Living on the Gulf Coast most of my life I have experienced my fair share of natural disasters, well mostly hurricanes but you get my point. Anyway, after living through such hurricanes as Katrina, Rita, and Gustav I have found that having a survival kit is a MUST have tool in the event of natural disasters that limit your families ability to travel, eat, and have clean water. Often when a disaster strikes you are limited to what you can do in getting food and water for hours, days and even weeks. After Hurricane Gustav in 2008 most of Baton Rouge was without power for several weeks and most stores were not open to get the everyday items we so often take for granted. Being that many disasters can happen suddenly (think tornado or earthquake) it is always good to be prepared. That is why I recommend that ALL families have at least one survival kit handy in the event that basic needs are not readily available.
Your basic family survival kit should be able to care for 4 people for at least 72 hours. The kit should include, but not be limited to, the following:
* Foods that require no refrigeration, have a long shelf life, and require little or no water to prepare, such as ready-to-eat canned goods, protein bars, dried fruit and crackers
* Water (At least 1 gallon per person per day, for drinking and sanitation)
* N95 respiratory masks or comparable make
* Moist towelettes
* Alcohol-based, waterless hand sanitizer
* Toothpaste and toothbrush
* At least a one-month supply of prescription medications
* First-aid book
* Medication for fever and pain relief
* Batteries
* Waterproof matches
* Crank Radio
Disaster preparedness may not be a fun topic, but it’s a smart way to protect yourself and your family. In a disaster, essential services, such as electricity, telephone and health care, may be disrupted or shut down. Supermarkets, hardware stores and gas stations may run out of supplies. Be prepared by assembling a survival kit to get you through these tough times.
You should have supplies to last everyone in your household — including pets — for at least three days. Store supplies in a cool, dry place in easy-to-carry containers in case there’s a need to evacuate. Check and replace any supplies past their expiration dates. Adapt this supply list to suit your specific needs. For more information on disaster preparedness, check out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website.
You never know when a disaster will strike so it’s always better to be safe then sorry. Be looking for links to some of the survival companies I endorse and support in the Links section in the coming days. Until next time.
Much love,
Shawn
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