Emergency Supplies

I want to digress from the scenario a little bit, and explore in more detail the subject of emergency supplies. There seems to be sort of a general idea in our consumerist society that being prepared for emergencies means buying a bunch of stuff. But you have to be selective. You can't possibly prepare for every conceivable situation. There are lots of items you might need under some conditions, but I believe it's more important to be light and mobile in an emergency – and maybe need to look around for something - than to be laden like a pack mule and be so tired from carrying all your stuff around that you can't be safe.

A second issue is expense: most of us don't have the money to buy tons of supplies for our houses, cars, spouse's cars, etc.

A third issue is theft. Your car could be jacked, your house could be robbed, some gang might grab your bag, whatever. Which is why the most important “stuff” isn't stuff at all. It's knowledge. What you have in your pocket may or may not help you out if TSHTF, but what you carry around in your head is probably going to save your ass.

I don't know for certain, but I would guess that most people have never read the little booklets in their First Aid kits (if they have First Aid kits), let alone have any idea how to administer CPR, dress a wound, identify a poisonous snake, etc. And, given the obesity rates in the First World, most people are incapable of covering any kind of distance at all without a car. Instead of buying a whole bunch of crap, I think anybody interested in surviving the unknown should focus more on learning how to take care of themselves under adverse situations, and while they're at it to perhaps get a little exercise once in a while.

With all that said, it's better to have some stuff and not need it than to need it and not have it.

My approach is to set up a simple, two-tier hierarchy:

1) Stranded Bag: The most essential, portable items that you're likely to need if you get stuck somewhere. It doesn't have to be WWIII, after all, your car could break down on the way to Grandma's house, or you could get snowed in on your way to a meeting. Everything should fit in a normal-sized backpack. If you drive, then it should be in your trunk. If you commute via public transportation, then you may want to strip the list down to the barest essentials that you can carry in your briefcase or purse.

2) Home Supplies: Useful items that you're not realistically going to be able to take away from your house. In short, these are items that you should have somewhere in your house, at all times – preferably in a large box or bucket so that they don't get used up under normal circumstances.


STRANDED BAG

☐ Bottled or Boxed Water
☐ High-Energy Food (granola bars, trail mix, etc.)
☐ Multi-Tool (Swiss Army knife, Leatherman or equivalent)
☐ Resealable Plastic Bags
☐ Change of Shoes, Socks & Underclothes
☐ Rain Gear (poncho or folding raincoat)
☐ Feminine Supplies (if applicable)
☐ Antiseptic towelettes or Hand Sanitizer
☐ Toilet Paper
☐ Towel
☐ Diapers (if applicable)
☐ Baby Wipes (if applicable)
☐ Spare Eyeglasses (if applicable)
☐ Small package of tissues
☐ First Aid Kit
☐ Flashlight with extra batteries
☐ Light sticks
☐ Dust Mask
☐ Handgun & ammunition
☐ Emergency contacts with phone # (written down, not just stored in your cel phone)
☐ Cash & coins
☐ Extra set of house & car keys
☐ Maps of the area (city and State)
☐ Duct tape (small roll)
☐ Thermal Emergency Blanket
☐ Toothbrush
☐ Toothpaste
☐ Dental Floss
☐ Plastic Trash Bags
☐ Soap
☐ Candles & Matches (Strike-anywhere type) in waterproof container
☐ Rope
☐ Gas can



HOME SUPPLIES

☐ Mess Kit or Paper Plates, Cups, Bowls and Eating Utensils
☐ Water (1 gallon per person per day, for as many days as you feel good about)
☐ Chlorine Bleach (small bottle of household bleach to treat drinking water)
☐ Canned Food (meats, beans, vegetables, fruit, soups)
☐ Canned Cooking Fuel (Sterno or equivalent)
☐ Dried Food (potatoes, vegetables, fruit, pasta, rice, cereal, milk)
☐ Cooking Staples (sugar, salt, cooking oil, spices)
☐ Manual Can Opener
☐ Portable radio with batteries
☐ Aluminum Foil
☐ Plastic Wrap
☐ Pots and Pans
☐ Thermal Underwear
☐ Lantern
☐ Candles
☐ Matches (Strike-anywhere type)
☐ Sleeping Bags
☐ Pillows
☐ Extra Towels
☐ Extra Toilet Paper
☐ Extra Feminine Supplies (if applicable)
☐ Extra Diapers (if applicable)
☐ Extra Baby Wipes (if applicable)
☐ Extra Eyeglasses (if applicable)
☐ Extra Soap
☐ Extra Laundry Detergent
☐ Chlorine Bleach (large bottle of household bleach to treat drinking water)
☐ Medium Sized Bucket with Lid
☐ Pet Food (if applicable)
☐ Pet Leash/Carrier (if applicable)
☐ Pet Food/Water Bowl (if applicable)
☐ Multivitamin
☐ Home Medical Kit, to include:
☐ Advil/Tylenol or equivalent for adults
☐ Advil/Tylenol or equivalent for children (if applicable)
☐ Anti-Diarrhea medication
☐ Cloth Adhesive Tape (“Trainer's Tape”)
☐ Thermometer
☐ Adhesive bandages (reasonably large quantity)
☐ Sterile gauze (several large packages)
☐ Cohesive bandage (at least 5 rolls)
☐ Disposable gloves (large box)
☐ Surgical mask
☐ Antiseptic Towelettes
☐ Antiseptic Ointment
☐ CPR breathing barrier
☐ Scissors
☐ Tweezers
☐ Cold pack
☐ Large sterile dressing
☐ Tools, to include
☐ Wrench to shut off gas & wate
☐ Pliers
☐ Screwdrivers
☐ Shovel
☐ Socket wrench set
☐ Hacksaw
☐ Rope/String
☐ Duct Tape
☐ Plastic Sheeting (heavy duty)
☐ ABC-type fire extinguisher
☐ Needle & thread
☐ Shotgun & ammunition
☐ Gasoline
☐ Bicycle (one per family member)

In addition to the items stored at home, it's a good idea to keep a safe deposit box at a bank or other secure location where you can safely store copies of documents, to include:

☐ Driver's license
☐ Social Security card
☐ Passport
☐ Birth certificate
☐ Divorce/Adoption/Naturalization papers
☐ Insurance policies
☐ Immunization records
☐ Bank, credit card & personal finance numbers