I have had a nagging feeling the last several months to get prepared. Spiritually? Well yes, there is always the path to having a connection to your higher power and inspiration, but I am talking a little more general.

With all the evacuations even this week with the fires in California, I think it would be nice if each person had a pack of your own belongings to get you by for awhile.
I grew up in a home where the belief was that you needed a two years supply of food. We canned and we bottled and stored food all my life. In my first marriage this continued, he bought food storage with our income tax returns. I was living with gross hand me down furniture, but there was a crap load of storage in my basement that I hadn’t a clue to know what to do with it or if I ever needed it.
So, in my own quest for being prepared I have felt with the upcoming disasters or economic troubles a good 72 hour kit might be a good start. The main function of this kit is for quick evacuation from a disaster location. It is kept updated and prepared so people in crisis don’t have to take the time to pull things together.
So I gathered a bunch of bags and started my search for “the List” as I call it. (I have several of them!)
This is the basic 72 hour kit list that I’ve complied from several I’ve had floating around and from internet searches.

Essential 72 hour kit:
Emergency Contact Binder:
• Information of all family members including pictures. Phone numbers, addresses.
• Bank account, homeowners info, insurance info, utility company – policy numbers and phone numbers
• Copies of birth certificates
• Copies of marriage license
• Copy of deed to the house
• Social security numbers
• Copies of car info and insurance ID cards
• Copy of passports
*Keep in sheet protectors in a binder at the top of the bag, and then you have it available quickly.
*Medications
*Cash $50-$100 in small bills &10 in quarters
*3- day supply of food/water
*Change of clothing/shoes: Long Shirt, long pants, jacket, 3 pair of underwear, 3 pairs of socks, hat,  gloves, shoes,
*4 Cooking source/fuel
*2-4 emergency candles w/holders
*Matches/ Flint & Steel*Batteries
*Water Purification Tablets
*Compass
*Whistle
*Utility Knife
*Waterproof Fire Sticks/ Light Sticks
*Radio – wind up or batteries
*Flash lights w/batteries
*Lighters
*Compact Camping plates/bowl/utensils
*Camping cup for measuring and drinking
*Tube Tent/tarp
*30 hour Emergency Candle
*Liquid dish soap
*Trash Bags
*Tin Foil
*60 ft. Nylon Cord
*Tarp
*Pliers
*Dust Masks
*Gloves
*Garbage bags/ties
*Water boxes
*Hammer
*Shovel
*Toilet Paper
*Duct Tape
*Ponchos
*Hand and feet warmers
*Scissors
*Razor
*Pen/paper
*Blanket/sleeping bag
*Body warmer

Toiletries & First Aid
*Mini Shampoo/Conditioner
*Toothbrush/paste
*Hand Sanitizer
*Lip Balm
*Tampons/Pads
*Wipes
*Facial Wipes
*Contact solution
*Body Wash/soap
*Q-tips
*Mini deodorant
*Sewing kit
*Kleenex
*First Aid: (bandages, Band-Aids, Neosporin, medicines) oral gel, Imodium, allergy pills,
*Essential oils: Lavender, Melaleuca, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Oregano, Oil Blends: Purify, On guard, Deep Blue, Terra Shield

 

Child’s Bug Out Bag

Not as scary as 72 hour emergency kits and you should have talks with your children and have them help pack what goes in them!

Children’s packs should include:
comfort items; Activity books, small games, crayons, etc. They could also include a teddy bear or stuffed animal or comfort blanket.
Food and snacks; appropriate for their age and what they eat. Fruit snacks, granola bars, drink boxes, easy mac and cheese etc. Pudding cups, fruit cups, baggies of dry cereal, also bubble gum is fun if they can chew gum, pureed baby food, and their utensils.

Include: formula and bottles along with water if still drinking bottles, and baby food if applicable.
Emergency kit; should include fun band aids, glow sticks, antibiotic ointment and a couple of gauze pads and small role of tape.

Include in their kit: flashlight, glow sticks, a whistle, rain poncho, dust mask, contact information, hand sanitizer and small pocket knife (if age appropriate.) baby wipes, shampoo, soap, baby powder, desitin, wash cloth and towel.

Diapers and such need to be included as well if they use them.
May I suggest you count how many bottles and diapers you use in a three day period and pack accordingly (Me, I’d add a few extra if I had little ones!)

 

Ideas for 3 Day Food Supply for One
Day 1
Breakfast 2 Granola bars, 1 can juice
Lunch 1 pkg Lipton soup, 1 pkg crackers
Dinner 2 pkg beef sticks, 1 fruit roll
Snack 9 pieces of candy
Day 2
Breakfast 1 hot chocolate mix, 1 fruit roll
Lunch 2 pkg beef sticks, 1 pudding cup
Dinner 1 canned soup, 1 pkg crackers
Snack 9 pieces of candy
Day 3
Breakfast 1 fruit roll, I Capri Sun pouch
Lunch 1 pkg Ramen Noodles, 1 pkg crackers
Dinner 2 granola bars, 1 pkg nuts, 1 hot chocolate
Snack 9 pieces of candy, 1pkg cookies

EXTRA ITEMS TO KEEP WITH YOUR CONTAINER
Water- 2 liters per day
Small can opener
Plastic utensils
Garbage bags
Container to heat soups and drinks
Oatmeal packets
Cocoa packets
Jerky
Instant oatmeal
Gum
Vienna sausage
Tuna/Chicken
Crackers
Soup- Cans and/or  top ramen/cup a noodle
V-8’s
Powdered Soup packages
Granola Bars
Fruit Rolls
Trail mix
Canned juice
Gatorade
Fruit cups

*Make a list of expiration dates and keep on the outside of the kit. Check regularly and update!

**Now, you can add or subtract from this list as you see fit to fit your needs.

***If you are a pet owner, DO NOT FORGET these furry family members. Remember to pack for them too!!!

EARTHQUAKE ADVICE:
Here are pieces of an article I read from Doug Copp. He was a rescue Chief and Disaster Manager for the American Rescue Team.
He says that millions of people can survive if they use what he calls the “triangle of life” instead of the duck and cover method.
I know growing up we were always told to hide under our desk. But the heavy things above can crush the desk and crush whoever is underneath it to the thickness of their bones! Instead crawl up into the fetal position next to the heaviest thickest object. Because when things fall on top of this it leaves a void next to it. Making the “triangle”
So here are some tips:
1. Move next to the heaviest thickest object
2. Cats and dogs and babies naturally curl up in a fetal position. This is instinct survival position.
3. Wooden buildings are the safest to be in because wood is flexible.
4. If you are in bed during an earthquake, just roll off your bed and crawl to the foot of the bed or a large sofa or chair.
5. Get next to the outside walls. Near a window not under it. This is easier for rescue or escape. If you are under the window you have a greater chance of getting cut from broken glass.
6. DO NOT go to the door jam, they get crushed very easily
7. DO NOT go to the stairwells, they have a different momentum during an earthquake and therefore collapse differently and one can get horribly mutilated.
8. Try to get outside away from the building. The farther out you are the less chance you can get hurt.
9. Get out of your car! All crushed cars have around a 3 foot void of triangle around them.
10. If you are in an office get around the stack of paper, paper doesn’t compact! Large voids are around the paper!

Stay safe and be prepared! Good luck!