You don’t have to be a survivalist to have a disaster kit. While we can hope for the best, it’s always imperative to prepare for the worst. A disaster kit can help with that, but there’s not a singular solution that’s right for everyone. Following these tips can help you create a disaster kit that will provide you with all the essentials readily accessible when the worst strikes.
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Your Situation is Unique
If you’re living in the middle of Kansas, you probably don’t need to pack your disaster kit with waterproof gear. Conversely, a disaster kit on the Florida panhandle doesn’t need to account for the peculiarities of a dust tornado. While there are some essentials that should be a part of any disaster kit, you should adjust as common sense dictates based on where you live.
Similarly, you’ll want to account for all the members of your family. Food, water, and other supplies should be scaled to the amount of people in your home. That means taking into account any prescriptions or medical conditions family members might suffer from, and you shouldn’t neglect your pets. Making sure everyone has what they’ll need for a few days is the most important thing you can do.
You Should Prepare Multiple Kits
Disaster can strike at any time, and the most perfectly crafted disaster kit won’t do you much good if you’re trapped on a busy highway. We recommend having a disaster kit for your home as well as separate ones for each car in your family and the office. That means that whether you need to shelter in place or find a local shelter to hunker down at, you’ll be prepared.
And Keep Your Kits Updated
Disaster supply kits are designed to be there when you need them, and that means that most of the materials are built to last. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be periodically swapping out parts. Batteries can go bad, as can canned and preserved foods that are meant to last a long time. Checking in annually to swap out any expired materials and double check the essentials should be a part of your daily routine.
Consider Portability
If you have a tornado shelter to bunker down in, space isn’t going to be that much of a problem – but the majority of people will have more limited space and might need a bag they can take with them on the go. When determining how lightweight your kit needs to be, consider what circumstances might cause you to have to leave your home. Having all the fundamentals there is important, but you’ll have little extra room for space if you do need an emergency kit that can work as a backpack or a duffel.
Consider a Premade Kit
Every home should have a natural disaster kit, so it only makes sense that the market has risen up to meet the demand. There are a number of companies that offer pre-made disaster kits, but few offer as diverse – and efficient – a variety of kits as Stealth Angel. By going with a premade kit, you can find something that’s suited to your needs while also knowing that you’re making the most of every inch of space you have to spare.
Keep it Somewhere Accessible
You need to be able to grab your disaster kit at the first sign of an issue, and that means that it needs to be somewhere both centralized and secure. Make sure that everyone in your family knows where it is, but also keep it out of sight of strangers. While keeping your disaster kit in a safe may seem like a good idea, it can become an issue when you need to get your kit in a rush.
