Stuff Not Covered Elsewhere (or so important I cover it twice)

 

Keep in mind that while you hopefully won’t have to leave your home it could happen.  It could also happen that while you able to stay on your own property your actual house may be so damaged that it isn’t really an immediate option for actual living.  In that case if you can set up an emergency home in your own yard you are way ahead of the game.  You will be there to protect whatever is salvageable from your home and personal possessions.  You will also be in a familiar area.  It could happen that you are actually trapped in a particular area due to road damage. 

 

Stuff to build a quick shelter:

 

Tarps

Bungee cords – assorted lengths

Rope – hundreds of feet!

Ratchet straps

Duct tape

Hammer

Assorted nails

(These things could be used to cover a damaged roof in the immediate aftermath of a disaster)

 

Shovel for trenching around shelter, digging a fire pit, digging a toilet (yes you still have to use the bathroom during a disaster.  I did know someone who started drinking Pepto-Bismol two days before a camping trip in the hopes of avoiding having to really use the bathroom in the woods, but it never really worked out.  She just wound up constipated.)

 

If you have a tent set that up instead of building a shelter.  Or set up the tent for sleeping and build a shelter for cooking.  That would be really nice. 

 

If you find yourself living in temporary shelters it would be a good idea to look around for boards to make a floor.  Keeping in mind that this is a temporary situation you still want to be as comfortable as possible.  Wooden pallets used for shipping may be available to tear apart and make some sort of floor.  Yurts or platforms for tents are the latest in camp-grounds.  They are nothing more than a temporary shelter set up on a solid floor.  They help stay dry. 

 

Stuff you definitely need

Hunting knife – fixed blade

Pocket knife – large folding blade

Sharpening stone or kit for you knives

Flash light(s) – if you can come up with a solar powered flash-light that would be great

Fire starters like matches, lighters, and things like Wade’s fire starters if at all possible.

Compass

Sleeping bags and/or blankets

Insect repellant if you are in an area where bugs are a problem (most places)

Shoe laces – buy them on sale and store them

 

Stuff that would be nice

Camp chairs or stools

Air mattress or foam padding

Pillows – it is hard to live without a pillow but rolled up jeans can work until you can get a pillow

Hand-warmers – not to expensive and really helpful when it is cold.  I personally put them in my pocket or safety pin one just inside the back waistband of my jeans or the collar of my shirt.  That applies heat directly to neck or lower back which is where I get the most pain the quickest if I am cold. If I put it next to my skin I will get a burn so you need to be careful until you learn what works for you.

 

Clothing

Boots

Rain gear

Gloves

Hat

Coat

Changes of clothing as allowed for by time and space.

 

Supplies

Food – the easiest things from your pantry

Cooking pans and utensils

Can opener

Something to eat on and something to eat with

Something to cook with or on

 

All this ‘stuff’ needs to be a place that is readily accessible.  That means stored in the attic over the garage is not a good place.  I know all this stuff takes up a lot of space so just do the best you can to put it where you can get to it as easily as is possible.  Putting everything together is a good idea.  No one can make the best plan for you.  All