Emergency Survival Kits

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Keep your family safe no matter how severe the conditions by planning ahead and creating a short-term survival kit. IMAGE: KEITH WARD

In today’s world of blackouts, big storms, terror alerts and global warming, many of us will experience significant disruptions in the flow of electricity or goods at some point in our lives. Having an emergency survival kit can be a big comfort and aid — maybe even a lifesaver — in such a situation. Stocking up on a few supplies, learning new skills and making an emergency contingency plan don’t have to take a lot of time or money, and these steps will foster peace of mind in turbulent times.

You can’t plan for all possible scenarios, but a wise person plans for the most likely possibilities and stores at least a few basic supplies for emergencies. The tips here will help you evaluate your needs and goals, and plan for short-term emergency situations (72 hours to one week). To help organize your thoughts and guide your actions, ask yourself the following questions before making your emergency response plans and survival kits:

• What natural hazards are there in my area? Have I taken precautions to protect my home?
• What is my regional potential for being caught in an earthquake, flood, hurricane or tornado?
• How long might I be without access to utilities and supplies?
• If the electricity goes out for an extended period of time, how will I cook, and how will I heat and light my home?
• Do I have supplies and training to deal with medical emergencies if medical help is unavailable?
• If I need to evacuate my home, do I have portable emergency supplies readily available?
• How many people do I wish to store supplies for? What about my friends, neighbors and relatives?
• Do I have pets that I need to provide for?
• Do I have children or infants with special needs?
• Do I, or my family, need prescription medications?

Survival Planning for Short-Term Emergencies

The following information on short-term planning will help you to prepare for emergencies when services are disrupted for periods of up to one week. Everyone should have enough food, water and other emergency supplies to last for at least three days, but preferably two or more weeks.

I suggest making these preparations as soon as possible. It can be difficult to focus on this task when skies are blue and nothing threatens, but it’s often too late if you wait until a disaster strikes or is close at hand. Just the threat of a major winter storm is enough to send swarms of people to local supermarkets to stock up on food, and if highways are closed to delivery trucks for one to two days, local market shelves can quickly become bare.