You know that nagging feeling that you’ve forgotten something? That feeling that Kevin’s mom in Home Alone couldn’t shake as she flew to Paris until she realized they’d left their son at home.
I hate that feeling…
I’m someone who likes to think of everything. Growing up, my family called me a “know-it-all” because I found joy in knowing as much as possible about everything and thinking of everything ahead of time.
In true know-it-all fashion, I like to know everything I can about emergency supplies and preparedness – it’s become a mini passion of mine as our world gets increasingly uncertain. Now, I’m sharing everything I’ve picked up along the way with you so that you can be as informed as I’ve become about being ready for anything that comes our way.
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES CHECKLIST
Today’s blog functions like a checklist for essential items that I haven’t necessarily included in the other blogs in this emergency preparedness series (which I’ll link to later in this blog) so that you don’t wake up at 3 am and spend hours thinking about that crucial item you forgot to place in your emergency supplies storage area.
Checking off the items on this list and then reading my other blogs will ensure you’re ready for just about anything. You can set your mind at ease.
TOP 20 EMERGENCY SUPPLIES
- Multi-Tool – This single tool can perform several useful functions and should be in any emergency supply kit. Check out SOG and Leatherman for initial brand options.
- PPE – When it comes to personal protective equipment, you want to be sure you anticipate your needs before they arise. There are many PPE items you can add to your emergency supplies, but I recommend a few basics here:
- Lightweight breathing masks like an N95 mask for everyday use are suitable for general protection in various circumstances.
- Full-face breathing masks may seem extreme for those of us who have never worked in hazardous settings, but if you stop and think, there are several scenarios during which a full-face mask would be helpful and even life-saving. Remember the 2023 train derailment and subsequent chemical disaster in East Palestine, Ohio? Local residents would have been saved from exposure by high-quality full-face masks (see options here from Mira Safety or a P-100 with replaceable filters). Be sure you store enough individual masks and replacement filters for every family member. ** If you do not have a high-quality filtering respirator mask on hand during any airborne emergency, place a wet rag over your mouth and nose until the exposure area is clear. This simple solution will prevent far worse exposure. **
- Safety goggles are not just for chemistry class. This protective measure is helpful in any situation where airborne matter may enter your eyes, such as smoke, fires, chemical events, and more.
- Protective gloves are good to have around for daily use anyway. Stock up on a few extra pairs of household cleaning gloves and work gloves to protect your hands in all circumstances.
- Air Purification Tools – There are several options to protect your air quality in an emergency situation. If you are sheltering at home during an emergency that impacts your local air quality, having high-quality air filters or a solid HEPA filter is very valuable. Simple tricks like hanging charcoal bags around your space can clean up the air whether you’re in a home or a tent. Read my blog, Protect Yourself Against Toxic Airborne Chemicals, for more clean air solutions.
- Waterproof Matches – In a survival situation, you want to create heat quickly and reliably. Storing several water and storm-proof match kits is essential to ensure you can always build a fire.
- Hydrogen Peroxide – The uses of this all-purpose and nontoxic liquid are so universal that I recommend storing at least a few sizeable containers in your emergency supplies. Hydrogen peroxide can be used to clean scrapes and wounds, disinfect surfaces and eating utensils, as an all-purpose cleaner, and even to brush your teeth. Read more on my Hydrogen Peroxide: Multi-Purpose Miracle Cleaner blog, here.
- Water Filters – We can only last briefly with access to fresh potable water. Including versatile filter systems like those made by the Berkey company in your emergency supplies is more than smart; it’s necessary. Berkey makes several filter sizes, from personal travel water bottles to multi-gallon containers. All Berkey filters can filter all freshwater sources, including lakes, rivers, tap water, and rainwater so that you can supply safe, pure water in any situation.
- Cooking Implements – I wrote about backup sources of cooking heat in my Top 5 Emergency Power Supply Tips blog, but I didn’t mention that you’ll need implements to cook with in case you’re unable to use your kitchen. Duh! Thankfully, camping cookware sets are readily available online. Here’s one option that includes utensils (or buy these separately), and another here that is collapsible for easy transport.
- Blankets, Pillows, and Sleeping Bags – These are very straightforward and important so that you have lightweight, portable sources of warmth and comfort for rest, regardless of where you are.
- Thermal Blankets and Hand Warmers – One step beyond sleeping items, thermal blankets are extraordinarily lightweight and helpful in wet or cold weather. Hand warmers, like these from Hot Hands or this rechargeable option, are indispensable in cold weather.
- Games and Books – You can’t forget to think about what you and your family will do during your downtime resulting from an emergency. While you don’t need to go crazy building a library among your emergency supplies, a few books and games may mean the difference between cabin fever and family fun over a few days without power!
- Long-Range Communication Devices – If the phone lines go down either with your landline (which so few of us have or use anymore) or with mobile coverage, you want to have a backup to contact those in your area or even those around the world. For those of you with close friends or family with whom you would want to be in touch in an emergency where phones are not operating, consider a standard rechargeable walkie-talkie product like Rocky Talkie, which works up to about 25 miles as long as there are no significant obstructions like mountains or dense forests in the way. If you want to communicate with family and friends worldwide, consider a product like this one, which uses global satellites to connect. Remember that if anything disrupts major grids (like an intense solar flare), the satellite service may be affected.
- Easily Portable Tents and Tarps – To complete your outdoor emergency supplies, you will want an easily portable tent to provide shelter in direct sun or at night without the weight and hassle of larger, more complicated tents. Tarps are also extremely useful for shelter, shade, rainwater collection, and protection on damp ground.
- Emergency Whistles – You never want to be in a situation where you can’t reach your family or community who is with you during an emergency. A simple tool like a wearable emergency whistle is an easy-to-forget but handy item if you are in an outdoor situation for an extended period.
- Compass – Along with whistles, compasses are essential survival items you don’t want to be without if you must spend an extended period outdoors due to any type of emergency. You can even buy products like this one, which combine the two.
- Duct Tape – Though it may not be the most environmentally friendly product, good quality duct tape is a survival tool you will want to have with you in circumstances where you are not sheltering at home. Duct tape acts as a powerful patching tool for tents, tarps, and other materials and can also help if you need to construct a shelter of any kind or build simple tools using found materials.
- Fire Extinguisher – All homes should already have a working fire extinguisher in any easily reached place. Store an extra in your emergency supplies to ensure there is no risk of going without, including a portable size option with your outdoor gear.
- Sealed Important Documents and Contact Information – If, for any reason, you lose access to your home, having copies of all of your most important documents (ID, passport, birth, and marriage certificates, diplomas, etc.) along with a printed out copy of important contact information for close friends and family is a must-have. How many phone numbers and addresses would you remember if you had to these days? See my point? Store these documents in a fireproof and waterproof bag so that no emergency event will leave you without them (it’s a good idea to store your essential documents in a similar protective container at home anyway).
- Personal Hygiene Products – Keep a supply of personal hygiene and feminine products in your emergency supplies area to ensure you can meet your needs if you cannot visit stores for any reason. Shop my Amazon store for some of my favorite brands.
- Pet Supplies – We can’t forget to prepare for our furry, feathered, and finned family members if we are limited in access to stores or supplies for a finite amount of time! There are several brands of nutritious, storage-friendly pet food for cats and dogs. Stock up on universal healthy carnivorous pet foods like sardines and salmon, and be sure you have a healthy stock of extra dry food as a backup for any animals in your home. You may also want to consider having a washable pet excrement mat in case they cannot go outdoors to relieve themselves for a day or more.
- Knowledge Resources – Finally, you want to educate yourself on emergency preparedness and survival tools. Seek out books like Edible Wild Plants, online resources like Ready.gov, and online survival sites to empower you with knowledge so that no situation feels foreign.
COMPREHENSIVE READINESS
I am building a bank of emergency preparedness resources to serve you and your family so that we are all ready for anything. If you want to read up on my other emergency preparedness blogs, check those out below!
- Top Emergency Food Storage Tips
- Emergency Preparedness: Medicines and Supplements
- Top 5 Emergency Power Supply Tips
If you would like to dive deeper with me on this topic, consider joining my Intuitive Healing Community membership program in April, where our topic is THRIVE IN EMERGENCIES.
Join a community of like-minded, health-focused people worldwide as we delve into emergency preparedness from every angle.
To your health and peace,
Muneeza
