by Lisa Bedford
Small items to stave off boredom – A book, deck of cards, or small pad of paper with a pen (check the ink periodically) or pencil with a pencil sharpener.
Books/e-books – Pack or download a good book for a family read-aloud. Even younger kids enjoy long chapter books when mom or dad is reading to them. Pack or download the Bible or other religious book.
Emergency Mylar or wool blankets
Important documents – Create a mini Grab-n-Go binder (discussed in the next section) with copies of only your most vital documents, such as birth certificates, passports, insurance information, etc. It's not a bad idea to store back-ups of these "in the cloud," on a small USB you hand-carry, or at the home of an out-of-state relative.
Pocket knife or multi-tool with a good blade
No matter what you pack, the kit should be light enough for the intended user to carry it unassisted. That means your kids, spouse, parents, and anyone else with a bag should be able to carry their own bag, unaided and without being injured by excessive weight or a bad fit, for as long as they need to.
When our kids were ages 7 and 9, I packed a cross-shoulder bag for each of them, equipped with a water bottle, Band-Aids, light sticks, and a few other supplies. The bags were inexpensive, I found them on eBay, but they were exactly the right size. It was a relief to not have to carry those extra items and it was enormously helpful that they could access what they needed, when they needed it, without asking Mom for help.
The very littlest members won’t be able to carry their own full bag, of course, but even toddlers can carry a drink, a snack, and a toy. Have a separate, small kit, indeed, for the little ones, but it should be small enough to be attached to a larger backpack carried by mom or dad.
Practice walking with your kit on your back or slung across your shoulder for longer and longer distances. A fairly new fitness trend is to carry a weighted backpack on runs in order to increase endurance, so you will only appear to be highly dedicated to physical fitness – just in case you’re worried about looking weird!
One final step to take is deciding where to store your kit(s). They should be kept in an easily accessible, though out-of-the-way, location. Everyone in your family should know exactly where they are, and be able to grab them and leave quickly. Don't hide your emergency kits under tennis rackets, behind the Christmas tree deep in the basement, or in an obscure, blocked corner of the garage. At the same time, the middle of the living room is not an appropriate place, either. Many families keep their kits in a closet by the front or back door. In homes without an extra closet, a bottom cupboard in the kitchen or a bathroom near the back door is a good designated spot.
It’s not a bad idea to go ahead and pack the emergency kits in your vehicle. The advantage to that, of course, is that it frees you to grab other last minute items as you race for the door. The downside is that the kit contents can become spoiled, rancid, or leak since they will be both out of sight and out of mind. I recommend marking your calendar every six months to check your emergency kit. The spring and fall equinox are easily-remembered dates for this. Replace old food, medicine, and water containers; check to make sure spare shoes and clothes still fit; and refresh the contents if necessary.
Grab-n-Go Binder (vital documents)
Spend a few hours to create a Grab-n-Go binder that contains all your most important documents. It can bring you much peace of mind before, during, and after an evacuation.
When that moment arrives to pack the dogs, the cats, the kids, and the emergency kits, this binder will be waiting and ready to go. From passports to adoption papers to vaccine and other health records, these all need to be in a safe place, organized and together.
If a binder isn’t your style, or you just have way too many documents, create a file system in a portable file safe. I use and like the SentrySafe Large File Safe for my documents and family papers.
To make your own Grab-n-Go Binder, you’ll need:
A 2” or larger 3-ring binder
Plastic page protectors
Binder dividers
Your collection of vital documents
Plastic pockets for holding DVDs and thumb drives
Those documents might include:
Financial documents
Copies of the fronts and backs of debit and credit cards
Copies of property deeds and car titles
Names, addresses, and phone numbers of all banks and credit unions, and passwords to all financial websites, including PayPal
Other important documents related to employment and/or a family business
Copies of insurance policies:
Life
Health
Auto
Homeowners
Renters
· Copy of vehicle registrations and maintenance records
· Name, address, and phone number for anyone who sends you a bill, the type of bill, and due dates
· Copies of savings bonds, stocks, and bonds
· Copies of statements from investment firms
· Last year’s tax returns
Personal documents — These can be organized by dividers, one section per family member.
A list of names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of relatives and close friends
Pet vaccine records
Copies of:
Marriage license
Birth certificate
Driver’s licenses
Concealed carry permits
Passports
Social Security cards
Recent photos of each family member and each pet
Military documents
Diplomas and transcripts
Resumes
Immunization records
Fingerprints of each family member
Household documents
Color photos of the exterior of your house and each room in the house
Photos of anything of particular value
Appraisals of valuable objects, such as art, jewelry, and collectibles
A list of firearm serial numbers
Receipts for furniture, appliances, electronics, fitness equipment, and other larger, high ticket items
Extended warranty documentation for appliances and other products
Copy of rent or lease agreement
Legal documents
Child custody and/or adoption documentation
Divorce decrees
Last Will and Testament
Copies of living trust or family trust
DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) documentation
Copies of both past and current, binding contracts
Names, addresses, and phone numbers of attorneys
Medical documents
Copy of health insurance cards
A list of blood types for each family member
Names, addresses, and phone numbers of all doctors
Medical histories of each family member
A list of current prescription drugs, dosages, and pharmacy contact information
Copies of medical records and test results for anyone in the family with significant health issues
Along with these paper documents, you might want to include a thumb drive that has most or all of this information digitized and stored. A CD containing a video of your home, interior rooms and its exterior, and shots of your vehicles and any valuables can easily be slipped into a plastic pocket and included in the binder.
Clearly label the binder and store it in an accessible, easy to remember location. Because it contains personal information, it would be invaluable to a thief, so storage in a safe or other very secure location is recommended. Some smart Survival Moms store items like this in bins labeled “Old toys” or “Miscellaneous”.
Where should you keep the originals of these documents? If a document can easily be replaced, such as a car insurance policy (simply call your agent or insurance company and ask for a new copy), then keep the original in your binder. Otherwise, store copies only and keep originals in a safe
or a safe deposit box.
Does it have to be a backpack?
One question I’m often asked is, “What’s the best type of bag for my emergency kit? Does it have to be a backpack?”
Well, it may surprise you, but in some cases, the best bag isn’t a bag at all but some other, more versatile container! One mom who has experienced her fair share of hurricane evacuations strongly suggests using a hamper or laundry basket for toting along clothing and other supplies. Eventually, you’ll end up with dirty laundry, and it has to go somewhere! A laundry basket is much handier for a trip to the laundromat than a suitcase or backpack.
Most evacuations, by far, will involve some sort of motorized vehicle, and that’s good news for you! Instead of planning on relying on only what you can carry, you can utilize various versatile containers that can double as a wash basin or even as an emergency toilet. Here are a few suggestions:
A metal bucket with lid can hold hot ashes and be used to carry water, firewood, and a whole lot more. Overturned, it makes a sturdy seat.
Milk crates are made of very sturdy plastic and can be stacked. If you have several of them, you can stack them on their sides to create a handy, temporary shelving system.
5-Gallon buckets with lids can hold just about anything and everything you may want to transport. Buy a snap-on toilet seat and some plastic liners, and you have a handy, emergency toilet.
Rolling suitcases on wheels won’t do well over rough terrain, but on sidewalks and paved roads, they’re great. It’s a big advantage that young children can pull them along without much difficulty, leaving you with one less thing to haul.
Plastic bins with lids can double as bathtubs for babies and toddlers as well as a wash basin for dirty dishes.
I once heard a story about an elderly lady who was the very last to arrive at the community shelter during a city-wide emergency drill because her 72-hour kit was packed in a giant rolling trash can. While her kit contained a great many useful items, it was so heavy that she needed help from two or three young men to move it. Such a kit would be okay for a vehicle evacuation, but on foot? Not so much.
If you do go for a backpack, try it on for size before making the purchase. You can skimp on less expensive toilet paper, watch for sales on the LifeStraw, but when it comes to your backpack, buy top quality, and be picky about the fit.
The best backpack for long-term walking will have:
Comfortable, padded shoulder straps
A hip belt that easily rests over your hip bones
Load lifters -- This is the set of straps that are located right at shoulder level and help to pull the weight of the load off your shoulders so it’s more evenly distributed.
Sternum straps connect across your chest and help keep the shoulder straps fitting snugly.
My favorite backpack is a neutral color, has all the features listed above plus many compartments, pockets, and padding on the back side. In a crowd, I want to blend in and not stand out like Little Miss Prepper!
Special kits for special family members
An emergency kit for baby
Racing out the door just in time to avoid an encounter with a house fire, flood waters, or a tornado is exactly the right thing to do, but without the basic care items for an infant, you’ll soon find yourself in need of a diaper or two, at least! Not having a pacifier or some other supply to keep baby happy will only add to an already high-stress situation.
Preparing an emergency kit for a baby can get a little expensive, since you’ll be needing duplicates of just about every baby care supply you use. Watch for coupons in the newspaper and, especially, in parenting magazines. Match those with store sales, and you can save a bundle.
A well-packed and organized diaper bag will probably do just fine if that’s all you have prepared, but you might consider having a small, secondary bag as well. That second bag will contain items not kept in the daily-duty diaper bag but will be needed if you have to be away from home for several days. This second kit can be stored with other emergency kits and supplies.
Because babies grow so quickly and their needs change as they mature, make a note on your calendar to review the contents of this particular bag every 3 months, rather than every 6 months.
A basic kit for baby should include:
A pack of disposable diapers – Even if you use cloth only, you never know where, exactly, your evacuation will take you, nor how long you’ll be away from home and the convenience of a washing machine and dryer. Disposables can fill the gap in the meantime. Be sure to rotate these out and replace with a larger size as your baby grows.
Baby wipes – If your baby has extra sensitive skin and is used to only one brand of wipes, be sure those are what you pack!
Hand sanitizer or sanitizer wipes
A few small, plastic trash bags – You’ll be glad to have these for containing dirty diapers, wipes, and other trash. A wet bag is a good choice, too.
4-6 clothing changes – You can bet that at the worst possible moment, your smiling baby will present you with a diaper blowout or vomit eruption. It will be a relief to have plenty of extra clean clothes on hand! The clothing should have crotch snaps to make it easier to switch from one outfit to another. Again, rotate these as baby grows into bigger sizes.
Additional clothing, depending on the season – A hat for hot summer weather, cozy socks/slippers and a cuddly jacket for winter time are all small items but they make a big difference in comfort and safety.
2-3 warm baby blankets – These are multi-purpose items and will probably come in handy for other uses.
2-3 burp cloths or cloth diaper
A pacifier and a back-up pacifier, if your baby needs one
7 days’ worth of formula and bottles -- If you nurse, disposable breast pads in case of leakage and a spare cover for baby.
3-4 days’ worth of baby food and a couple of spoons
Sippy cups
Purified water for formula and drinking
A small first aid kit just for baby’s needs:
Teething gel
Nasal aspirator
Saline drops
Baby thermometer
Vaseline
Baby safe bug repellent
Baby safe sunblock
Liquid baby vitamins
Baby medicine dropper
Gas relief drops
Antibiotic cream
Small bottles of these, if you normally use them:
Baby oil
Baby lotion
Diaper cream
Baby powder or cornstarch
Baby shampoo
Baby wash
1 or 2 plastic bibs for easy cleaning
1 or 2 toys that baby enjoys
1 or 2 favorite board book
An ID bracelet, ID tag for shoes — Anything that your baby can wear that will identify him or her as yours if you get separated
Looks like baby’s emergency kit may end up weighing as much as baby!
In addition to these supplies, give some thought to where baby will sleep. A portable crib/playpen is an easy solution. If baby is a little older, a product called My Cot Portable Bed is lightweight and will keep little ones off the ground on a clean, safe sleeping surface.
One final thing to have on hand is one or two baby carriers. I carried both my babies in various slings and wraps and loved the freedom it gave me (both hands were free), and my baby was always with me, comforted by mom’s presence.
Visit second hand baby stores to find bargains on baby carriers, portable cribs, small playpens, and other gear you consider necessary for your baby’s comfort and your own sanity in an evacuation scenario.
Pet kits
Don't forget about your pets! Each pet should have an emergency kit as well. A sample emergency kit for a dog would include:
Food – Dry kibble in labeled zip-top bags or cans. Check the expiration date and don’t forget a can opener. Canned food has the advantage of containing water, thus requiring less water for drinking.
A few companies make pet energy bars, believe it or not! These aren’t nutritionally balanced for long-term feeding but for the short-term they provide calories and nutrients.
Water – Plan on packing 1 ounce of water per day for every pound your pet weighs.
Important papers
Description of the animal (name, species, breed, color, sex, age, distinguishing features)
Proof of vaccinations – Shelters typically require vaccinations, and immunizations will keep your pet safe from contagious diseases. It's not a bad idea to store back-ups of these "in the cloud" or on a small USB you hand-carry.
Registration and licensing papers
List of shelters, boarding facilities, equestrian centers, stables, and pet-friendly hotels within a 50-mile radius of your destination.
Current photos of the pet – Ideally, include photos taken from both sides. Also include photos that show you and your pet together, to help establish ownership.
Bedding, towels, blankets
Bowls for food and water
Cage, carrier, or kennel for each pet -- Collapsible kennels might be easier to store, or you can use the carrier to hold the pet’s 72-hour kit until you need it.
Trash bags, paper towels
Can opener, if using canned dog food
Muzzle – Even gentle pets can become aggressive if they are stressed or in pain. Soft cloth muzzles are available at pet stores.
Brush for longer-haired pets
Leash, extra collar, harness, etc.
Disposable litter boxes and litter
A bottle of Kids N Pets Stain and Odor Remover or Nature’s Miracle will go a long way to make life a little more bearable in the case of an accident.
First aid kit with dog-specific items, such as a claw clipper and flea/tick medication.
