While the devastating earthquake in Christchurch New Zealand is still on our minds, we should take the time to examine our own geographical location and decide whether or not it would be a good idea to assemble and earthquake survival kit.
Hint: An earthquake survival kit will work in any situation! No earthquake necessary…
What should I keep in my Earthquake Survival Kit?
Basic Answer: Food and Water
Better Answer: food and water, blanket, a few extra warm clothes, walking shoes, flashlight, knife, backpack
Still Better Answer: food and water, portable water filter, blanket, mylar emergency blanket, a few extra warm clothes, walking shoes, seasonal outerwear/jacket/hat, LED flashlight, knife, backpack, first aid kit, compass, local-regional map, portable AM/shortwave radio, rope, magnesium/flint fire-starter, matches/lighter, some plastic sheeting, roll of TP, emergency documentation list
An Even Better Answer: all of the above and/or whatever else you feel is right for you!
The intended location of the earthquake survival kit will go towards determining what’s inside and how big it is. The two places where you want to keep a survival kit are in your vehicle and at your home.
Perhaps more important is to have a survival kit in the vehicle than at home, because most of us at least have some basic provisions at home while we may not have anything in our vehicles. Most people work somewhere other than their homes, and spend a good part of the day away from home. This all the more reason to keep some basic supplies stashed away in your vehicle for an emergency.
We have a survival kit in each of our vehicles, enough to provide food and water for 3 days for my wife and I (we could stretch it if we had to). It really doesn’t take up that much room. I have all of the food inside of a medium size cooler, which helps to keep the heat away from the food in the summer and is indifferent during the winter. We each have a soft backpack with a some items in each, things like I mention above. We keep a case of bottled water, and a 6-gallon water jug (bottled water is better if you are forced to walk away while using your backpack, and the bulk water is fine for staying near the vehicle – it’s heavy!). Once in a while I tweak the kits a little bit, rotate the food if it’s been in there for 6 – 12 months, and add this and that…
We also have specific provisions at the house, just in case of a major earthquake (we live right in the middle of earthquake country at the moment…
. We keep some extra food and water in our backyard storage shed, and some in the house. In a worst case scenario (hopefully not!), the house could conceivably become uninhabitable, so it is a good idea where possible, to keep extra provisions outside the house, like in a storage shed, etc… We also keep extra drinking water there too.
There is no right or wrong answer as to what is an earthquake survival kit other than it must have water, and food, in that order. Water comes first.
Here is a breakdown of a earthquake survival kit list (vehicle), in no particular order.
Food
Keep foods that are compact, calorie dense, and will store well. Keep enough calories that suit your desires (3 days is a good challenge – about 6,000 calories). Get a variety of foods – think about each individual meal. Do not get foods that require cooking. All canned food is Okay to eat without cooking – be sure it’s calorie rich. Include some sweets like chocolate bars. Avoid very salty food snacks. If you need a can opener, then pack one with your kit. Include a spoon for eating – stay civilized
Water
Plan a minimum of 1 gallon of water per day per person. You may have to walk, so buy enough bottled water so you can add what you need to your backpack if necessary. Also consider keeping a bulk container of water.
Portable water filter
Consider a portable water filter which will be invaluable if you need to resource other water sources.
Blanket
Even in the summer, it gets cool at night. You do not want to be stranded somewhere without adequate warmth. Find a blanket that is compact enough to roll up and tie to your backpack if necessary. You could also consider a compact sleeping bag.
Mylar emergency blanket
Also known as a ‘space blanket’, these compact mylar blankets (the size of a wallet) will reflect lots of body heat back to you if you wrap yourself in it. It’s so small, and so inexpensive, that everyone should have one in each kit. You don’t want to catch hypothermia, and this could save you.
A few extra warm clothes
Bear in mind the season. Consider keeping a change of clothes, or simply an additional medium weight outerwear – something so that if you happen to be out when TSHTF, and you are not dressed properly warm enough, then you will at least have a fallback set of additional clothes to keep warm.
Walking shoes
Again, if you are out and about, and you are wearing ‘dress shoes’ for example, you don’t want to have to walk for miles in something like that. So, keep a pair of sneakers in the vehicle, just in case (socks too).
Seasonal outerwear/jacket/hat
Lightweight raincoat or outwear that will protect from wind and rain. Consider an extra hat, gloves, whatever the season calls for.
LED flashlight
You must purchase a LED flashlight rather than a traditional flashlight (‘Torch’, for our non-U.S. readers). The batteries will last seemingly forever.
Knife
An all purpose knife will have all purpose uses. A must have.
Backpack
A must have, in the event that your vehicle cannot leave the area. Although generally speaking it is wise to stay with the vehicle during disaster, it entirely depends upon the situation. In the winter time, it is generally considered wise to stay with the vehicle. Otherwise, your options are open.
First aid kit
The basics, at least. Band-aids, gauze, tape, disinfectant. The sky’s the limit with building a first aid kit.
Compass
If you need to walk, a compass is good to have. In our own local areas we generally know the lay of the land and the direction to travel. If you are caught outside your area of knowledge though, it would be wise to have a compass, and map, and the know-how to use a compass.
Local-regional map
I believe it is very important to keep local, regional, and wider ranging maps/atlas in the vehicle. These, combined with your compass, will put you at an advantage.
Portable AM/shortwave radio
A small, light weight portable radio will keep you in touch with the disaster as it unfolds. Initially, local stations may be without power. But you still may pick up more distant stations.
Rope
Paracord, or parachute cord is highly recommended. It is light weight, will withstand 500 pounds (get the good stuff), and has unlimited uses. Perfect for helping to make a shelter (drape some plastic sheeting over a length for shelter, etc….
Some plastic sheeting
Plastic sheet material, the type sold for painters, will fold up small. Consider a piece large enough to use for a makeshift shelter to keep you dry. It will fold up nicely into your pack.
Magnesium/flint fire-starter
Fire. You may need it.
Matches/lighter
Fire. You may need it.
Roll of TP
Toilet Paper. Say no more…
Emergency documentation list
A list of phone numbers of emergency contacts including relatives, friends, family, your insurance company, your doctor, things like that.
Hopefully this gave you a few ideas and perhaps the inspiration to build yourself a little emergency kit for your vehicle or home. It’s easy, and it’s fun to put together. You will feel good about it when you are done. It adds a little more peace of mind to your life.
Also, have a look at our sponsor sites for your emergency preparedness supplies.
http://www.prepared.pro/
http://www.directive21.com/
I encourage you to comment on this post, and to share your ideas about emergency kits so that others may benefit as well.
If you enjoyed this, or topics of preparedness, geophysical / current events risks, consider our survival blog RSS feed, new posts by E-mail, or bookmark us at Modern Survival Blog
Modern Survival Blog related posts
72 Hour Kit
Prepper’s New Years Resolutions
UK Motorists suffering Heavy Snow, Icy Roads
Survival Kit Sleeping Bag
2-Way Radios for Emergency Kit or Preps
Posted on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 02:39:34 +0000 at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ModernSurvivalBlog/~3/RaU2AJBKrPU/
Comments: http://modernsurvivalblog.com/preps/earthquake-survival-kit-101/#comments
Hint: An earthquake survival kit will work in any situation! No earthquake necessary…
What should I keep in my Earthquake Survival Kit?
Basic Answer: Food and Water
Better Answer: food and water, blanket, a few extra warm clothes, walking shoes, flashlight, knife, backpack
Still Better Answer: food and water, portable water filter, blanket, mylar emergency blanket, a few extra warm clothes, walking shoes, seasonal outerwear/jacket/hat, LED flashlight, knife, backpack, first aid kit, compass, local-regional map, portable AM/shortwave radio, rope, magnesium/flint fire-starter, matches/lighter, some plastic sheeting, roll of TP, emergency documentation list
An Even Better Answer: all of the above and/or whatever else you feel is right for you!
The intended location of the earthquake survival kit will go towards determining what’s inside and how big it is. The two places where you want to keep a survival kit are in your vehicle and at your home.
Perhaps more important is to have a survival kit in the vehicle than at home, because most of us at least have some basic provisions at home while we may not have anything in our vehicles. Most people work somewhere other than their homes, and spend a good part of the day away from home. This all the more reason to keep some basic supplies stashed away in your vehicle for an emergency.
We have a survival kit in each of our vehicles, enough to provide food and water for 3 days for my wife and I (we could stretch it if we had to). It really doesn’t take up that much room. I have all of the food inside of a medium size cooler, which helps to keep the heat away from the food in the summer and is indifferent during the winter. We each have a soft backpack with a some items in each, things like I mention above. We keep a case of bottled water, and a 6-gallon water jug (bottled water is better if you are forced to walk away while using your backpack, and the bulk water is fine for staying near the vehicle – it’s heavy!). Once in a while I tweak the kits a little bit, rotate the food if it’s been in there for 6 – 12 months, and add this and that…
We also have specific provisions at the house, just in case of a major earthquake (we live right in the middle of earthquake country at the moment…
. We keep some extra food and water in our backyard storage shed, and some in the house. In a worst case scenario (hopefully not!), the house could conceivably become uninhabitable, so it is a good idea where possible, to keep extra provisions outside the house, like in a storage shed, etc… We also keep extra drinking water there too.There is no right or wrong answer as to what is an earthquake survival kit other than it must have water, and food, in that order. Water comes first.
Here is a breakdown of a earthquake survival kit list (vehicle), in no particular order.
Food
Keep foods that are compact, calorie dense, and will store well. Keep enough calories that suit your desires (3 days is a good challenge – about 6,000 calories). Get a variety of foods – think about each individual meal. Do not get foods that require cooking. All canned food is Okay to eat without cooking – be sure it’s calorie rich. Include some sweets like chocolate bars. Avoid very salty food snacks. If you need a can opener, then pack one with your kit. Include a spoon for eating – stay civilized
Water
Plan a minimum of 1 gallon of water per day per person. You may have to walk, so buy enough bottled water so you can add what you need to your backpack if necessary. Also consider keeping a bulk container of water.
Portable water filter
Consider a portable water filter which will be invaluable if you need to resource other water sources.
Blanket
Even in the summer, it gets cool at night. You do not want to be stranded somewhere without adequate warmth. Find a blanket that is compact enough to roll up and tie to your backpack if necessary. You could also consider a compact sleeping bag.
Mylar emergency blanket
Also known as a ‘space blanket’, these compact mylar blankets (the size of a wallet) will reflect lots of body heat back to you if you wrap yourself in it. It’s so small, and so inexpensive, that everyone should have one in each kit. You don’t want to catch hypothermia, and this could save you.
A few extra warm clothes
Bear in mind the season. Consider keeping a change of clothes, or simply an additional medium weight outerwear – something so that if you happen to be out when TSHTF, and you are not dressed properly warm enough, then you will at least have a fallback set of additional clothes to keep warm.
Walking shoes
Again, if you are out and about, and you are wearing ‘dress shoes’ for example, you don’t want to have to walk for miles in something like that. So, keep a pair of sneakers in the vehicle, just in case (socks too).
Seasonal outerwear/jacket/hat
Lightweight raincoat or outwear that will protect from wind and rain. Consider an extra hat, gloves, whatever the season calls for.
LED flashlight
You must purchase a LED flashlight rather than a traditional flashlight (‘Torch’, for our non-U.S. readers). The batteries will last seemingly forever.
Knife
An all purpose knife will have all purpose uses. A must have.
Backpack
A must have, in the event that your vehicle cannot leave the area. Although generally speaking it is wise to stay with the vehicle during disaster, it entirely depends upon the situation. In the winter time, it is generally considered wise to stay with the vehicle. Otherwise, your options are open.
First aid kit
The basics, at least. Band-aids, gauze, tape, disinfectant. The sky’s the limit with building a first aid kit.
Compass
If you need to walk, a compass is good to have. In our own local areas we generally know the lay of the land and the direction to travel. If you are caught outside your area of knowledge though, it would be wise to have a compass, and map, and the know-how to use a compass.
Local-regional map
I believe it is very important to keep local, regional, and wider ranging maps/atlas in the vehicle. These, combined with your compass, will put you at an advantage.
Portable AM/shortwave radio
A small, light weight portable radio will keep you in touch with the disaster as it unfolds. Initially, local stations may be without power. But you still may pick up more distant stations.
Rope
Paracord, or parachute cord is highly recommended. It is light weight, will withstand 500 pounds (get the good stuff), and has unlimited uses. Perfect for helping to make a shelter (drape some plastic sheeting over a length for shelter, etc…
.Some plastic sheeting
Plastic sheet material, the type sold for painters, will fold up small. Consider a piece large enough to use for a makeshift shelter to keep you dry. It will fold up nicely into your pack.
Magnesium/flint fire-starter
Fire. You may need it.
Matches/lighter
Fire. You may need it.
Roll of TP
Toilet Paper. Say no more…
Emergency documentation list
A list of phone numbers of emergency contacts including relatives, friends, family, your insurance company, your doctor, things like that.
Hopefully this gave you a few ideas and perhaps the inspiration to build yourself a little emergency kit for your vehicle or home. It’s easy, and it’s fun to put together. You will feel good about it when you are done. It adds a little more peace of mind to your life.
Also, have a look at our sponsor sites for your emergency preparedness supplies.
http://www.prepared.pro/
http://www.directive21.com/
I encourage you to comment on this post, and to share your ideas about emergency kits so that others may benefit as well.
If you enjoyed this, or topics of preparedness, geophysical / current events risks, consider our survival blog RSS feed, new posts by E-mail, or bookmark us at Modern Survival Blog
Modern Survival Blog related posts
72 Hour Kit
Prepper’s New Years Resolutions
UK Motorists suffering Heavy Snow, Icy Roads
Survival Kit Sleeping Bag
2-Way Radios for Emergency Kit or Preps
Posted on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 02:39:34 +0000 at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ModernSurvivalBlog/~3/RaU2AJBKrPU/
Comments: http://modernsurvivalblog.com/preps/earthquake-survival-kit-101/#comments