Creating My Own Emergency Starter Kit

It’s easy to say that getting prepared for an emergency is important, but what about when you simply don’t have the funds to make it happen—at least not today?

“On a budget” is always going to be a buzzword—and for good reason! With products and accessibility increasing daily, it’s up to each one of us, individually, to create our own priorities.

For myself, I imagined that I’d just survived a sizeable earthquake in Victoria, British Columbia, but was stuck inside my apartment with no way of getting out. It would be freaky, not doubt. But knowing that I’d thought ahead even just a little would—I imagine—help calm me down a bit.

Of course, the more items I’d have accessible, the better. But wanting to stick to a strict budget, I asked myself what I would really need. And this is the list I came up with:

• FRX 3 Flashlight/Radio:
  • Powered by hand crank or solar energy
  • Includes LED flashlight and red flashing light options
  • Includes option of setting a weather alert radio
  • Includes a USB charger for your cellphone
• 15 x Emergency Purified Drinking Water pouches
• Lifestraw Water bottle with 2 stage filtration, to filter any water coming through my taps
• 2 x SOS Emergency Food Ration packs, including 9 fortified food bars providing 3600 calories each
• 16 Serving Sample Pack of Food, so I could have one meal that isn’t an SOS bar per day, for a while
• 118 Piece First Aid Kit – Complete with sling bandage, gauze, and CPR mask

Just purchasing these supplies wasn’t quite enough, though. Once I got them home, I made myself a to do list:

• Open each package, read the instructions and ensure I know how everything works
• Collect other household items that I already have, to add to my kit
  • Socks, gloves, toque, old sweatshirt
  • USB cord to charge my phone
  • Ziploc bag with photocopies of important documents and a USB stick with family photos
  • Deck of cards
  • Camping cookware & gear
  • Camping rope
  • My hiking backpack!

-Content created by Sophie Wooding – Writer, gardener, cyclist and emergency preparedness enthusiast!