Gone are the days when only preppers or those in high-risk areas have emergency home survival kits. The prevalence of natural disasters is rising and people all over the country need to be prepared for an emergency.
You never know when your power may go out, or when you may become stranded in your home or be forced to evacuate and leave quickly. It is crucial you have a kit filled with the most important gear and items.
Thankfully, there are plenty of helpful online resources (such as bug out bill) that make it easy to check out and learn about some of the best gear out there to help you stay safe. But what are some things that everyone needs to include in their kit? Keep reading to find out.
Tools for Communication
Communication is a crucial part of our lives, especially during an emergency. You not only need to be able to let friends and family know that you are safe but also keep up with the news and happenings surrounding the natural disaster or emergency.
You should, of course, have your cell phone, but also something like a radio. Also, because the power may often go out during certain emergencies, make sure you have extra chargers or batteries for your communication equipment, to ensure you don’t run out of batteries at a crucial moment. Getting through an emergency without these tools can be a lot more stressful and difficult, so plan ahead to ensure you can always stay connected.
Food and Water
Of course, food and water are something you also need to include in your survival kit. Some emergencies will prevent you from visiting the grocery store and may make delivering items impossible. As a result, you need to have a stockpile that can keep you fed and energized for days, or even longer.
Make sure to have food that is filling, nutritious, and also options that can last a long time. Some good choices include granola bars, dried fruit, canned goods, and anything else with a long shelf life that is easy to make and eat.
Of course, take time to ensure you have enough water to last a couple of days at the very least. In addition to bottles of water or some other way of storing it, it is a good idea to have a water filter or water purifier on hand, just in case.
First Aid
Accidents and injuries can always occur during the confusion and stress stemming from a major emergency, so it is crucial to have a fully-stocked first aid kit ready for emergencies. This is something you will hopefully never need to use, but will be incredibly grateful to have if you do.
There are many things to include in a first aid kit that include bandages, pain medication, gloves, tape, cold packs, ointment, and dozens of others. You can easily buy first aid kits from a store, but can also make your own. Make sure you know the proper way to use everything in the kit, just in case.
Also, if you use anything from your first aid kit, it is very important that you restock and replace it as soon as possible. The last thing you want is to forget this and end up needing something urgently, and not having it available.
Clothing and Shelter
Having clothing packed in your emergency survival kit is a no-brainer. You should have everything from warm weather clothes, to layers of cold weather clothes, so you are prepared and ready for anything. Consider other items like gloves, thick socks, boots, scarves, and clothing well-suited for wet weather.
In addition to clothing, consider ways to shelter yourself and protect yourself from the environment. Whether your heating system at home doesn’t work, or you are forced to head outside in the cold, something like an emergency blanket or the materials to make a makeshift shelter can be a huge help in keeping you warm and safe.
In conclusion, we hope that this guide has been able to help you learn about some of the best items for your home emergency survival kit.
