My Emergency "Grab 'n Go" Bag; aka. 72 hour kit

1. Adequate Supply of Clean, Potable Water
2. Protection from Injury, and the Elements (aka. find shelter, stay warm & dry)
3. Maintenance of Health (eat well, don't get sick, or injured)

• Where are you going to run to? How will you get there?

1. Grab it at the onset of a disaster, and find safety (e.g. under a rock, under your bed, outside of the building, or in the next town).
2. After relative safety¹ has been found, make sure you are unhurt and healthy. (1: safety may be found 5 minutes afterwards, or after one hour; it may be right where disaster strikes or half a kilometer away. You must use your own judgement)
3. Dress into the clothing found within the bag. [Put on the boots, socks, shirt, and so on].
4. Attach tools to your belt, throw other items into your pant pockets, and store the rest (including your previous clothes) in the backpack.
5. Start to deal with the situation at hand (help others in need, find better shelter/safety, phone emergency services, and so on..)
6. Find and secure a source of clean, potable water. You will be exerting yourself and will need to drink to replenish.
7. Reach your final destination (pre-determined) using the maps and papers stored in the bag

Water Purification Tablets Why? To purify the water you will need to drink in order to stay hydrated. Description and Use The tablets are placed in the water (even if it looks clean!), and then you wait. Some tablets require up to 4 hours of treatment time before the water can be considered clean and ready to drink. I recommend the Potable Aqua brand Chlorine Dioxide Tablets. Iodine tablets are not recommended because they are not intended to neutralize viruses or protozoa cryptosporidum. You will treat *all* water you intend to put in your mouth, because you can never be sure of its purity. This includes water you want to use to brush your teeth. Where to purchase At REI.com: http://www.rei.com/. Expect to pay $13.00 USD per 30 tablets. Water Purification Equipment Why? To purify the water you will need to drink in order to stay hydrated. Purification tablets may run out or not be enough. Description and Use The water purifier, using mechanical processes in addition to chemical (as with Chlorine Dioxide described above) may be necessary if you run out of purification tablets. Make sure you understand there is a difference between a water "filter" and a water "purifier". A water filter does remove bacteria like a purifier does, but only a purifier can inactivate any viruses in the water. A filter is good, but a purifier is better. As described above, you will treat *all* water you intend to put in your mouth, because you can never be sure of its purity. This includes water you want to use to brush your teeth. Where to purchase At REI.com: http://www.rei.com/. Expect to pay $100.00 USD Water Bottle (32 oz or more) Why? You will need a container in which to purify and store water. Description and Use The container should be at least one or two quarts in size. Common water containers are made of Nalgene or Lexan. A wide mouth container is highly recommended, a small mouth container is not. Color may not matter greatly, but if you can buy one that is clear, I recommend it. That will allow you to see the water's color and contents more easily. Where to purchase At REI.com: http://www.rei.com/. Expect to pay $8.00 USD or more Safety Toe Boots (Steel toe or composite toe) Why? You will need to protect your feet from broken glass, exposed nails, water, creatures, dirt, etc.. Description and Use They need to be as light and as comfortable as possible. It is so important, I want you to make sure you follow these three rules: Make sure they fit well and don't hurt your feet Make sure they fit well and don't hurt your feet Make sure they fit well and don't hurt your feet That means you need to test them out, and after buying them, break them in by wearing them for a while. A composite toe may make them lighter than if they had a steel toe, so I recommend a composite toe (additionally, it may not get as cold in winter time as a steel toe, helping you to stay warm and save your toes from frostbite). A good place to find tough, protective boots that must be worn all day long is at a police supply store. Police officers must wear boots for 10 to 12 hours a day, so no one knows a good boot better than a police officer. One last thing: do buy boots, not sneakers, slippers, or extra cool hiking shoes. Buy boots! Where to purchase At Galls.com: http://www.galls.com/. Expect to pay $100.00 USD If you feel like being even more fanatical, you can buy Kevlar shoe laces for your boots. They only cost $3.00 USD and are sold by Duluth Trading Company. Leather Gloves, with Additional Cut Protection Why? To protect your hands during escape or disaster recovery from broken glass, rusty metal, and other sharp objects. Cut free hands = continued health, especially in the case where standing water may very well be contaminated with bacteria, or human sewage, which can enter your body through cuts on your hands. Description and Use The outer layer should be a good, strong leather. For additional protection, purchase gloves with an inner layer of kevlar, spectra, or some cut resistant weave. Again, no one knows better cut-resistant gloves better than a police officer, so a good place to buy them would be at a police supply store. Good gloves to buy would be the "Friskmaster Max® Gloves" made by the company "Hatch". If you do not feel like paying a lot of money for gloves, buy some leather work or gardening gloves. Where to purchase At Galls.com: http://www.galls.com/ Expect to pay $50.00 USD At BladeRunner.tv http://www.bladerunner.tv/ Expect to pay £39.99 British Pounds 2-pairs of Hiking Socks Why? To protect your feet from blisters, and keep them dry and healthy. Owning two pairs allows you to change them frequently, so that your feet can stay dry. Pack at least 2 pairs of socks! Description and Use They should be hiking socks, not regular gym socks, because they are made to withstand greater use. If you live in a climate with winter seasons, you may want hiking socks with a wool blend, but for those who live in warmer climates, try to find socks that are not made for warm weather. I recommend Wigam brand hiking socks, with X-Static® technology to help keep you cool and free from microbes. To be more specific, I recommend the Wigwam Ultimax Silver Boot sock model F6201, or the Wigwam Ultimax X-Static Silver Hiker Crew Socks. You will wear one pair while the other is kept safe and dry. After your feet become wet, or overly sweaty, take the socks off, wash/rinse/dry your feet and change into the dry pair of socks. Wash the pair you just took off. Let that newly-washed pair dry so you can repeat the process again in the near future.You can hang the recently washed pair on the back of your backpack.(This is why you must pack at least two pairs of socks) Where to purchase At REI.com: http://www.rei.com/ Expect to pay $14.00 USD per pair of socks Consult Wigwam directly: http://www.wigwam.com/ Rugged, Long Sleeved Outdoor Shirt Why? To cover your upper body and arms so they are protected from cuts, winds, the sun, and the cold. Also offers protection from bugs, such as mosquitos. The shirt you will be wearing at the time of the disaster may very well be too thin, short-sleeved, or casual. This one will replace it. Description and Use It should be rugged (canvas is a good option), button-down and long-sleeved. If it gets hot you can always unbutton it and roll up the sleeves. If you were to pack a short-sleeved shirt, you would not have enough protection for your arms. Men and women should buy the same type of shirt, just in different sizes. Where to purchase The Duluth Trading Company (http://www.duluthtrading.com/) sells a very good, heavy duty canvas shirt for $39.50 called the "Long Sleeve Fire Hose Shirt". I cannot even get dress shirts for that price, and it's canvas! Pants; Cargo and/or Sturdy Why? You will need to cover your legs, and the pants or shorts you may be wearing at the time of the disaster, emergency or riot may not be suitable for fleeing, camping out, or working. For example, "it" may happen while you are sleeping in your pajamas, swimming in your pool, mowing your lawn, working at the office while wearing a suit or skirt, etc.. Description and Use They should be purchased in your size, designed for outdoor or work use, and contain multiple pockets. They will protect your legs from cuts, bugs, the sun, the cold, and provide enough pockets that they are useful to store items. Put them on when you reach safety, along with the other items (shirt, socks, etc..). I pack in my bag Kevlar-laced work jeans from the Duluth Trading Company. They are thin enough that I don't heat up, they have lots of big pockets and are sturdy. Though, a note of warning: jeans become heavy when they get wet. You may instead want to pack cargo pants made of a different material. Where to purchase The Duluth Trading Company (http://www.duluthtrading.com/) sells a very good work pants from $35.00 to $70.00 USD. Another company that sells good outdoor pants is REI.com Soap or Camping Soap Why? To help you wash yourself, to keep clean and hygienic, and for the cleaning of clothes, dishes, and bottles. Description and Use You will use this to wash your hands, face, utensils, plates, cups, hiking socks, and anything else that may occur to you. I recommend "Campsuds" made by Sierra Dawn. Campsuds soap will generate suds even in salt water, can be used on dishes as well as clothes, and is biodegradable. Where to purchase At REI.com A four ounce bottle costs $3.95 Towel, Super Absorbent and thin Why? To help you wash and dry your hands, face, body, or other objects. You will need to keep clean, and you will need a towel to make that happen. Description and Use Though any medium-sized towel, will do, I recommend one that is super-absorbent. The Aquis brand towels are thin, super-asorbent, and mold resistant. They are the perfect option because they will add very little weight to your bag and take up very little space. Where to purchase From Amazon.com, H2O Plus, REI.com... expect to pay $20 to $30 USD. LED Headlamp & Extra Batteries Why? Having something to illuminate your field of view is essential. Instead of using a regular flashlight, I recommend a headlamp. It will free up your hands. Description and Use Using a headlamp frees up both hands. LED headlamps are very bright, the bulbs last quite a long time, and they use up less energy. Place it on your head, turn it on, and continue to work on handling the emergency, read the map, or whatever you need to do. Keep two sets of batteries with this headlamp. Where to purchase REI: http://www.rei.com/. Some recommended brands of headlamps are Petzl, Princeton, and Black Diamond. Laminated Folding Maps (two, or more) Why? To know where to go, and how to get there, in case you need to evacuate or flee. This is, after all, an Emergency Evacuation Kit... a "Grab and Go" bag.... Description and Use You need a map of the state, province, or area that surrounds/neighbors where you live, in addition to the one you live and work in. Make sure they are laminated (covered in a permanent, clear plastic protector) and can fold. They *will* get wet, so make sure they are laminated. A recommended choice is the Rand McNally Easyfinder series. If you don't want to buy too many maps, at least get one that covers the area you live in, and a second one that is a nearby state, or province, where you will most likely, run, walk or drive to during evacuation. For example, get a map for the area where you have family or friends, if you own a cabin there, or it is in a path of escape that you have decided to use in case of a future catastrophe. Again, I recommend you pack two (2) maps. One for where you are, and one for where you will evacuate to. Mark on the maps, with a permanent marker, the locations of your home, your place of work, and where you may run to! Where to purchase Wherever they sell folding, laminated travel maps. In the USA, at the Rand McNally Store: http://www.randmcnally.com/ Addresses, Phone Numbers and Evacuation Routes Why? You will need to call for help from municipal services, contact family members, neighbors, or friends, to learn that they are okay or to find out if they can help you. Additionally, you can document an agreed upon meeting location, as well as your evacuation route. Description and Use It is a piece of paper that has areas for you to write down the names and phone numbers of nearby hospitals, friends, family members, neighbors, and emergency services. It should also contain an area for you to document an agreed upon emergency meeting location, as well as your evacuation route. You may want to add other bits of information that may help you. Where to purchase They can be found for free, in books, or you can make your own. A succinct example that I have made can be downloaded and printed out: Microsoft Word Format PDF Format Money (Cash) Why? To pay for food, lodging, supplies, medicines, or transportation out of the danger zone. Description and Use The amount of money you should pack is up to you, and must be based on personal judgement. Take into consideration the local costs of things such as food, lodging, medicines, and transportation. You may use this money to purchase a bus or train ticket, or you may use it to stay at a nearby hotel. It is also highly likely that you will use it to buy food. So, choose an amount accordingly. First Aid Kit Why? To disinfect and cover minor cuts, abrasions and scratches. Such minor wounds are common and a kit to handle them is essential. Description and Use Use or learn some common knowledge of first aid along with this kit to help yourself or others with their minor wounds. If you can, pack a 2nd or 3rd generation antibiotic that will cover the most common or expected bacteria that you will encounter. Where to purchase http://www.SafetyCentral.com http://www.cases4less.com/ (their waterproof first aid kits) Knife Why? To cut food, rope, tape, clothing, tarps, bags, etc.. Description and Use Any knife sufficiently large enough that it is considered bigger than a pocket knife, but not so large that it looks like a small machete. A six inch blade is a good, average size. A four inch blade may suit you better. Some may recommend a fixed blade versus a folding knife, I don't really want to get into that discussion. Use your best judgement. I personally carrier the Oceanmaster Beta Titanium "Server" folding knife. Where to purchase Outdoor/camping stores, diving supply stores, etc... Expect to pay $50.00 USD or more. Food (Mainstay "3600" Rations; Coast Guard Approved) Why? You will need to eat. Food may be hard to come by. Description and Use Others may recommend canned goods, but I do not. Instead of just putting any kind of food in my kit, and recommending you do the same, I resort to something more specific. I only recommend Mainstay brand rations. They have a five year shelf life, they are non-thirst provoking, they withstand extreme temperatures, are sealed in packages that do not allow oxygen transfer, are pre-cut into 400 calorie meals, are enriched with vitamins and minerals, and they taste good! They do not need to be cooked or heated up before eating. They were made for active, high-stress situations. They are compact enough that one package is the size of a hardcover book and that package is good enough for one person, for three days. Use your best judgement and calculations when deciding how many packets to purchase. I recommend two or three. If you do not wish to pack Mainstay rations, do try to pack something that is meant for camping or military use. That means it is most likely freeze-dried or dehyrdrated, it is packed in a rugged can or bag, and will have a shelf life of many years. Its calorie content should also be formulated for situations requiring above normal exertion. Where to purchase From http://www.preparedness.com/ or http://www.nitro-pak.com/. Expect to pay $8.00 USD to $15.00 USD per Mainstay 3600 pack. Rain Poncho Why? It may rain, and you don't want to be caught in the rain without protection. Being wet slows you down, lowers your defenses, and lead to fungal issues. A poncho can also shield you from winds, helping to keep you even warmer. Description and Use It is a plastic, vinyl, or nylon poncho that fits over your clothing. It is meant to be put on to protect you from the rain, and usually does a darn good job of it. The cheap, plastic ponchos made for survival purposes are *small*! They are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, so they will not take up any great amount of space in your bag. If you wish to purchase and pack a larger poncho, feel free to do so, but keep in mind it will take up more room. Where to purchase Compact, vinyl ponchos: http://www.campmor.com/ Expect to pay 50 cents to $4.00 USD Rugged, larger nylon poncho: http://www.duluthtrading.com/ Expect to pay $20.00 USD Rain Hat (Boonie Hat) Why? It may rain, and you don't want to be caught in the rain without protection. You will also need protection from the sun. Description and Use It is made of cotton, or nylon, and is worn on the head. The brim goes all around the hat, protecting all sides and the back of the head and neck. Make sure it is "boonie hat", which contains coverage on all sides, not a baseball hat. It can be folded compactly so that it takes up very little space in your bag, much like the poncho. Lighter colors are recommended because they reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it. If you are in an area of the world that gets cold (e.g. winters), pack a wool cap as well. Where to purchase From Amazon.com, or REI.com. Expect to pay $9.00 USD on average Also try to find them at your local Army Surplus store. Shelter (Tent, Tarp, Garbage Bags, etc.) Why? So you can shield yourself from wind, rain, sleet, and other forms of undesirable weather. They will make you cold, lower your bodies defenses, or make you miserable. Description and Use Use your imagination. A good tarp, small enough to fit in your bag but large enough to be suspended and cover you, is a good option. Other options may be to pack some thick, black, garbage bags which can be used for a variety of options (e.g. wrapping around your feet and body if you run into water, floods, etc...) aside from a makeshift tent. Make sure you pack some rope, or tent pins, or other devices that you can use to suspend your covering. If you can find a compact, one or two person tent that will not weigh you down, and is affordable, then that is a good option as well. A good example of such a tent is the "Wenzel StarLite Tent - Ultralight Solo" sold at Campmor.com for $30.00 USD. It packs down to 6 in X 19 in and weighs 3.5 pounds. I personally prefer a tarp, hung over a rope, between two poles or walls (and hanging over my hammock). Moreover a tarp can be used for other purposes, such as moving/transporting anyone who is hurt, it can be laid on the ground to protect you from getting wet, it can cover a broken window to block the wind or rain, etc.. Where to purchase Camping stores (tents - $30 and up), or hardware stores (tarps, plastic, garbage bags - $2 to $20). Personal Hygiene Tolietries Why? You will need to brush your teeth, floss, shave, and definitely apply powder to deoderize and keep you dry. Description and Use Pack a toothbrush, toothpaste, and body/foot powder. You will use the powder in lieu of deoderant, and you will apply it to your feet to keep them dry. Include a roll of toilet paper too. The Campsuds, mentioned earlier on this list, will be your soap and shampoo. Where to purchase From supermarkets and drug stores. Buy travel size items. Portable Radio & extra batteries Why? To listen to emergency weather reports, or for updates about the disaster/emergency, rescue, or relief. Description and Use It should be compact, and have at least AM/FM capabilities, and possibly pick up the NOAA weather stations. Pack two sets of batteries for the radio. I recommend the American Red Cross FR400 Emergency Radio. It has a hand crank that allows it to be powered without batteries. The prudent and pro-active should find out beforehand which stations will broadcast emergency news and write that on the radio using a fine-point permanent marker. Where to purchase From electronic stores, or Amazon.com. Expect to pay $12.00 USD to $60.00 USD depending on its capabilities and weather resistance. Fire Source; Disposable Lighter Why? To start fires, for cooking or for warmth. You can also use it for light. Description and Use The famous, commonly stocked, "Bic" lighter. It is cheap, small, and works very well. If you wish to carry matches, do so. I carry a lighter because I find it easier to use. There is no risk of the lighter getting wet, like matches can. Think seriously about carrying magnesium fire sticks too. Where to purchase From drug stores, gas stations, liquor stores. Nearly everywhere. Quick Reference Emergency Books Why? I honestly don't think that it is time to crack open a book and learn about how to handle a disaster/emergency when that disaster is actually happening. It is best to learn basic survival and first aid skills beforehand. However, I do recommend a set of books that are meant for quick reference and may actually help in your time of need. Not everyone has time to learn about these topics, though they are important, so having these pocket guides may be helpful. Description and Use They are made by Pocket Guides Publishing, Inc. and are "virtually indestructible". They are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, are made of etched PVC so they are waterproof and the text will not rub off or fade away. Each one covers a separate topic and is written by experts in that genre. I pack four (4) different Pocket Guides so I can have small references regarding automotive repair, hiking/backpacking, outdoor survival, and first aid. The reasoning is that when a disaster/emergency strikes and you are fleeing it with this bag, you may do so in a car, on foot, or in the woods, and at the same time be harmed and need first aid. You may need a quick reference to help you with common automotive repairs, pointers on how to construct a shelter, find food, water, and heal wounds. I have found these pocket guides to be very well made and informative enough that they may help those with little training, who need quick answers. The four books are as follows: Pocket Guide To Hiking / Backpacking [ISBN: 0-9711007-0-5] Pocket Guide To Outdoor Survival [ISBN: 1-931676-08-9] Pocket Guide To Emergency First Aid [ISBN: 0-9711007-7-2] Pocket Guide To Auto Maintenance & Emergency Repair [ISBN: 0-9711007-8-0] Where to purchase From http://www.adventurepublications.net/. Expect to pay $12.95 per pocket guide.

• Emergency Disaster Survival Guidebook by Doug King [ISBN: 978-1883736101]
• Crisis Preparedness Handbook by Jack A. Spigarelli [ISBN: 978-0936348070]
• Tom Brown's Guide to City and Suburban Survival by Tom Brown [ISBN: 978-0425091722]
• The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker [ISBN: 978-0440226192] - I recommend this book to everyone. It reminds you to listen to your fears, and not override them. Useful for evacuating when the authorities say so and you don't feel like it. Useful for staying safe after the disaster strikes and you are amongst people who may fight you.
• CDC Article "Prevent Illness after a Natural Disaster" [URL: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/illness.asp]
• Article: American Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Kits [URL: http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_217_,00.html]