Survival Kits | Home Survival Supplies

In the United States we don’t experience the natural national disasters that a lot of the world does such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and raging typhoons. We do have our own local emergencies caused by hurricanes, blizzards, ice storms, tornadoes, and floods that leave us without electrical power for days and a loss of home for some. It happens every year and affects tens of thousands of people and most are ill prepared for these disasters.

During disaster situations you may need to survive on your own before any assistance can arrive to help you. This means you should have survival kit that consists of your own food, water, and other survival supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours, preferably longer. A 30 to 60 day supply is not unreasonable.

Following a disaster local officials and relief workers arrive on the scene but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in a few hours, or it might take days or even weeks if you live in a rural area.  Basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days or weeks. So ask yourself how you and your family are going to survive.  

Personal survival or the threat of not surviving a disaster is not necessarily a concept that many Americans contemplate. They seem to believe that disasters always happen to other people in some foreign place, never at home. Well we know that is not true and believe that every household should be prepared for a disaster by having a survival kit that consists of the emergency supplies necessary to sustain life.

Your emergency supplies depend upon your family situation; quantity of food and water, medicine, and equipment essential for sustaining life until assistance arrives. The items and quantity of emergency supplies in your survival kit also depends if you live in a residential urban area or a more remote suburban area.

For example, having sufficient water is the most crucial item for survival. The average healthy person can survive without eating for seven days providing they have sufficient water. If you depend upon a public water source it may be shut down. Therefore, you should have a gallon of water per day for each person for at least three days. If you have your own well and it has a hand pump you don’t have to be concerned with storing water as part of your survival supplies. If you preserve vegetables and fruit every year you don’t need necessarily need a large amount of food items in your survival kit. The listing below is recommended for a basic emergency survival kit. The items for your kit will depend on your preferences and needs.

Recommended items for a basic emergency survival kit:

1. Water, preferably one gallon containers. Larger containers may become contaminated before being used.

2. First aid kit.

3. Food items for at least 72 hours. Food should be non-perishable such as dried or canned food that does not require cooking before eating. Include powdered milk if there are children to consider.

• Candles

• Battery-powered or hand crank radio with extra batteries.

• Flashlights and extra batteries. 

• Signal device to signal for help such as a whistle and flashlight.

• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air.

• Plastic sheeting and duct tape

• Moist towelettes

• Garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.

• Five gallon pales or buckets to use as toilets unless you have a chemical toilet.

• Basic hand tool kit (pliers, hammer, hand saw, ax, screw drivers).

• Can opener.  

• Cell phone with chargers.

• Prescription medications and glasses.

• Infant formula and diapers.

• Pet food and extra water for pets.

• Important family documents such as insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container.

• Cash, travelers checks and change.

• Emergency reference first aid book.  

• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person adequate for climate.

• Change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes.

• Chlorine bleach for disinfecting water.  A tablespoon of bleach in one gallon of water will do the job.

• Fire Extinguisher

• Matches in a waterproof container.

• Personal hygiene items.

• Paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels.

• Writing material.

• Books, games, and puzzles.

• Optional Items:

• Generator and fuel for generator

• Gas cooking stove or grill with fuel