January 01, 2010 2 Comments

We have not talked about 72 hour kits for over a year now and I feel with so many new people checking in it is time to revisit the topic. Just today I heard a report that there is a million pounds of food waiting to be distributed in Haiti but the rescue workers have abandoned the effort to pass out food due to fear for their safety. How sad and how frustrating for those who are in need.

During times of stress the best and the worst really does surface in people. We are seeing both in Haiti. How could some of this have been prevented or at minimized? Seventy two hour kits, really. Did you realize that many of the people who are on the streets have access to their homes? If they had a 72 hour kit with food, water, shelter and other necessities it would have been possible to retrieve it from their home.

Please don’t send me letters accusing me of criticizing these poor people. I am not. I understand they did not have the knowledge or the resources to prepare in this way. My remarks are meant for those who would argue that a 72 hour kit is of little use during an earthquake when everything collapses.

During the Northridge quake in southern CA there were many who were allowed back in their homes to retrieve items and them the homes were condemned. This happened to a friend whose chimney separated from their home. They were allowed ten minutes to hurry and get what they could.

During the Loma Prieta quake in 1989 the same was true. We witnessed home totally collapsed looking much like the buildings in Haiti. Again, people were allowed in their homes for only a few minutes. We had a cousin living in San Fransisco and were very concerned. She had just returned home from work when the quake struck. When the shaking ceased she grabbed her 72 hour kit and left the house, as it too had suffered damage. When her mom was finally able to contact her she reassured her mom she was safe and sitting in a park eating some of the food from her kit.

This was a quake we felt in our home 70 miles away. Immediately the news report that was underway shifted from talk of the big Bay to Bay World Series game that night, to the quake. The images were very frightening with familiar areas now in flames. As people pushed and tried to get to a firefighter he raised his hand and shouted “you are on your own for the next 72 hours”. The first responder understood what we must all understand; during an emergency, when minutes count, those with life threatening injuries, rescue of those trapped, turning off ruptured gas lines  and downed power lines and the extinguishing of fires is going to get first priority. Water, food, shelter and communications for those uninjured is way down on the priority list.

We must take responsibility for ourselves. With that in mind let’s take a look at what should be in a good 72 hour kit. I’ll start.

The Ultimate 72-Hour Kit Checklist, Just the beginning…

All great 72 hour kits begin with a great back pack. Make sure your pack is large enough for everything on our list. You do not want to be forced to carry another pack as the goal is to keep your hands free to care for children or pets, and to clear debris. Your pack should have padded shoulder straps for comfort and should be supported from the waist when it is carried, for optimum support. A pack with several compartments will also allow you to separate items and organize your kit enabling you to find things quickly. Purchase a backpack that is a bright color which can easily be found in a cluttered closet or cupboard, for grab-and-go conditions.

• Water: The most important item in your pack is water. Three gallons of water per person is optimum however it is impossible to carry this amount. Purchase mylar pouches or boxed water which has a five year shelf life for inside your pack. You may also want to purchase a water bottle carrier for each family member. These support a sports size or liter size bottle of water which can then be carried by means of the lanyard around the neck, over the shoulder or tied to a belt loop. If you add commercially bottled water to your pack it should be changed every 6-9 months.

• Food: The best choices for food are those specially designed for survival. These have a 3-5 year shelf life which allows you to forget about them for longer periods of time – MREs, energy bars or carb bars. You can also use granola bars, nuts, trail mix, foil packed tuna, individual servings of canned fruit. These will need to be rotated every 6 months-1 year. Never add jerky or salted nuts or other salty foods to your pack as they will increase your thirst. Never store anything in your pack that is packaged in glass. It is not recommended that you store dried foods such as instant oatmeal, as these will use up your precious water supplies.

• Multi function tool or pocket knife: These will provide everything from can openers to knife blade, pliers, saw blades and screw drivers. A must-have tool!!

• Flashlight with batteries: Store flashlight and batteries separately in your pack on the top or in a front pocket where it can be accessed quickly. AND/OR Glow sticks. I love glow stick because they will provide light all night long without running down the batteries in a flashlight, they are safe around children and they are inexpensive.

I will add more items during the next week, I have over 50…but I would like to know from you just what you can’t live without. What would you include in your 72 hour kits?

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