Supplies for Your 72 Hour Kits

Where Do I Get Supplies for Our Emergency Kits? It's a great question, and one that many people ask as they start on the road to self reliance and emergency preparedness. Spend a little time researching, but remember that in today's world of online shopping, we literally have the world at our finger tips. Because we are a young family and on a limited budget, I have found that shopping around and being selective, prioritizing our needs and then making the best purchases possible, are all things that have really helped us stretch our emergency preparedness budget.

You can get most of the supplies at WalMart, K-Mart, Target, Home Depot or other type store. Outdoor and Sporting Goods stores are also a great resource, but watch the prices. A lot of the smaller supplies are even available at the dollar store. If you’re preparing kits for several people and don’t have unlimited amounts of cash, it will save you a lot of money to do a little shopping around.

For specialty emergency items that you can’t find other places, Emergency Essentials has many supplies for this specific purpose. They can be found online at www.beprepared.com or you can call them at 1-800-999-1863. Doing a quick internet search for emergency supplies will also produce many results and allow you to shop and compare prices as well.

I am an admitted cheap skate, and my husband is even worse. The following supplies are examples of the ones we found at our local Dollar Tree store:

Box of 10 Earloop Masks
Box of 100 assorted bandaids
Roll of 2” Gauze
Roll of 3” Gauze
Roll of 4” Gauze
Second Skin
Instant Ice Pack
Tube of antibiotic ointment
Package of 2 emergency ponchos
Set of Phillips & flathead screwdrivers
Roll of (420ft.) cotton twine
Box of 12 particulate masks
Super Glue

We have gotten many more items at the dollar store, but be careful to be selective. There is a delicate balance between which items can be “disposable” or limited-use quality, and which items need to be very durable and high quality. Keep in mind that your 72-hour kit is designed for a three day period where you might have to leave your home, but where you’ll eventually (with any luck) be able to go back. Many items can be temporary. The items that I would not cut corners on would include a good knife/pocket knife/multipurpose tool, batteries, a sturdy pair of shoes, a P-38 can opener or any other item that will be used constantly if you ever have to pull out your packs.

A lot of the small items are for different contingencies and scenarios, and may never actually be needed. The screwdrivers that we found at the dollar store are sturdy enough to be used in a pinch, but they’re not what my husband would want to use all the time. One last word to the wise: I love the dollar store, but some of the items are totally worthless. Before “stocking up” on something, I always make sure to open one up and make sure it will actually work for what I need.

Also, we have stocked our family first aid kit at the dollar store. Gauze, band aids & ice packs are all items that are more than three times the cost at other stores, and they are the same product! There are plenty of first aid items you’ll want in your kit that will be expensive. Save your pennies where you can.

Are You Prepared?

Some Scenarios to Think About and Reasons to DO IT NOW:

1. Your next-door neighbors are adding on to their house. A sudden explosion caused by the new gas lines sets the house on fire. The fire department arrives and within minutes you are told that you have to gather what you need and leave your home, as there is a chance it may catch fire. You have 3-5 minutes.

2. A major earthquake has either leveled or severely damaged most of the homes in your neighborhood & surrounding community. There are many injuries, and what is left of people’s homes is unfit for shelter.

3. A sudden windstorm causes wide-spread power outages. You listen to the radio in your car, and hear that because of the number of people without power, it may take crews up to three days to restore power to your area.

4. Because of heavy rains and flooding over the past week, officials have been keeping a close eye on the dam just up river from your community. There is an announcement on the emergency broadcasting system that the dam has broken and certain areas have to be evacuated immediately. You are in an area requiring immediate evacuation. You have 1-2 minutes to get out.

5. On the way home from a weekend trip, you get a speeding ticket for over $300, more than next month’s grocery and spending money allotment, combined. If you pay your ticket, you won’t have any money for groceries or other supplies.

6. You live in an ocean side community in the south. A tropical storm has just been recently upgraded to a hurricane. You have been out shopping most of the day, and have only just returned home. You suddenly hear a loud speaker outside and go out to see a police car driving down your street announcing that you must leave your home in the next 15 minutes. The evacuation is for an indefinite period of time.

7. A particularly bad snow storm leaves you home-bound and without power, heat or running water for over a week.

8. Because of local civil unrest, extreme riots have broken out in various areas of the city in which you live. You are uneasy about your family staying in your home during this time.

9. An unexpected illness causes you to miss two weeks of work, unpaid.

10. A national trucker’s union goes on strike, causing shortages on basic necessities at most major grocery stores.

72 Hour Kits for Infants

As a parent, it is your first and foremost obligation to take care of your child. Can you imagine being in a situation where you are not able to do that? Can you imagine how you would feel arriving at that moment and knowing that with a bit of foresight and planning you could have helped your child avoid this situation? Take a few minutes to provide your baby with a bit of insurance against that situation. As you put your kit together, keep in mind that this is a general list- You know your child & their needs. Tailor this list to what you know YOUR baby would need during an emergency situation.

Experts suggest checking and updating your packs every six months. I packed our baby pack for up to one year a head of time. Clothes that are too big can be made to work...clothes that are too small are worthless. I packed 12mo. sizes for our brand new baby. The same goes for diapers. In an emergency, duct tape could work miracles with a diaper that is too big. You don't want to deal with diapers that are too small. If you breastfeed, realize that your milk may dry up during stressful situations. Keep formula & bottles on hand for this contingency. Include baby foods - even if your baby isn't eating them yet. Try to include a variety so your baby will have a well-rounded diet in the event of a problem.

Along with our baby's backpack, I purchased a cloth baby carrier at a garage sale...if we needed to leave our home on foot, our plan is that I will carry the baby in the front pack, with his backpack on my back. My kit is in a rolling bag, so I can pull it. Put some time into thinking about how you would transport your baby & their kit if you are on foot. 72 hour kits MUST BE PORTABLE. You don't need to spend a lot of money to do this. Check garage sales, thrift stores and resale shops for deals on bags & baby carriers. Chances are you've got an extra bag or two that would work just fine for now. Begin today. Don't wait!

Water, Drinking & Other
Water, 2-liter bottle
Drinking Water Pouches, 4oz.

Food Pack
Powdered Baby Formula
Liquid Baby Formula
Rice or other Cereal
Dry Cereal, Snack (cheerios)
3-6 packs of fruit/veggie/meat baby food
Baby Bowl w/lid
Baby Spoon
Papertowels
Anti-bac Wipes
3 8 oz. Bottles w/caps (filled with purified water)
8 oz. Bottle Liners (enough for 3 days)
3 Extra Bottle Nipples

Cooking/Sanitation
Small Folding Stove
Stove Fuel, 1 can
Waterproof Matches
Anti-bac Wipes
Hand Sanitizer
Bottle Brush
Dish Soap
zip-lock bags
2-3 small garbage bags

Clothing
1 Small, Heavy, Warm Blanket
2 Dbl Sided Receiving Blankets
Snow Suit
Onesies (T-shirt)
Rompers
Sweatshirt
Sun Hat
Stocking Cap
6 pr. Socks
3-4 Cloth Bibs
Snap-up Pajamas

Toiletries
24 Disposable Diapers
3-4 Cloth Diapers & Rubber Pants
Baby Wipes
Diaper Pins
Baby Shampoo
Baby Lotion
Baby Powder
Hand Soap
Q-tips
Towel
Washcloth

Comfort Items
Comfort Blankie
Small Stuffed Toy
Pacifier
Pacifier Clip
Teething Ring
Small Toys

First Aid
Sunscreen SPF 30
Insect Repellent
Band Aids
Baby Aspirin
Baby Motrin
Teething Gel
Baby Benedryl
Baby Thermometer
Safety Pins
Nose Bulb
 
Emergency Supplies
Emergency Blanket, Mylar
Hand Warmers
Small flashlight
Batteries, AA
Whistle

Important Documents
Copy of Birth Certificate
Copies of Parent's ID (driver's license, etc.) 
Copy of Immunization Record
Copy of Insurance Cards
Insurance Contact & Policy Info

Creating An Evacuation Grab List

Sit down for a minute and imagine a horrible scenario. You have 10 minutes to leave your house, and you aren’t sure if it is going to be there when you come back. You can take your kids, your emergency kits and anything else you can fit in your car. What would you grab? What items do you consider absolutely irreplaceable? The Family Bible, Priceless Photographs, your great-grandmother’s lace tablecloth? It’s something that most of us never want to think about, but a few minutes of preparation will help you to avoid possibly losing irreplaceable items that are portable enough to take with you in the event of an evacuation.

As you think about what you would grab, sit down and list all of those items. While it may be difficult, try to list them according to priority, so that if time is limited, you can grab the most important first. Keep a copy of this list in your 72-Hour kit where you can easily look at it in the event of an evacuation. In a stressful situation, it may be difficult to think clearly about what you want, so the list will help you identify your priceless essentials.

 

Be sure to include the location of each item in your home, (ie., the bookshelf in the guest bedroom,) so that you won't have to trust your memory in an extremely stressful situation, and also so that others would be able to help you if they were around to do so.

 

Once you've created your list, print it out and put a copy in your preparedness binder, and include one in your 72 Hour Kit. You could also hang a copy in the closet or other area where you store your 72 Hour Kits and other emergency supplies so that's it's there at a glance in an emergency situation.

 

Happy Homemaking!

An Emergency Contact & Evacuation Plan

Here is a basic outline of the information that should be included in your family's Emergency Contact and Evacuation Plan. You can copy and paste the outline directly into a Word document, fill in the info and print it out for your preparedness binder and for each of your family member's 72 Hour Kits!

Our Out-of-State Emergency Contact:
Name:
Phone Number:

Our Family’s Pre-Arranged Evacuation Destination:
Name:
Phone Number:
Direct Route Driving Directions to our Evacuation Destination:
Alternate Route Driving Directions to our Evacuation Destination:

Our Family’s Pre-Arranged Alternate Evacuation Destination:
Name:
Phone Number:
Direct Route Driving Directions to our Alternate Evacuation Destination:
Alternate Route Driving Directions to our Alternate Evacuation Destination:

Happy Homemaking!

Evacuation Checklist

Be prepared and proactive when it comes to possible disasters or emergencies in your area. DO NOT EXPECT CITY, COUNTY OR OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR DISASTER. Have an evacuation route in mind before something happens, and take into account possible congested routes and other back roads that may be more accessible. Keep in mind, however, that you need to listen to all instructions given by local authorities in the event of an impending emergency, such as a hurricane. If you receive the order to evacuate, or are in an area of “voluntary evacuation,” LEAVE. Don’t stick around to be involved in or add to the chaos that could result. Also, before an emergency happens, establish an out-of-state emergency contact and make sure the contact information is in each of your family’s emergency kits. Long-distance phone service is generally back up before local phone service after a disaster, AND CELL SERVICE CANNOT BE RELIED ON, so if your family is separated for any reason, instruct them to call the out-of-state contact to report in. As each family member reports in, your contact can convey that information to you.

 

While it’s not fun to think about having to leave your home for an extended period of time, it is prudent to have a pre-arranged destination in mind before you get on the road,  (a friend or family member that is far enough away to provide a safe place to stay until things calm down.) Again, set this up now. Have a plan. Shelters and emergency services are instantly overwhelmed in the face of major disasters, so don’t rely on the local shelter if it is at all possible. Remember, there are people who have nowhere else to go. With a little planning, you can be much more comfortable and better taken care of, while leaving those community services available to those who truly have nowhere else, and who truly need them. If you are reading this, you have the opportunity to prepare yourself and your family so that you are not adding to the overwhelming problems that automatically result following major disasters.

 

These are generic lists, but should help get you thinking about what you would want to do at your house, and gather to take with you in the event of an evacuation. As always, each list should be tailored to your individual needs and circumstances.

 

BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME:

Shut main gas line off outside

Shut off all water lines to appliances (water heater, washer, toilets)

Shut off all light switches, unplug appliances & lamps

Shut off all power switches in fuse box

If you are able, shut off water main (the city may have to do this)

 

Items to Grab in Evacuation (as time allows):

Your Family’s 72-Hour kit

Individual 72-Hour kits

Your Pet’s 72-Hour Kits

Emergency/Preparedness supplies as applicable

Camping Gear, Tent & Tarp, Sleeping Bags, Sleeping Pads

Blankets/Quilts/Pillows

Laptop Computer, cell phones & chargers, external hard-drive back up

Financial, Medical & Family Historical Records

Photo Albums, small family heirlooms, priceless photographs or other irreplaceable items

Photos in frames from around house