You never know when an emergency is going to strike, but keeping emergency survival kits on hand is essential to making sure you encounter no problems during disasters. You need to be completely prepared ahead of time so that you don’t have to run around at the last minute, trying to figure out how you’re going to cope with a situation. An emergency survival kit is especially essential during the winter months. It’s harder to find what you need at the last minute when the entire town knows that a major snowstorm or blizzard is due to fall.
One of the most important items to include in your emergency survival kit is water. You want to store enough water in containers to have at least a one week supply. You’ll also want to have water purification tablets on hand, in case something happens to your water storage containers. Rotate your water supply every few months to keep it fresh.
Food is the next item that should be in your emergency survival kits. You want food that doesn’t take up a lot of space, does not need to be refrigerated or cooked, and is calorically dense. MREs are a common choice, as are canned goods. You also have the option of including meal bars or candy bars in your supplies. Keep as much on hand as you can store, since you don’t want to attempt to go to a grocery store during a disaster.
Beyond food and water, you want to have blankets and pillows available. This is especially important in winter, as you need to stay as warm as possible if the power goes out and you don’t have any access to heat. The tools that go in to your survival kit vary, depending on your specific needs. Flashlights are an essential part of the kit, as is a Swiss army knife or a can opener.
Other useful tools include flares, rope, matches, radio, pen and paper, lighters, camp stoves, a compass, local trail maps, and other items that work in specific circumstances. When a disaster happens, the most important thing you can do is to get your emergency kit and get to a safe place. The type of safe place depends on the disaster that you’re running into. Some situations make it much safer to stay at your home, while others may require you to evacuate.