72-Hour Kits-Why You Need Them
Don’t Be Scared…Be Prepared
Most people wouldn’t even consider driving off without their children secured in their carseat or seatbelt. People don’t buckle their kids up because the “think” or they “know” they are going to get into an accident. They do it just in case. They do it because it’s the safest thing to do for their child. Do you know you are far more likely to loose power in your home than you are to get in a car accident and yet, most people do not have a 72 hour plan and provisions. Having a plan and provisions is not admission that something bad is going to happen. Having a plan and provisions is smart and empowers you to take care of you and your family ‘IF” something does happen.
I’m sure you’ve heard of the Hurricane Katrina evacuees and the hundreds of thousands of evacuees affected by the Southern California wildfires. Very weird weather this winter, we even had a tornado in SW Washington. All winter we have heard time and time again about the 1000’s of families without power for days on end. Now we are having earthquakes in the midwest. What and where is going to be our next catastrophe.
In this day and age anything can happen at anytime, unexpected power outages, unseasonable storms, chemical leaks, criminal activity, terrorist activity. Are you ready to evacuate??? Are you prepared to be without power for hours, days or even weeks???
Ask yourself these questions:
If you need to evacuate your home, do you have your 72 Hour Grab & Go Kits readily available for your family and your pets? Do you know where to go? Where are your important documents?
What emergency supplies should you always keep in your automobile?
If you lose power, do you have your 72 Hour Kits readily available for your home?
Are your First Aid Kits available and in date?
Do you have enough prescription medication on hand to get you through a crises?
If you answered NO to any of those questions please take the time to read my other pages. We will help you get prepared for FREE. That’s right we are not going to try to sell you anything.
72-Hour Kits For Your Home
72 Hours worth of supplies for your home is the absolute minimum. Some emergency planning sites are now recommending six days worth of supplies. You decide what’s best for you.
You need these in the event you lose power or for some reason can’t leave your home. In December 1996 I went to Eastern Washington to visit my family for Christmas. On December 26th a terrible ice storm pounded Washington and Oregon with inches of ice. We were lucky enough that we didn’t lose power, but due to the ice, the Interstates were closed for four days and therefore there were no deliveries being made to the grocery stores. By the time we could get to the grocery stores the shelves were bare. There was no food left. So, even if you don’t lose power you need to have at least 3 days worth of prepared foods, such as chili, stews and soups on hand at all times.
72 Hour Kits can be purchased on-line or you can put them together yourself. Pick a cool dry place like a cupboard or closet to store your 72 Hour Kits. Stock it then leave it alone. Check it every 6 months to make sure nothing is damaged or has expired. If you use something from your kit, replace it right away. You can store the water at the bottom of a closet or under the bed. This is the MINIMUM you should have on hand in your 72 Hour Kits for your home.
FOOD & WATER
Water-At least 1 gallon per person per day
Canned Foods - Soups, stews, chili, ravioli, spaghetti - figure one can per adult per meal. I like Cambells Chunky and Progresso. No water to add and they also have pop-tops.
Protiens - Canned Tuna, Vienna Sausages, Canned Chicken
Snacks - Crackers, cold cereals, nuts, dried fruit, granola bars-whatever you like
Instant Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat - individual packages
Juices and/or Crystal Lite-for those non water drinkers
Tea and/or instant coffee-I am a coffee lover and have a small French Press from Starbucks. Add regular grounds and hot water and you have a great cup of coffee.
Miscellaneous Items
Small Folding stove - I love the Coghlan Flat Fold Stove
Fuel for Stove - I like the Eco Fuel fuel canister - no fumes, non-toxic and easy to use indoors
Small pot for stove (1 qt)
Manual Can Opener
Prescription Medications - Keep at least three days worth of prescription medications. Do no mix meds and keep them in their labeled container. Rotate you meds when you refill your prescription. ALWAYS KEEP MEDICATIONS OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.
Utensils - I also keep sturdy paper plates, bowls, cups and silverware on hand. This reduces the amount of dirty dishes piling up.
Wet wipes- Keeping a good supply of these on hand will reduce the amount of water needed for washing up.
If you have children you may want to have some board games, card games, puzzles or coloring books available to ward off boredom.
Flashlights-I like the First Alert PF0302 rechargeable flashlight. You plug it into an outlet. If the power goes off the light comes on. It acts like an emergency light. It also has a hand crank to recharge if necessary. There are many models. They are affordable and readily available at local hardware stores, Amazon and Ebay. Although candles are cool, they can be very dangerous. Keep them away from flammables, children and pets. If using them during a power outage, don’t carry them around.
Battery Operated Radio-This will help you stay informed. I like the Freeplay models. They are durable and easy to use. Mine has a hand crank for easy recharging. Try Freeplayenergy.com.
Cash -$20 in small bills and a roll of quarters. Remember if there is no power, the ATM’s won’t work. Some markets may be open on a cash only basis. Some payphones may be operable and the quarters can be used to contact friends and family. A pre-paid calling card is also a good idea.
First Aid Kit-Every home should have a basic First Aid Kit hand.
Fire Extinguisher- Every home should have at least one working fire extinguisher readily available..
Personalize your home’s 72-Hour kit to meet the needs of YOUR family. If you have pets add pet food. If you have a baby add diapers, baby food, formula or whatever you think you will need. If you have someone with special needs. Make sure they have what they need.
If you lose power for more than a few hours, eat your perishables from the refrigerator before you open canned food. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as long as possible to keep cold air in. Food Safety Tip: If in doubt throw it out!!!! Don’t make yourself sick.
If you lose power in the winter and you don’t have electric heat, bundle up to maintain your body temperatures. Close all windows and doors to keep heat in. Block off all drafts using duct tape or blankets. Light a fire in the fireplace or woodstove if you have one. DO NOT LIGHT A BBQ OR OUTDOOR HEATER INSIDE. This can cause a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. If you lose power in the summer close all windows, curtains and doors during the day to help keep the inside cool. While maintaining your personal security, open windows and doors at night to allow cooler air inside.
What about your phone? Does your phone plug into the power outlet? If so, you may want to pick up a basic old fashion phone like a Slimline. Just because you lose power, doesn’t mean you will necessarily lose your phone service. Even if your phone has a battery backup the battery may not last as long as the power outage. Having a basic phone that doesn’t utilize electricity may allow you to maintain communication with emergency services and friends and family. Slimline phones are cheap and still readily available on Ebay.com, Amazon.com and Buy.com. Keep a call list by your phone. Emergency numbers, friends and family. I don’t know about you, but if I ever lose my cell phone I’m in trouble. I’m not sure I could remember my husbands number.
If you are on city water, loosing power does not necessarily mean you will lose water right away. If you lose power and still have water pressure, fill up a bathtub with water. This water is for flushing toilets. When a toilet needs to be flushed, dump water into the tank. When the tank is full….flush. This will help maintain a stink free bathroom. DO NOT DRINK THIS WATER.
Just remember….no electricity means…no microwave, no electric stove top, no TV, no electric heat, no lights. Assess you situation and plan accordingly.
If money is tight you don’t have to do this all in one shopping trip. Make a list and pick up a can or two of something every time you go to the store. Keep an eye on the sales and check the thrift stores for items as well.
72-Hour Grab & Go Kits
There are a variety of reasons that may require you to evacuate your home. Gas leaks, fires, storms and flooding are just a few examples that might require you to leave your home in a hurry. In my case, we have an active volcano in our back yard. You just never know.
There may seem to be some duplication with the 72-Hour Kits For Your Home and the 72-Hour Grab & Go Kits. I recommend you keep them separate and independent. There may be a time when you have to evacuate after you have started utilizing your 72-Hour Kits For Your Home. Stay out of the Grab & Go Kits unless it’s an emergency.
In the event you need to evacuate your home each member of your family should have a 72-Hour Grab & Go Kit. The pack needs to be readily available and easy to carry. It needs to be personalized for that person.
Keep in mind, in the event of a wide spread emergency, it may take time for emergency aid organizations and emergency shelters to get emergency provisions distributed. Even if you evacuate to a friend or relative, it’s best to be prepared.
First, get a backpack for each member of your family that can carry one. Backpacks are affordable and readily available. Make sure they are durable and small enough that your child can carry it when packed. JanSport makes a great affordable backpack and they can be found everywhere. Put a name tag on each backpack. Luggage tags are great for this. If your child is too small to carry a backpack, pack their items in your backpack. You are carrying for two so make your items count and make sure you can carry it.
WHAT TO PUT IN EACH GRAB & GO KIT
Each child’s backpack should have an emergency contact list and current family photo inside the backpack. It should have the child’s name and date of birth, address, guardian’s names and contact info, the name and contact info for a friend or family member out-of-state, any medical conditions, any medications that must be administered. This is necessary in the event you and your child are separated. The out-of-state contact is like a rally point for your family. Although local phones may not be working, you may be able to call out of state. You may be able to be reunited more quickly via your out of state contact. Be sure to keep this information current.
Cash -$20 in small bills, a roll of quarters and a pre-paid phone card. Remember if there is no power, the ATM’s won’t work and cell towers may be down. Some markets may be open on a cash only basis. Some pay phones may be operable and the quarters or the phone card can be used to contact friends and family.
Prescription Medications- Keep at least three days worth of prescription medications. Do no mix meds and keep them in their labeled container. Rotate you meds when you refill your prescription. ALWAYS KEEP MEDICATIONS OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.
Extra Cell Phone Charger
Contact List - A printed list of important phone numbers and addresses for your use. Include local emergency numbers other than 911.
Water- at least 5- 20oz bottles of water in each adult pack. I know this is less than the 8-8 oz glasses you are supposed to drink per day but water is heavy. Conserve on consumption, but don’t get dehydrated. Keep the emptied bottles and refill them with clean drinking water as soon as possible. Keep in mind children require less water than adults. 6-8oz bottles of water may be enough for your child. If you need water to make formula for a baby, pack accordingly. You decide what you need.
Rain Poncho-Make sure it is big enough to go over a winter coat and the backpack. This will make sure everything stays dry even in the rain. These can be found at any sporting goods store, Wal-Mart and Emergency Essentials.
Emergency Blanket or Bag-Also known as a space blanket. Small and lightweight it reflects up to 80% of your body heat back to you. Can be found at any sporting goods store, Wal-Mart and Emergency Essentials.
Food- Enough for 72 hours. Granola bars, cereal bars, crackers, protein bars, nuts, dried fruit, beef jerky. Maybe some gum and mints. Your space is limited so make the most of your food. Make sure your child will eat it. BumbleBee came out with a great Tuna and Chicken salad . I added those to our packs. They were $1 at Dollar Tree.
Wet Wipes- These will come on handy for washing hands and faces.
Hand Sanitizer-A small bottle of hand sanitizer will help reduce the risk of illness.
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Toilet Paper-when one of your rolls at the house gets to the half used point, remove the cardboard core, flatten it and put it in a ziplock baggy. I actually vacuume sealed mine, flattened a whole roll of toilet paper flat!!
If you have a female that has her monthly menstruation cycle, add feminine protection.
If you have a child that needs GoodNites, add them to their pack.
Towel- A medium weight bath towel or beach towel. This towel can be used for so many things, naturally a towel, a pillow for your head or butt, an additional blanket, to protect an injury. Make sure it is clean, roll it up small and tight and secured with a string or use a Space Bag.
Clothing-I like sweats. Buy them a couple sizes bigger so you can layer your clothing if necessary. Roll them up small and tight. Also, add an extra pair of socks, underwear, and gloves. A stocking cap is essential as most of your body heat is lost from your head. A spacebag is awesome for your clothing and towel. It keeps them compact and dry. They are very affordable and can be found at Organize.com, Spacebag.com, Ebay.com and most big retail stores.
Flashlight-A small LED flashlight is important. LED gives you more light using less battery. A small one that shakes to recharge or has a hand crank recharger is ideal.
Whistle with lanyard-This can help draw the attention of emergency services if you need help. This can be picked up at most sporting goods stores.
First Aid Kit-Adult packs should have a basic first aid kit. You can put it together yourself and put it in a ZipLock bag. Personalize this for your family. My husband has to have Blistex and I need antacids. What does your family have to have?
Entertainment-Each backpack should have something age appropriate to combat boredom. Card games, coloring books, a novel.
If you have an infant, make sure you have enough diapers, formula, food and bottles.
If you have a family member with special needs, make sure there is a plan in place and their needs are met.
If you have a pet, make sure you have food and water for them. Keep in mind that most emergency shelters (for people) do not accept pets.
Ziplock bags are great. They will help keep your items organized and dry. Ziplock has added new vacume system bag to their line. Cheaper than buying a FoodSaver or Seal-a-Meal. I found them cheapest at Wal-Mart.
You may want to make up an inventory checklist for each pack. That way when you check it every six months or so, you will know right away if something is missing and needs replaced.
While we are on the subject of evacuations….
Do you have all your important papers in one easy to find place. Birth Certificates, Passports, Insurance Policies and Marriage Certificates should be organized and easy to “Grab & Go.”
Do you know what your daycare’s emergency plan is?
What will your daycare do with your child if you can’t get there?
Do you know what your school’s emergency plan is?
What will your school do with your child if you can’t get there?
Do you know what your employer’s emergency plan is?
Does you child know what to do if they are home alone and you can’t get there?
If you have to evacuate do you know all the routes out of town? Note: You can’t get out of town on an empty tank of gas and fuel may not be readily available during an evacuation. Get in the habit of refilling when the tank is 1/2 empty.
Do you know where your emergency shelter’s are?
If you have pets, what is your plan for them? Most shelter’s will not accept pets.
If you do evacuate your home, leave a note somewhere where people can find it telling them where you went.
Shelter Safety – I want to take a moment and talk about shelter safety. Do you remember the horror stories about what happened in the Super Dome in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, assaults, rapes, robberies. Do not let your children out of your site for one second. Never leave your backpacks unattended. Keep in mind that the majority of the people at the shelter are not nearly as prepared as you are. Keep what you have in your backpacks to yourself. Be aware of your surroundings. Remember, your responsibility is to your family first and then others.
72-Hour Kits For Your Car
Whether you are taking a road trip or just a trip to the mall, you never know when an emergency will arise. Being caught in an unexpected storm. Being stuck on the interstate due to an accident. Getting lost on a road trip or having unexpected car trouble. It happens. A few simple preparations can protect your family and make these situations less dangerous. There are many websites that sell emergency packs for vehicles. Emergency Essentials, ReadySetSafe.com. But you can put one together quickly and affordably.
Water-ALWAYS carry a couple gallons of bottled water in your vehicle. Cycle your water regularly. Watch for overheating in the summertime and freezing in the winter.
Blanket-A warm blanket can come in handy for a variety of reasons. Fold it small and tight, put it in a plastic garbage bag and just forget about it.
Food - Pick foods that will not be affected by temperature extremes such as crackers, granola bars and so on. Rotate these foods on a regular basis.
Wetwipes-For a quick clean up.
Toilet Paper - It’s worth a millions dollars when you need it and don’t have it.
A basic car safety kit is always advisable-At the very least it should have a:
Flashlight-preferably one that doesn’t use batteries such as a handcrank
Can of Flix-a-flat
Sturdy gloves
Duct Tape
Utility Knife
Rain poncho-one for each member of your family
High Intensity Light Sticks
First Aid Kit
Waterproof matches
Road flares
Small shovel
Jumper cables
