Disaster can strike at any moment, so purchasing or building a disaster survival kit is always considered a good and practical investment. A disaster survival kit is one type of survival gear which is generally used for providing sustenance and protection to a person or to families in the event of natural or man-made calamities. The content of disaster survival kits should vary depending on the location of your home and the kind of disaster you will be preparing from. If you live in the Southeast, then your place is more hurricane-prone. States in the Midwest areas, on the other hand, more likely need protection from tornadoes and floods. The Northeastern part is susceptible to snowstorms while the Southwest normally suffer from a number of earthquakes and forest fires. Survival kits therefore have distinctions and should be patterned according to your needs.
Preparation should involve careful analysis of probable situations and considering possible worst case scenarios. Always remember that a disaster preparedness kit is not the same as a survival gear you might take on a hike. It should be much more extensive in terms of its completeness and usefulness. In planning and designing a disaster survival kit, keep in mind that your kit should be able to last for at least three days minimum.
Preparing your home and your family for a disaster is not as simple as stocking up your basement with canned food and some water. Rather, the first thing you should consider for your kit is sanitation. If your kit does not contain equipment for sanitation, then it should not be considered a disaster survival kit.
An ideal disaster survival kit should be composed of:
1. Water. The supply of potable water can be extremely affected during disasters. Set aside an adequate amount of water that you think will be enough to last you and your family for days. An average person needs an estimated one gallon of water a day, both for drinking and hygiene.
2. Food. Naturally, food is an essential part in making your kit. There are several options to choose from in deciding which food to store for your kit. Obviously, they should not easily spoil and they should be ready-to-eat food with enough nutrients to keep you and your family going. Examples are energy or protein bars, dried foods and canned goods. Some survival kits available for purchasing contain food with twenty five years of shelf life.
3. Sources of light. Power supply is most likely cut off in the event of a natural disaster so you will need flashlights. There are different kinds of flashlights, the most common are the traditional ones with incandescent bulbs and there are also LED-type flashlights. Make sure that you also pack extra replacement batteries.
4. Sources of heat. Heat is an important part of a survival kit especially for those snowstorm-stricken areas. It will also be needed to heat or cook food. So include a heating tool in your kit. Fire starters and portable heating devices are examples of possible heat sources.
5. Other needs. Always consider other personal needs you may need for your kit. For instance, you may want to pack some medicine for basic illnesses like the flu or headaches. Or if you suffer from other specific ailments like allergies or asthma, make sure you pack medications you normally take for your condition.
Once you’ve decided what to put on your kit, make sure to put it somewhere strategically accessible when the need arises. It is also recommended that you put disaster survival kits not just in your house but also in your workplace and car because you never really know when disaster may strike.