and if you have kids, be sure to add in kids' medicines too like liquid acetaminophen. Pro tip: Label everything clearly so you won't have to hunt for essential items when every second counts. Put everything in waterproof containers, especially items with adhesive. We like the Surviveware first aid kit because it comes fully stocked and already has everything labeled and in waterproof packaging. With water, food, communication, light, and medical needs covered, the next thing you need to worry about is keeping yourself warm and dry.
Every emergency kit should include at least one extra set of clothes for each person using the kit, along with a reflective emergency blanket. The blanket can be used as an emergency shelter if needed, but you may also want to include a waterproof tarp for extra coverage.
Pro tip: Paracord can help turn blankets and tarps into shelters and it has a variety of other handy uses , so it's good to have as part of your emergency kit. You may think that hygiene can take a back seat in a disaster scenario, and while it often does, don't underestimate the reassuring effects of cleanliness and comfort when you're under stress. Keep baby wipes, personal hygiene items, and garbage bags on hand to keep everyone feeling their best and to avoid sickness that can come from unsanitary conditions.
Pro tip: A few paper plates and plastic utensils will make cleaning up after meals easier, and having some simple card games and favorite books in your emergency kit can help keep everyone's spirits up. The rest of the items in your kit will depend on what you're planning for. If you live in an earthquake or tornado zone, you'll want to have tools to turn off your utilities and a whistle to call for help if you're trapped.
If you think you could have an emergency situation where you'd have to evacuate, put insurance papers, passports, birth certificates, and other important documents in a waterproof container that you can grab easily. Consider your personal situation and plan accordingly. Pro tip: Keeping some extra cash on hand with your kit is a good way to make sure you'll be able to buy any last-minute essentials including gasoline for a sudden evacuation even if power goes out and ATMs and credit card machines are down.
Emergency preparedness can feel like a daunting task, but taking a few simple steps now can save you a lot of headaches later on. Check Ready. A watertight container like a large storage tub is a good option for most emergency survival kits.
Unsurprisingly, everyone likes a Leatherman , a brand that also came out strong on our list of the best multi-tools. Coyne likes the Supertool And John Ramey of the prepper site theprepared. For most preppers, recommending a first-aid kit off the shelf would be like Julia Child telling you her favorite flavor of Pop-Tart.
Whatever first aid kid you decide on, Mike Glover, crisis management and response expert and host of the popular FieldCraft Survival podcast , recommends you always maintain a day supply of over-the-counter medicine like painkillers , cold, allergy, anti-diarrheal medications as well as any prescription medications.
Most of our experts recommended Kaito shortwave radios. Waterproof matches are the best matches, though our experts say lighters are better than matches.
Rogue recommends carrying both, in case either fails. Hawke, Coyne, and R. Ramey is the one naysayer when it comes to devices that use solar panels. One thing all of our experts agree on is that whatever batteries you get, they should be rechargeable. Coyne prefers the Montbell brand. No big surprise here: Everyone likes wool.
A surprising number of emergency checklists suggest bringing a puzzle to give yourself something fun to do. Also, as they both point out, you can get cards with survival info on the back, turning your diversion into a mini cheat sheet.
Our experts all approach the food question a little differently. Homesteader Lisa Sutton and the popular YouTuber, Prepper Potpourri both Michiganers, both grandmothers , are big fans of canning and dehydrating. These processes take a little know-how, but are ultimately very practical and sustainable , especially if you grow your own food.
If you want more variety and are thinking of supplementing your stock with freeze-dried food, Survival Mom, Prepper Potpourri, and David at Preppers Survive like Mountainhouse.
Jessica Kellog of the City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department recommends having one gallon of water per person per day for seven days, but R. There are many ways to purify water. It can also be used as a straw alone, with a plastic bottle, or with in-line hydration bladders.
If you need a smaller option, Survival Mom uses and recommends the Sawyer Mini. The consensus seems to be for Heatsheets , which our experts say are the strongest and lightest options available. McGill suggests getting this option , which is sized for two, making it easier to stay covered.
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