Disaster Kit
An important part of
preparing for problems
is having the tools and supplies necessary to hold out until help arrives.
Most of the people reading this live in industrialized nations with a decent infrastructure.
In the event of a disaster, help will arive ... sooner or later.
You just need to hold out, and perhaps render aid to those less fortunate than yourself,
until the Big Guys show up.
Home Disaster Kit
My ideal of the home disaster kit is something that can take care of all of your family's needs for at least one week.
An important part of this is the
Home First Aid Kit.
Put these in a place where they can be easily reached in an emergency:
- Flashlight, with fresh batteries
- Wrench or tools to turn off gas & water
- Fire extinguisher (ABC type)
Non-perishable food and water to last one week:
- Canned food: meats, fruits, and vegetables - best if do not require cooking
- Juice, milk and soup - canned or ultrapastuerized
- High energy foods: trail mix, granola bars
- Snack foods: peanut butter, jelly, and crackers; cookies, hard candy, instant coffee, tea
- Food for those with special needs: elderly people, babies
- Spices: salt, pepper, sugar
- Vitamins
A special word about water:
Keep one gallon per person, per day, for one week.
4 people = 28 gallons.
Treat with preservative.
Dump and refill periodically, depending on the preservative.
Tools:
- Batteries, spare
- Manual can opener
Cleanliness and sanitation:
- Household chlorine bleach
- Plastic bucket, with tight lid
- Plastic garbage bags
- Plastic sheeting
- Soap
- Toilet paper
Each person in the house should have a personal kit with:
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- One complete change of clothing
- Cold-weather clothing
- Prescription medication to last one week
And for your pets:
- Pet food
- Litter
- Bedding
- Prescription medication to last one week
Disaster Kit In The Car
My ideal of the home disaster kit is something that get you to safety if a disaster happens while you are away from home.
An important part of this is the
First Aid Kit In The Car.
This kit is actually dual-purpose.
If an earthquake hits while you are at work, this kit will get you home, where you can shelter until big help arrives.
If you have an automobile accident, the kit can help you on the spot.
Consider things like:
- Flashlight, with fresh batteries
- Tool kit
- Fire extinguisher (ABC type)
- Food, shelf-stable "lifeboat" supplies
- Water, shelf-stable "lifeboat" supplies
Document Safe
The main disaster kits are concerned with saving your life and keeping your health.
But once the immediate threats are over, you will have to put your life back together.
And a big part of that is documentation.
I recommend a small, portable fireproof repository for documents.
Portable because if evacuated, you should take it with you.
Fireproof because disaster might strike your house while you are away.
Things to include:
- For real property:
- Insurance policies.
- Mortgage papers.
- Deeds to any real property.
- For vehicles:
- Titles to vehicles.
- Copy of recent registration.
- Loan information.
- Identification documents: birth certificates, naturalization papers, copy of driver’s license, social security card, green card, professional credentials.
- Marriage licenses, prenup, divorce decrees.
- Trusts, wills, power of attorney.
- List of bank accounts, credit cards, and contact information for the institutions.
- List of investments, 401(k), IRAs, and contact information for the institutions.
- Cherished family photos.
- Digital photos of high-value property, for insurance.
Also, consider a duplicate set of documents, stored elsewhere.
For the most important papers (e.g. birth certificates), consider certified copies.