This is a list for one person. If you are preparing kits for a family, you won't need one of everything for every family member (unless you could get separated); one multitool, shovel, 1st aid kit, nylon cord, A/M radio, etc per group is sufficient. This is a list of what you would most likely need in an urban environment where you will be either "camping" in your back yard or going to a Red Cross shelter.
Items you could exchange:
The most important thing is that it be light and portable while still being serviceable. Many pre-assembled kits are very light, but they are nearly useless unless the emergency happens in the middle of summer with good weather and you are able to get to a shelter quickly. You can exchange the items I have listed for better/more expensive ones, but in my opinion, this list is the minimum in quality.
Items you could exchange:
-You can put a very compact sleeping bag in instead of the space blanket, but it will cost $30-100 for a quality sleeping bag, and you don't want to add a lot of weight and bulk.
-Instead of a tarp, you can add a small, lightweight hiking tent, but they are usually 2-4 people tents and cost $100-200.
-You can put your kits in the really big ziplock bags (inexpensive) or buy a quality, comfortable backpack making it easier to pack longer distances.
-You can buy a Leatherman multi-tool for $25-100 instead of the $5 tool from Emergency Essentials
-You can buy shockproof flashlights for $10-15 each instead of the cheap ones. Sam's and Costco always have multipacks of shock-proof LED lights.
-You can add a Jetboil stove for $100 enabling you to have hot food, something that would really help in winter. It's very easy to use, lightweight, and very good quality.
-It's expensive ($160), but the Livesaver water bottle will purify any water, including water with excrement, bodies, etc. It's not pleasant to think about, but after a disaster, most water is very contaminated.
-You can spend more on a better 1st aid kit which would include items like Quick-clot (for stopping bleeding on major cuts), SAM splints (for splinting broken bones), and trauma bandages for serious wounds. This is a good idea if you live in an earthquake area.
Prepare as if you were going hiking with your whole family. You are limited on what you can take because it must be portable and hauled on your back, so you take essentials first and then anything else you'd normally take hiking/camping. My pack and my wife's pack are pretty big; our kids' backpacks have pull handles with wheels and can pulled, so we can load them a little heavier. If you have to leave on foot, think about putting small children in a jogging stroller rather than carrying them or having them walk. Jogging strollers travel well over uneven ground and you can put some items underneath the seat too.
There's a ton of stuff online, and I'm sure there are things I haven't thought of. I've tried to update prices, but this gives you a good approximation.
| ITEM | PRICE | WHERE | WHY |
| ESSENTIAL ITEMS: | |||
| SUPER TOOL (LEATHERMAN) | $ 5.00 | Emergency Essentials | Pliers, knife, can opener, screwdrivers, etc |
| LIGHTER | $ 1.00 | Walmart | Start a fire if necessary |
| 9 LED FLASHLIGHT | $ 3.00 | Emergency Essentials Website | Cheap, good, long-lasting, bright |
| (3) EXTRA AAA BATTS | $ 2.00 | Walmart | |
| SHOVEL (CAMPER' TROWEL) | $ 4.00 | Emergency Essentials Website | Bury excrement, trenches around tent, etc |
| TARP | $ 6.00 | Walmart | Can be made into a shelter; I'll post instructions later |
| FLEECE BLANKET | $ 6.00 | Sportsman's Warehouse, Cabela's | Put inside space blanket, provide much more warmth; can use wool blanket, but more $. |
| HEAT SHEETS (a better form of space blanket) | $ 6.00 | REI Website | Don't crinkle when you sleep; hard to sleep in the mylar kind because of noise |
| PONCHO | $ 3.00 | Emergency Essentials Website | Vinyl is better/longer-lasting than the cheap plastic type |
| HANDWARMERS | $ 2.00 | 2 PACK, Emergency Essentials Website | Note: these just keep hands warm, don't really do much else unless placed next to major blood vessels in the body (armpits, inside of thighs) |
| 1ST AID KIT (ADVENTURE MEDICAL SUPP) | $ 5.00 | REI Website | This has stuff for stings, cleaning cuts, etc. |
| BIGGER BANDANGES | $ 5.00 | Sportsman's Warehouse, Cabela's | At least 4 x 4 gauze; bigger if possible. Some come with ace bandage wrap |
| DATREX FOOD RATIONS (3 day supply) | $ 7.00 | Emergency Essentials Website | 3600 calories. Better than starving, taste like a dry coconut cookie |
| 3 LITER SODA BOTTLE/ARROWHEAD BOTTLE | $ 2.00 | Walmart | You need AT LEAST 1 liter of water per day per person |
| PURIFICATION TABLETS | $ 5.00 | Walmart | Treat unsanitary water |
| HARD CANDY | $ 1.00 | Walmart | Quiets hunger pangs |
| NYLON CORD (OR 550 PARACORD $6) | $ 1.00 | Sportsman's warehouse | Paracord is much stronger, used to make tent into shelter |
| CABLE TIES | $ 3.00 | Walmart | Used to lash anything together quickly and to make tent into shelter |
| TOILET PAPER | $ 1.00 | Walmart | |
| BACKPACK/DUFFLE BAG | $ 10.00 | Walmart | Something to keep it all in |
| HAND SANITIZER | $ 2.00 | Walmart | You definitely don't want to get sick and you'll be relieving yourself outdoors |
| AM RADIO | $ 8.00 | Walmart | Hand crank is best, battery operated works. Get updates on disaster when no power |
| DUCT TAPE | $ 2.00 | Walmart | Splits, repairs, etc. Don't need the whole rol, can wrap around pen, small container, etc. |
TOTAL: | $ 90.00 | ||
ADDITIONAL ITEMS: | |||
| SHOES (APPROPRIATE FOR CLIMATE) | |||
| CHANGE OF CLOTHES (CLIMATE APPROP.), UNDERWEAR, SOCKS, COAT, ETC. | |||
| PEPPER SPRAY/HANDGUN/LARGE "D" BATTERY FLASHLIGHT | Disasters can bring out the worst in some people (read any of the horror stories about Hurricane Katrina); having pepper spray or something similar could be critical | ||
| MEDICATIONS | Especially Prescriptions; if life-sustaining, you MUST have at least 1 week's worth. Getting access to a controlled substance could take some time after a disaster. | ||
| DIAPERS AND WIPES FOR CHILDREN | |||
| CANNED FOOD | Dehydrated is great, but with limited clean water, canned is better | ||
| COMFORT FOOD | |||
| BOOKS, MAGAZINES, TOYS | Believe it or not, sitting around in a shelter can get boring. | ||
| CASH IN SMALL BILLS | If all you have is a $20 bill, you might have to pay $20 for something you could have purchased for $5. People can't (or won't) make change in an emergency. | ||
| CREDIT CARD | |||
| FAMILY/FRIEND CONTACT INFORMATION | This person should live far away (out of the disaster zone) so you can all "check in" and get updates on those you might be separated from | ||
| GOVERNMENT ID | |||
| INSURANCE CONTACT INFO | |||
| GLASSES | You don't want to mess around with contacts, cases, and solution when you can simply slip on some glasses | ||
| KEYS FOR HOUSE AND CAR |
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