Beans & LegumesTop 5 Priorities of Emergency Preparedness: Priority #2 – Gather Grab-n-Go Supplies
After you have completed priority #1 which is to make a plan, your next priority is to gather Grab and Go Supplies. To do this, let me first explain what Grab and Go supplies are designed to do. Like we have discussed in other posts, you should anticipate that following a disaster you will not receive any help from authorities for at least 72 hours. Your Grab and Go supplies should allow you to evacuate quickly and survive the first 72 hours after a disaster.
With that in mind, you should keep these qualities in mind with your Grab and Go supplies:
1. Make them lightweight and portable – Don’t pack a lot of heavy, bulky items. Store your Grab and Go supplies in an easy to transport bag or backpack. Try to keep them all in one place.
2. Store them in an easy to get to place – Remember your Grab and Go supplies need to be designed for quick evacuation. If they are buried beneath a pile of boxes or scattered all around the house, you won’t get everything you need.
3. Store shelf stable items – Rotating items in your Grab and Go supplies will be your least favorite thing to do and you won’t do it as often as you should. With that in mind store shelf stable food and water with a 5 year shelf life at a minimum.
4. Review, Rotate, Replace – Don’t forget the 3 R’s in maintaining your Grab and Go supplies.
For the most part, your Grab and Go supplies will be comprised of comprehensive 72 hour emergency survival kit. This month, I posted a list of items that you should have in your 72 hour emergency survival kit. I am reposting that list below for your review:
FOOD AND WATER (Remember that these items cannot be cooked or refrigerated.)
Protein/Granola/Calorie Food Bars
Crackers/Cereals (for munching)
MREs/Canned Food (Remember that cans can leak/explode)
Candy/Gum (These items could melt, so it’s best to keep them in a zip lock baggy)
Water (1 Gallon/4 Liters per person, drinking water can be found in water boxes or pouches)
CLOTHING/WARMTH/SHELTER
Change of Clothing (short and long
sleeve shirts, pants, socks, jackets, etc.)
Undergarments
Rain Coat /Poncho
Emergency Heat Blankets
Lightweight Tent
LIGHTING AND FUEL
Flashlights, Lanterns (Battery, Solar, or Crank powered)
Extra Batteries
Flares
Candles
Light Sticks
Water-Proof Matches
EQUIPMENT/TOOLS
Can Opener
Dishes/Utensils
Shovel
Radio (with batteries or solar or crank powered!)
Pen and Paper
Axe
Pocket Knife
Rope
Duct Tape
PERSONAL SUPPLIES AND MEDICATION
First Aid Supplies (make sure you know what it is in it and how to use it!)
Toiletries, Feminine Hygiene, Folding Brush/comb etc.(Roll of toilet paper—remove center tube to easily flatten into a zip-lock bag)
Sanitary Supplies (mini hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, dish soap, etc.)
Immunizations Up-to Date
Medication (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, asthma inhalers, children’s medication, etc.)
Prescription Medication (for 3 days)
PERSONAL DOCUMENTS AND MONEY (Place these items in a water-proof container!)
Scriptures (Miniatures are lighter)
Legal Documents (Birth/Marriage Certificates, Wills, Passports, Contracts)
Vaccination Papers
Insurance Policies
Cash
Credit Card
MISC
Infant Needs (if applicable)
Small, Lightweight toys and games for Children (For calming effect, comfort, and entertainment)
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I found this website the other night doing research on this subject because I AM getting concerned about a possible financial collapse and/or new terrorist attack. I find that you are giving me all kinds of things to think about that I otherwise probably wouldn’t have. I look forward to the next series in your “priority” blogs. I am going to recommend this site to several of my friends and family members.
Also, I tried out one of the freezed dried Mountian House meals today just to see how they are, and I can say that they are tasty and very edible (of course not as good as fresh). Much better than I would have thought.
March 18th, 2009 at 10:45 pmThe Mountain House and Saratoga Farms foods are very good. Our staff eats that food everyday here at the office and loves it. Imagine how much better it will taste when you are really hungry and need the food.
March 19th, 2009 at 8:49 amCan you really fit everything on this list in a backpack? I put all the emergency supplies for my family of 4 in a large
March 24th, 2009 at 2:56 pmtrash can with wheels(for easy moving)and still had a hard time fitting everything. Do you think this idea(of the can on wheels) will work OK? I have a big truck that will easily fit the can if we need to evacuate. Thanks for your help.
Good questions. One of the challenges of building a 72 hour emergency survival kit is deciding what to include and maybe more importantly, what not to include. You are absolutely right that you would have a hard time fitting everything on that list in a backpack. That list serves kind of like a wish list. That means it is important to adjust to your area and the type of disasters you may encounter. I actually like the garbage can on wheels idea. I have seen other people use it. If you have a way to store it and to transport it (like in your truck) then that might work great for your family. Make sure you keep it in a place that is easily accessible, like your garage. Keep in mind that you will have two types of supplies, your Grab and Go supplies that are designed for 72 hour survival and your Shelter in Place supplies which are designed for long term survival. If you try to fit all of your emergency supplies into your 72 hour kit, it will become very cumbersome. Thanks for participating in the blog.
March 24th, 2009 at 5:27 pmI think that if each family member has their own backpack full of what they need it might be easier. Several years ago for FHE I did a lesson on preparedness and we put together 72hr kits with what we had on hand, meaning drink boxes and cereal bars. We told the kids it was best to rotate it every 6mnt. My sister’s girls kept asking if it was an emergency because they wanted to get into their bags.
July 6th, 2009 at 5:38 amThe key to grab and go supplies is the “go” part. I would not count on my car or truck being available for evacuation.(Think NYC and all those people having to hoof it across the bridges due to roads being shut down) Size and weight is as big a consideration as to what is inside. After experimenting with various weights, I found that 30 pounds was the most I wanted to carry for any amount of time.
Working with a weight of 30 pounds, I laid out all the stuff I could think of that I would like to have. I then put my pack together making switches, trades, and eliminating less nesassary items. In the end, I came out with a pack that weighed in at just over 32 pounds.
My pack will keep me alive and fed for a week or more, and comfortable for all four seasons. But it is still a work in progress, I am always looking for better, lighter products. I keep it in the trunk of my car, as my car is always near by, either at home or at work.
Everything in the kit is in vacume sealed bags (thank you Food Saver)to keep things clean, dry, and fresh. This also reduces the need to rotate stock as often, and makes things more compact.
October 6th, 2009 at 1:28 am