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72 Hour Emergency Survival Kits
There are many types of disasters that a 72 Hour Emergency Survival Kit is buit for: floods, fires, earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes, to name just a few. Government and Relief Agencies estimate that after a major disaster, it could take up to three days (72 Hours) for relief workers to reach some areas.
In such a case, your 72 Hour Emergency Survival Kit could mean the difference between life and death. In other disasters affecting your family, a 72 Hour Emergency Survival Kit means the difference between having a miserable experience or one that’s like a pleasant family camp out.
72 Hour Kit Checklist
- 3-5 gallons of water stored for sanitation and drinking
- Method of water purification
- Food
- 72 Hour Supply of Food and Water
- Warmth and Shelter
- Windproof/waterproof matches
- Second method to start a fire
- Tent/shelter
- Wool-blend blanket
- Sleeping bag
- Emergency reflective blanket
- Lightweight stove and fuel
- Hand and body warm packs
- Poncho
- Light Sources
- Flashlight with batteries
- Candle
- Light stick
- Tools
- Pocket knife
- Shovel
- Hatchet or Axe
- Sewing kit
- 50-foot nylon rope
- First Aid
- First aid kit and supplies
- Burn gel and dressings
- Bottle of potassium iodide tablets
- Communications
- Radio with batteries or radio with alternate power sources
- Whistle with neck cord
- Personal Sanitation
Personal comfort kit:
- soap
- toothbrush and gel
- comb
- tissue
- sanitary napkins
- razor
- Extra Clothing
- A complete outfit of appropriate clothing for each family member
- Include extra socks
- underwear
- hat
- sturdy shoes
- gloves
- Money (at least $20, include quarters for phone calls and small bills)
- Important Papers
- Copies of documents important to your family (such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, wills, insurance forms)
- Important phone numbers
- credit card information
- Stress Relievers
- Games
- books
- hard candy
- inspirational reading
For children:
- small toys
- paper and pen
- favorite security items
- Extra food
- Camp stove
- Mess kits and other cooking equipment
- Sun block
- Insect repellent
- Portable toilet
- Snake bite kit
- Special medication or other needs
- Portable Container
- Durable water resistant duffel bag
- frame pack or day pack
*Important to know*
- Your kit should be in a portable container located near an exit of your house. This is so you can grab it on your way out of the house in a serious emergency. Do not overload your kit–you may have to carry it long distances to reach safety or shelter.
- Each family member should have their own kit with food, clothing and water. Distribute heavy items between kits.
- Enclose the extra clothing, matches, personal documents, and other items damageable by smoke or water in plastic to protect them. If it’s raining when you have to evacuate, you will appreciate the dry clothes.
- Keep a light source in the top of your kit, so you can find it quickly in the dark.
- Personalize your kit. Make sure you fill the needs of each family member.
- Inspect your kit at least twice a year.
- Consider the needs of elderly people as well as those with handicaps or other special needs. For example: for babies, store diapers, washcloth, ointment, bottles and pacifiers, and other special supplies.
Rotate food and water. Check children’s clothing for proper fit. Adjust clothing for winter or summer needs. Check expiration dates on batteries, light sticks, warm packs, food and water.
A crisis or emergency is a high stress time for everyone. It is especially important to have a 72 Hour Emergency Survival Kit with high energy foods available during these times. Food that is high in calories (even empty calories) is recommended for these times. If you plan ahead, you can have meals that are not only high in energy, but also nutritious.
You can live several days without food if you have water to drink, but you won’t be very comfortable when you are used to eating three meals a day plus snacks. Besides the nutritional benefit you gain from the food, there is also a positive psychological benefit of doing things the way you did before a disaster. Eating three meals a day will help make the stressful time seem more like normal.
Food will probably be provided at an emergency shelter for you and your family, but government officials and relief agencies usually take 72 hours to get set up. You have the responsibility to be self reliant and plan your own meals for those three days. Foods that are lightweight, compact, and require little preparation are the most suitable for your 72 hour emergency survival kit. Since an emergency situation is not the time to try out new and unusual foods that your family is unaccustomed to, you should try out your emergency foods before you need them. Whenever possible, stick to simple tastes that you are used to. Consider these possibilities:
Stress Foods-
Foods that provide sugar energy and are comfort foods are good ones to pack in your 72 hour emergency survival kit. These types of food include chocolate, hard candy, dry sugar cereal, fruit bars, etc. In high stress situations your body requires a higher caloric intake, not just nutrition. For those who can’t eat sugar, pack alternative high caloric food such as peanut butter, dried fruit, and sugar-free candy.
Compressed Food Bars-
Compressed food bars include granola bars, trail bars, and high calorie food bars that are sealed for long term storage. These are lightweight, nutritious, and high in calories, making them a good choice for your 72 hour emergency survival kit.
Survival Drink Mixes-
These types of drink mixes are high in protein, vitamin and mineral content, such as protein drinks, diet drinks, and survival drink mixes. These should be just-add-water-mixes, so you must remember to store extra water just for mixing these drinks. Remember that any diet drink mixes you include should be high in protein and not just for weight loss.
Trail Mixes-
Trail mixes can be made of ingredients such as granola, raisins, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, or chocolate chips. They are very tasty and full of energy and nutrition. You can make your own trail mix to accommodate your family’s taste, but be aware that it could become rancid if you try to store it for a long period of time. Storing trail mix in your refrigerator or freezer is a good way to preserve its shelf life.
Dried Foods-
Dried foods, such as fruit and meat (jerky) are excellent additions to your 72 hour emergency survival kit. They are tasty, nutritious and satisfying, and they can make up a part of a meal.
Freeze-Dried Foods-
Freeze dried foods are probably the best tasting, most “normal” things you can pack in your 72 hour emergency survival kit to supply you and your family with a “real” meal. They are lightweight and easy to prepare, but require extra water and some cooking. Plan ahead by storing the water that you need and a way to heat it.
Instant Soups, Meals, & Milk-
Instant soups and meals, (such as cup of noodles, cup of soup, and instant mashed potatoes) are a great way to supplement meals for three days. They are lightweight and easy to pack in your 72 hour emergency survival kit. Instant milk is a good way to make sure you get the calcium you need. These items also require additional water to use.
MRE’s (Meals ready to eat)-
MRE’s, designed for the military, are the easiest meals you can put in your 72 hour emergency survival kit. They have an incredibly long shelf life (up to 10 years when stored at temperatures below 70 deg. F) which makes them an easy solution for a 72 hour emergency survival kit. MRE’s also do not require cooking, water, or any preparation. For more information on MRE’s see the Insight article entitled MRE- Meals Ready to Eat
Snack Foods-
Snack foods are an essential part of a 72 hour emergency survival kit. If you eat snacks during normal times, you will want snacks during emergencies too. Plus snacks are a good way to help relieve the stress of emergency situations. You can store snack-packs of cheese and crackers, packages of crackers or nuts, or peanut butter snacks. MRE snacks are a good way to store snacks because they can be stored for 5 or more years and they taste good.
For Babies or Toddlers-
If you have a nursing baby, you should pack formula in case you aren’t able to nurse because of shock or stress. Include both powdered formula and liquid formula in case water is not available to mix the powdered formula. Include baby food for an older baby or toddler. Instant cereal, fruits, and vegetables are a good choice. Remember to store extra water to reconstitute these items, and to update your 72 hour emergency survival kit as your baby grows.
Equipment and Utensils-
Sometimes when you are planning your food menu, you forget that you need certain utensils to cook and eat with. Essential cooking items include:
- small cooking pots
- spoons, forks, knives, (plastic or metal)
- Sierra cups (metal camping/backpacking cups that you can heat food in or drink from)
- mess kits or camp plates
- napkins or paper towels
- small, trial size of dish soap
- hot pad or wash cloth
- can opener
- waterproof matches or matches in waterproof container
- canned solid fuel and folding stove
- zip lock bags
As you plan your 72 hour survival kit, you must also remember the little extras that make life more comfortable, such as: toilet paper, diapers, wipes, first aid kit, toothpaste, soap, razors, reading material, stress relieving games, and so forth. If you put a little planning into your 72 hour kit, you and your family won’t need to panic when an emergency occurs.
This information has been provided by Emergency Essentials.
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