Every family member that is of walking age should have by their bed a pair of closed toe, slip on shoes and a head lamp, flashlight or LED lit ball cap . ( These can be found at home improvements stores.) In the case of an earthquake, there could be broken windows everywhere. Make a plan with your family where you will meet in the house in case of an emergency and where you will locate your survival kits. FEMA statistics show that response time for the last several years has been up to 7 days. While 72 hours is a great number to shoot for, plan for 5 days to be covered.

Have a family plan that you will execute in case an emergency happens during the day and children are at school and guardians at work. Who will pick up kids?

Parents, adults and college students should keep their survival kits in their cars SINCE THEY ARE USUSALLY CLOSE TO THEIR CARS. . High school students should pack a gallon size survival kit for their lockers. Most elementary schools have kits, but ask about your child’s school emergency plan.

Additional cars in the household should have a survival kit that includes some of the same, but with more food and water. You never know where you will be when an emergency could emerge and your kit in your car could be what helps YOU or SOMEONE ELSELevel 1 Grab and Go survival kit suggested contents

Place items you will need at a moments notice in the outer pockets of your backpack. Suggested outer pocket items are indicated in blue.

Survival Kit suggested items to pack.

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LOOK AROUND YOUR HOME. YOU PROBABLY HAVE MOST OF WHAT YOU NEED!These kit suggestions are for you to customize. Remember that there are

DIFFERENT LEVELS of grab and go

1-Grab and get out the door with your kit, your kids, (pets) and some water2- Grab and go, but able to drag a wagon, stroller, or trailer behind a 4 wheeler3- Grab and go and driving out with a packed car, and perhaps a small trailer, toy hauler or RV etc.

*Level 1,2,and 3 should be already packed, ready to go. *Prepare in advance a list of additional items you will take and need to gather if you have the option to pack a vehicle and/or trailer. If the time should come, you will have already made those critical decisions.

All homes should have level one Survival kits and stored water. Make it a priority by using what you find in your home

Paper with important phone numbers and addresses recorded on it. Whistle/compass/signal mirror Keys, spare of your house and car, a watch Notebook and pencil or pens Copies of any important papers Money- cash /small bills, coins for phone/credit cards Medications (for 2 weeks) Small first aid kit – Tylenol and essential oils (mydoterra.com/Zachsey) General Hygiene kit (toothbrush, paste, mouth wash, floss, deodorant, comb, razor,

chapstick, shampoo, , lotion, hand-sanitizer, toilet paper, insect repellant, items for contacts and or glasses, and small tissue)

Feminine Hygiene, Wash cloth, towel, soap, wet wipes 100 hour Candles/ light Sticks/ Flashlights with extra batteries/ waterproof

matches/ fire starters Clothing/Jackets/boots/shoes (seasonal adjustments), rain jacket or trash bags with

slits cut in to place over body, wind breaker, underwear, socks, hats, gloves, hat with big brim, and a change of clothes (seal in a plastic bag to keep dry and have a place for dirty clothes.)

Sunglasses Gum, mints, mouthwash, vitamins Red bandana (for wearing, first aid or to signal for help needed) Crank radio and batteries, Can even find one that will charge your cell phone Water filtration pump or a water bottle with a built in water filter Water purifying tablets Head mosquito netting (beekeepers net) Great for flies, no seeums and mosquitos. Water – (1 quart per day per person) You can add a water bladder to your

backpack, pack small 4-ounce pouches or regular water bottles. Dehydrated food will require you carry water with you.

Food for 5 days if you can (Figure 2500 calories per day per person.) ideas are: MREs (meals ready to eat), dehydrated food, freeze dried foods, freeze dried fruit, canned stew, canned fruit, power or granola bars, hard candies, turkey or beef jerky, trail mix, hot chocolate mix, protein shake mix to add to water, EmergenC or other drink powders.

Eating utensils and a metal mug (can also double as a pot to heat water or heat up food) You can easily pack paper plates, napkins and styro cups to use and then burn.

Zip lock bags, several sizes and small garbage bags Canned heat, sterno burner or small butane burner (will also have the option to

add lanterns to the butane) Wool blanket, tube tent, reflective emergency blanket, duct tape Small army shovel, ring saw, work gloves, pocket knife or swiss army knife, cording

or small rope Diversion – card game, book. (I am loading old cell phones with books on tape,

dramatized stories, games and music my children like. Add earphones and a solar phone charger to keep them going.) I’ve also added small Lego kits, art supplies and anything light that can keep their mind diverted if need be. Small toys for small children, books

For infants, diapers, baby wipes, desitin, formula, bottle, baby food, nursing pads, clothing, blanket

For pets- leash, food, collapsible feed bowl

Collapsible 2 gallon water bottles filled with water that you will carry, as many as you can take

Level one is minimal survival, but you determine your content. . If you can get a 45 liter or larger hiking backpack, then sleeping bags and pads and a small tent can be added on the bottom. Otherwise, add that to level 2. Check second hand stores for great deals on backpacks and other camping gear.

Level 2 comfort – If you have small children, jogger strollers are a blessing to keep you hands free to push and carry their backpack and water underneath the seat. A worthy investment if you haven’t already considered one. Gorilla wagons are durable and easy to pull. Even a mountain deer carrier can be tweaked to provide a two-wheel way to carry out over rough terrain those items that are heavy, yet add the next layer of comfort.

-Level 2 Grab and Go next level of comfort pre-packed in a wagon etc.

Tent for entire group, sleeping bags, air mattresses, inflatable pillows - could add compact hammocks with rope to tie into trees, camp chairs, broom and dust pan

Better heating or cooking source or small camp stove and fuel Water and more food Fishing line, hooks, bait/lures Lamps, lanterns, and or solar lights, canned heat Plastic bucket, folding saw, ax, rope, wire. Binoculars Guns and ammo Portable toilet, with extra bags, clothes line and detergent Mosquito netting for tent More extensive first aid kit, more essential oils Additional seasonal clothing, shoes, boots, jackets, gloves, hats

For the fall and winter time – I leave packed a bag with the next years size of clothes, coats, hats, gloves, ski-pants and boots for my children. They aren’t using it this year, but will use it next year. Remember that 2nd hand stores are a gold mine for items you are packing for a state of preparedness. This does not have to be NEW items.

Level 3 Leaving in a vehicle with or without a trailer

At this level, your will add additional comforts needed for a camping trip, but you will probably take a lot of water and as much food as possible.

Water in portable containers Camping stove, sun oven, volcano, dutch oven or wonder box. (See upcoming post

of www.thenudgeisnow.blogspot.com for the pattern for the wonder box. Kitchen pots, bowls, cooking utensils, can opener, and hot pads. Aluminum foil, zip locks, dish soap, camp sink , Clorox for rinse water, scouring pads, dish cloths plastic and garbage bags. Plates, cups, bowls.

Toilet paper, but it is best if you make a hygiene kit for each family member. See

the following video for the contents and what to pull together for the portable bidet kit. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=portable+bidet+kits . Use your old flannel pieces of fabric to create toilet paper strips. For an alternative to tampons, watch the following video about menstrual cups. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_erwGv0N8uYFeminine pads can be made of flannel.

Kleenex and TP could be scarce, so have many handkerchiefs for your family. Infants should have cloth diapers Laundry soap and portable clothesline, can make a laundry bucket washing

machine Wood, charcoal, propane, butane, gasoline, solar panels Camp cots and blankets Alternate light sources, propane, butane, solar, battery etc. Larger water filter ( Berkey or homemade filter from 5 gallon buckets.) Refer to

“Water, how to make it drinkable at www.thenudgeisnow.blogspot.com ) Solar shower, portable potty and shower tents (2), water bottles for warmth and

enema hydration. Clothing – pre-think your kids and how fast they are growing. If you may be gone

for a while, I have seen bins prepared for each child with clothing for several years, (purchased from 2nd hand store,) with several pair of shoes for each size up.) Ask friends and family for hand me downs that you can prepack in bins or sacks.

Swimsuits, towels and flip-flops Larger size shampoo, conditioner, body soaps, personal needs Books and journals that are important to you. Better rain gear, umbrellas Back up hard drive of family photos and important documents Seeds and gardening tools Games, musical instruments, anything needed to share a talent that you have.

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