72 Hour Kits Whys and To-Dos
Often when I ask someone about their emergency preparation, they tell me they have 72 hour kits, or they need to make 72 hour kits, or their 72 hour kits are so old they need to be updated. Why so much talk about 72 hour kits??
Imagine with me for a moment, you're lying in bed one evening, and the bed begins to shake. Just a little swaying side to side. You hear a crash in the hallway as a picture frame falls off the wall. In less than 5 seconds the shaking stops and there is a eerie silence. Is this a warning of bigger things to come? What will happen if the shaking starts again, more violently this time.
Let me give you some ideas of what will happen. Older buildings and buildings closer to fault lines will have significant damage. Power will go out immediately and for an indefinite amount of time. The oil and gas lines may rupture or be seriously damaged, cutting off gas to our homes. Water and sewer systems may be damaged leaving us without safe water or a way to dispose of our waste. There will be injuries from small lacerations and cuts from glass to large breaks from things falling. The cell phone lines will jam and communication with them will be next to impossible. All this in a matter of minutes.
The city will be overwhelmed with need - most of the city emergency workers live in the area and will be affected as well. There will not be help available for days if not weeks. It will be up to you to help yourself and your family.
This paints a dire picture, but one that is very probable. Instead of being scared, let's be PREPARED!
72 kits should be near the top of the list when you are preparing for an emergency. It will take 72 hours for ward, stake and/or community services to mobilize any kind of long-term help. So that first 3 days or 72 hours will be up to you. What a relief it would be to grab that bag and find a safe place for your family to wait it out until help is mobilized.
The big question is always, what should go in my kit?? You can purchase a pre-made 72 hour kit, and in a pinch that is so better than nothing. But because everyone is different, it's hard to make one size fits all kits and have them be what you really need.
If you would like to make your own, I've found a very up to date list and description here:
Details about what to put in 72 hour kits
Here is another great list and resource you can check out:
Family Emergency Packing list
I will summarize some of the high points below:
What to ask yourself before you pack your 72-hour survival kit
Consider your family’s situation. How many people are in your family?
Does anyone in your family need special consideration? Allergies?
Medicine? Do you have an infant? All of these things will determine what
you want to pack in your 72-hour survival kit. Keep in mind that your
pack should be as minimal as possible—the more you pack, the heavier
your 72-hour kit will be.
Only pack what you can realistically carry in an emergency situation.
What you absolutely need in your 72-hour kit
These items are things that you
cannot go without in your 72-hour kit.
1. Water and non-perishable food
Water—Water should be #1 on the list for every
72-hour kit; it is the most basic and most important thing you need to
survive.
- Pack three one-liter bottles of drinking water per person (6.6 pounds per person) and getting a Life Straw Filter or Filter bottle like a Berkey Bottle to add to your backpack.
- Store the maximum amount of drinking water—at least one gallon per
person for three days—in your home food storage.
Non-perishable food— “non-cook” items for your survival pack
- You
don’t want to have to rely on a stove, fire, or any other cooking
mechanism in an emergency situation.
- You need enough food for three meals per day per person for three
days.
- Crackers/cereal
- Trail mix/dried fruit
- Granola bars
- Canned beans, meat, tuna, Chef Boyardee—Avoid “pop-top” cans. These can leak or explode in your pack.
2. Gear and equipment
- Backpack— Choose a backpack that has multiple
compartments in which you can divide your survival gear.
- Can opener
- Knife—Have a Leatherman and a knife
- Flashlight— durable, lightweight flashlight.
- Emergency two-way radio
- BiC Lighter
- Extra batteries— You
might even consider ordering a solar charger
for your phone.
- Gloves— good protective
gloves to keep from getting splinters or blisters.
- Tent— one tent for the entire
family
- Poncho— quality poncho made from rip-resistant nylon,
rather than going for a cheap plastic version.
- Blankets— Mylar thermal blankets
3. Personal supplies
First aid supplies
- Medications— Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, children’s medication, any other
personal medication prescribed (enough for three days).
- Toiletries—Toilet paper, toothbrush/toothpaste (travel size), feminine hygiene products, contact solution (travel size), etc.
- Dust mask—The likelihood of dust and debris is high
in any emergency situation.
Change of clothes— pack a change of clothes for each season
Underwear
Cash— Keep enough cash on you to survive for a week
. Also a Prepaid phone card
Infant needs— diapers, wipes, formula, medications
specific to the infant, etc.
What you’ll probably want in your 72-hour kit
- Dishes/utensils—Cup, plate, knife, fork, spoon set.
- Rope— 50 feet of rope or paracord
- Duct tape
- Whistle
- Hatchet
- Sheets—Cloth and plastic sheets
- Shovel— folding shovel
- Bug repellant
- Disposable camera—
to document the damage done to your home
What’s nice but not necessary in your 72-hour survival kit
Copies of legal documents— Birth/marriage certificate, wills, passports, identification.
- Copy of vaccination papers
- Copy of insurance policies
Playing cards
Gum—but no mint - it will flavor everything in the pack
Pen & paper
Powdered gatorade
Just because your 72-hour kit is packed, doesn’t mean you’re prepared
You need to TEST your kit. My rule of thumb is every Conference we pull them out and look them over for expired food, clothes that are too small, batteries that are dead, etc.
