Emergencies almost always happen without warning. That is why you need to be prepared beforehand with the things you’ll need to survive during an emergency. 72 hour kits are the best way to protect yourself and your family no matter what comes your way.
Reasons you need a 72 hour kit
During any type of emergency, it’s important to have the basic survival supplies – regardless of whether you have to evacuate or stay sheltered at home. Either way, you could be left stranded without power, water, heat, or cell phone service.
In these instances, you’ll need all the essentials prepared and ready to go. You can’t count on making an emergency trip to the store or calling the authorities for help. Many emergencies could shut down public systems that you rely on every day. So make your 72 hour kit and don’t be caught unprepared!
What to Include in your 72 hour kit
Humans need 4 basic things to survive – water, food, shelter, and warmth. A 72 hour kit should, at bare minimum, include the following items:
- 1 gallon of water per person/per day
- 3-day supply of non-perishable food
- Extra clothing/blankets
- Prescription and non-prescription medicine
- First-aid kit
- Battery or crank powered radio
- Plastic sheet and duct tape (for shelter)
Beyond these items, it would also be wise to include some of the following:
- Pen and paper
- Games/entertainment
- Flashlight (and batteries)
- Candles
- Water-proof matches
- Sanitary supplies
- Pocket knife
- Money
- Personal documents/important information
All these things should be assembled in an easily accessible, consolidated location – like a backpack in the closet or duffle bag in the corner of your office. You’ll need to rotate the food and water supplies!