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It started when the kids were babies. It was my fear that we would get stranded in the car by a surprise snow storm on some back road unable to get to a safe shelter. That was when I started to pack emergency supplies in the car. Back then, the supplies included extra formula, diapers, water, blankets, and baby food for the kids; and chocolates for me. Over the years, I started adding some essentials such as a flashlight with extra batteries and a standard first-aid kit.
As the world and events evolve, so too has my emergency bag. Some call it a “bug-out” bag; however you refer to it, think of it as your 72 hour preparation bag for events out of your control.
Depending on your region, some of those events might be natural disasters such as a tornado, earthquake, hurricanes, or floods.
In my region, we have a number of nuclear power plants. There is always the fear of a release of radiation and evacuations ordered.
This article is meant to get you thinking about preparing your own emergency bags if you have not already down so. I keep one in all our vehicles. If you commute, think about keeping one in your work area.
Items in our bags include small bills, bottled water, high calorie food bars, first-aid supplies, a first-aid manual, potassium iodide pills, a poncho, an emergency blanket, compass, a whistle, knives, matches, fire starters, water purifier, empty water container, flashlights and extra batteries, glow sticks, portable radio and extra batteries, a multi-tool, work gloves, large trash bags, parachute cord, paper and pencil/pen, power cords for the cell phones, back-up cell phone battery, mini cook stove with fuel, metal cup, plastic ware, small towel, a camp trowel/shovel/axe, a wool sweater, wool socks, and individual package cleaning wipes, small toiletries, some tissue, and a deck of cards.
Your emergency bag might also include special things for small children, an elderly person, and your pet’s needs.
In addition to the above items, we packed a month supply of our daily medications.
In your emergency bag, include your birth certificate, passports, insurance policies, bank account information, medical records, titles to the vehicles, deed to the house, a list of important phone numbers, a list of important websites and passwords. Some of these items, I made copies of and keep the originals in a safe place at home. Make sure the papers you pack in the bag are kept in a waterproof container.
Consider such a bag for each member of your family. I have my grandchildren put at least some water, a snack, and a flashlight in their school bags.
An emergency bag is one of those things that you pack and hope to never use it. Each new season, I go through the bags and make sure nothing is leaking, check the dates on the batteries, change the water bottles, change the medications, check the dates on the food bars, and in the winter I add new hand warmers.
I hope you make your emergency bags and I also hope that you never have to use them.
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