Basic Disaster Supplies Kit

Here is the next piece in my series of personalized preparation. When you go to Ready.gov they give you a pretty decent idea of what you need. The problem is that they give you 0 guidance on where to get it. So what people will do is to go the internet and look up the first link on google. Here at the Brief, my goal is to help you be prepared. Also my goal is to help you do it on a budget. Why? Simple, although being prepared can save the life of you and your loved ones, we as Americans don’t think about it in the course of our day to day lives (myself and some lovely people on Discovery being the exception).

I don’t want you running to the store when disaster strikes, it’s too late at that point ladies and gentleman. There are ways to be sufficiently prepared without spending more than $50 (Less than one Wise Company Emergency Food Bucket- more on that when we get to emergency food prep). Without further ado, here is the Basic Disaster kit that the Department of Homeland Security suggest you keep with you:

1. Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation.
2. Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food 
3. Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
4. Flashlight and extra batteries 
5. First aid kit
6. Whistle to signal for help (eh)
7. Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
8. Moist towelettes. Garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation
9. Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
10. Local Maps
11. Cell Phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger 

This is a basic list, the are additional things we will cover over the course of these posts, but for now if you have to this in place you will be in better shape to withstand the initial wave (so to speak).

Good Luck and Good Hunting