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Building a Survival kit is simple, and it can save your life or the life of others in an emergency. Survival kits aren’t just for “preppers” or outdoors enthusiasts. The best way to remove anxiety about the unknown is to have basic preparation covered.
In the case of a major earthquake in the Pacific Northwest, for example, FEMA could take months to respond. While that is an extreme example, the common guideline utilized by most Emergency Management Professionals is to be prepared to survive with no assistance for 3 days (72 hours).
Regardless of your situation and what you decide to do, make sure you are familiar with your supplies and ready to adapt if your situation changes.
Things to Consider:
Are you sheltering in place, or do you need to be portable?
Maybe home won’t be safe, and you need to go to a relative’s or a temporary shelter. Portability will be a concern if you’re on the move. You may not want to have weeks of supplies with you if you find yourself walking to a safe place.
Am I preparing for just me or do I have family members or pets too?
Consider medications, additional food & water. Personally, I have a dog with epilepsy who needs medication daily to prevent seizures.
Do I have basics covered while I’m on the go, so I can get back to “home base”?
Having a basic, pre-made kit in your car may be the best way to go. This will cover basic survival needs if you’re stuck somewhere without services for a day or two.
Shelter in Place Supplies:
Non-Perishable Meals: While you should keep a few weeks’ worth of canned food on hand in case of a natural disaster, having extended shelf-life food that is safe and easy to prepare is a great idea.
Comprehensive First-Aid Kit: Crucial for more severe injuries with enough supplies to take care of the whole family & neighbors. Consider stocking it with common antibiotics, medications that you may need.
Water Purification Tablets: It’s great to keep water stored on hand. But, if you’re sheltering in place for weeks, you may need more water and that could mean drinking some questionable water. Ensuring you can purify your water stores is crucial.
Games & Books: You may be without electricity for an extended period. In an increasingly digital world, don’t forget to keep some cards, board games or good books around in case you need to boost your mental health with some fun.
Comprehensive, Pre-Assembled Survival Kits:
I generally don’t recommend going with a pre-assembled kit since they are not tailored to your needs and quality can be a concern.
That said, this kit is a great option for 2 people for 72 hours of sustainability including food & drinking water.
Based on the contents of the kit, I’d mostly recommend this for people who plan to stay in an urban/suburban area with limited “hiking” in wilderness areas but could be supplemented to meet those needs.
Comprehensive, Tailored Survival Kits:
These are my recommendations for what every Survival Kit should include. Your situation may vary and you should compare this kit to your Emergency Plan and be prepared to adapt.
A Good Backpack: No matter if you choose an old hiking backpack that you already have, or you’re going to buy a new one – make sure it’s comfortable to carry all day and has some spare room for unexpected additional supplies, changes of clothing, etc.
Somewhere between 35 liters and 55 liters is good for 1 to 3 people with basic supplies, food for 72 hours.
Water - LifeStraw: This is a must and is a small price to pay for clean water. Notice that I did not include drinking water in my capacity for my backpack. This is because I carry a LifeStraw and additional water containers.
Since I’m more experienced in rationing water, I’d rather be intentional about how much water I store and need and save weight and space in my pack. You may choose to also carry Emergency Water Packets, but I’d still have a LifeStraw as a backup regardless.
Emergency Thermal Blankets: Hypothermia is a real danger. Stay warm.
Emergency Poncho: No survival kit should be without them. Stay dry and warm.
Thermal Bivvy: This is an awesome, packable way to shelter yourself from the elements and stay warm.
Arc Plasma Lighter: Wind & waterproof lighters are superior to traditional lighters. These lighters work great if you need to start a fire to stay warm or cook food.
Fire Starter: It’s always a good idea to have some fire starter rope/wick. You can use it with a ferro rod or a lighter.
Individual First Aid Kit: This IFAK includes some important items that should not be left out of any good survival kit, including a combat tourniquet and a splint roll.
LED Headlamps: I prefer my headlamps to be alkaline battery-powered rather than rechargeable – if you forget to recharge the batteries, you’re stuck in the dark. Don’t forget a couple sets of spare batteries too. I’d make sure you have at least 2 headlamps for other people in your group or if one fails.
Shovel & Axe Multi-Tool: This is a good choice for the price. Useful for chopping wood for a fire and digging a hole for a fire pit.
Multi-Tool w/ Pliers: This is a great multi-tool with a built-in fire starter & safety whistle which I think is neat. A pair of pliers can be extremely useful
Compass: It’s also a good idea to carry a map of your home state. If you’re traveling somewhere new, get a map for that area. If your GPS/phone runs out of power, you’ll be grateful for having a physical map.
Good Survival Knife: Many “survival knives” are cheap all-in-one tools but do their main job poorly. Gerber is known for quality, affordable knives with a Lifetime Warranty.
Folding Saw: Extremely useful for clearing your path if a small tree falls over the roadway, or for cutting a small tree for firewood.
Paracord: Need I say more? Every survival kit must have paracord. It has a ton of uses.
Glow Sticks: A good backup lighting source.
KN95 Masks: Not just useful for global pandemics, if air quality is bad from wildfires or any other reason, protecting your respiratory system is critical.
Wet Wipes: More of a “nice to have” – being able to get clean without a shower can be a nice mental boost when dealing with a major disruption to your life. Plus, these are biodegradable so if you’re in nature – you can dig a hole and bury them.
Outdoor Survival and First Aid Pocket Guides: I personally carry these guides in my survival bag. Even if you have a ton of survival knowledge, these can be useful if you become incapacitated, and someone is assisting you. They are waterproof and pack small.
Cooking “Mess Kit”: Everything (except gas canisters) you need to cook and eat a meal.
A Few Additional Considerations to Include:
Currency in Small Denominations: Credit cards may not be an option and often community members need to engage in direct commerce during disasters. Make sure you have some cash.
Spare Eyeglasses: If you’re like me, having an extra pair of eyeglasses in your bag can be a lifesaver.
Changes of Clothes & Socks: Having dry socks is a big deal. You go a while without being able to do laundry, pack some extra clothes.
Medications: I mentioned this towards the beginning, but it’s a good idea to take stock of medications and if possible, stockpile some extra to have in case pharmacies are affected.
Having quality survival supplies that fit the needs of you and your family is crucial to being adaptable and making it through a natural disaster or major disruptive event. Have ideas? Something I missed? Contact me!
