Creating a survival preparation checklist and putting all the steps and supplies in place before a disaster strikes immediately sets you apart from the majority of people around you.
Think about the last time you watched a disaster situation unfold on the news. You saw heartbreak, devastation, confusion, panic, empty shelves in the stores and mile long (or more) lines of cars waiting (hoping) to buy vital supplies like food, water, gas, propane and more.
Creating a survival preparation checklist that is individual to your needs and family is the first step to increasing your chances of survival in an emergency situation and decreases the associated worries and stresses that will happen.
The Basics to have on Your Survival Preparation Checklist:
- Evacuation plan for your home
- Communication Plan for you and your loved ones (contact locations – people)
- First Aid Kit
- A portable emergency survival kit (more in-depth details of what to have in your kit found here )
- 1 Gallon of water per person – per day (minimum 3 day or 72 hour supply)
- Food – enough for 3 days per person in your family – non – perishable & storable
- Flashlight & extra batteries (be sure to replace the batteries regularly)
- Battery powered or hand crank radio
- Tools to turn off utilities
- Waterproof matches or firestarter
Additional Important Items to Consider for your personalized Checklist:
- Copies of Important documents (insurance, birth certificates, passport information, banking information etc) stored in a waterproof container
- Copies of important family keepsakes – photos, videos, etc (beyond the loss of life, these can be devastating to a family to lose in a disaster)
- A small supply of prescription medicine or other specific medical needs you or someone in your family needs over several days
- A change of clothes (consider your region and the possible weather throughout the year)
- Sanitation items – toilet paper – feminine needs – diapers
- Cash or traveler’s checks (imagine ATM’s & Banks & Credit Card machines being down)
- Mess Kit – paper plates – cups – trash bags – eating utensils – cooking pot
- Portable Stove with fuel source
- A deck of cards (waiting out a crisis situation is stressful and time will drag painfully slow. A small source of entertainment can be good for mental wellness)
- If you have children – pack for their individual needs, including entertainment supplies (coloring books, etc)
- Pet food and water for them
When you make your checklist and start acquiring (and checking off) the needed supplies, plan for at least 3 days – but feel free to stockpile and make plans for a longer amount of time.
The first 72 hours are critical, but historically, some disaster situations extend beyond 3 days and those who have prepared for at least 2 weeks without help or modern conveniences hold out much better than those who did nothing to prepare at all.
You can prepare your home well ahead of any unpredictable crisis and you can also pack the trunk of your vehicle for any survival situations you could encounter when you are away from home.
No one ever regrets being over prepared.