Make Your Own 72 Hour Kit

I was originally going to list what should be included in a basic 72 hr kit. Then I decided that it varies so widely depending on where you live, the number of people that are in your family and your personal preference that there just isn't a "basic" kit recommendation. However, there are some general guidelines. I will mention those guidelines and then tell you how I went about building our kits, how I've packed our kits and what exactly is in our kits. I will also list additional emergency items we have at home that are not in our kits as well as items I would like to add in the future. I would love any feedback you may have!

FEMA's comments on a 72 hr kit

The first 72 hours after a disaster are critical. Electricity, gas, water and telephones may not be working. In addition, public safety services such as police and fire departments may not be able to reach you immediately during a serious crisis. Each person should be prepared to be self-sufficient - able to live without running water, electricity and/or gas, and telephones - for at least three days following a disaster.

72 Hr kit categories

There are 5 categories to any basic 72 hr kit:

• Food & Water
• Shelter
• First Aid
• Tools
• Hygiene
  

We've added two additional to ours:

• Important Documents & Cash
• Entertainment (since we have kids)
  

How I created our kit:

We've had a 72 hr kit for years, but it has been very basic: mostly just food, water, band aids, toothbrushes and clothing. I've been wanting to update it for some time.

• I started by using Shelf Reliance's Emergency Planner. This is an awesome tool! You can watch a tutorial here. Basically, you enter the number of people in your family, the number of days you want to prepare for, the level of disaster you want your kit to prepare you for (basic - extreme), and any specific disaster that you want to be prepared for (earthquake, fire, etc)
• Once the planner created a kit for me, I then went in and edited it based on my preferences. For example, I already have a nice family size tent, and I don't want a huge one in my 72 hr kit. So I swapped out what the planner recommend for a couple of small tube tents. I also deleted anything I already had.
  
• I added the entire kit to my cart, then went through and moved all the "less essential" items to my wishlist.
• I purchased what was left in my cart.
• I have (and will continue to) purchase the other items in my wish list as I can afford them.

How our kits are packed

I chose to use these backpacks ($8.99) for the boys, and these backpacks ($24.74) for Cory and I. Both are specifically made to hold emergency gear with adjustable shoulder straps and many different size pockets with the boys packs being quite a bit smaller / easier to carry. We keep the boy's kits and one main kit at home. The main kit holds supplies for me and the girls as well as most our tools and first aid supplies. If I were home alone with the kids, I would grab just the main kit and the boys kits. We store the second adult kit in Cory's car. It holds supplies for Cory and and minimal tools and first aid supplies. If we were all home, Cory will grab the main kit (it is heavier) and I will grab the 2nd lighter adult kit.

Main Kit:

Food & Water:

• Fourteen 16.9 oz water bottles (this combined with what the boys carry provides 1 1/2 bottle for the the boys and Samantha and 2 bottles per day for me (since I am breastfeeding). FEMA reccomends storing at least 1 gallon per person per day. It would be very difficult to carry that much water, so we have more water stored at home (but not in our packs) as well as water purifying bottles in our packs)
  
• Three Pantry cans of THRIVE freeze dried fruit (I've decided to use this instead of the dehydrated fruit I've used before because it is lighter and has a much longer shelf life. I won't have to rotate it as much. This is also why I bought it in pantry cans instead of just using some of what I have in my #10 cans. The pantry cans have a 25 year shelf life, whereas some in a baggie from my #10 cans would only have a few months shelf life.)
  
• 6 MREs (One for me and one for all three kids to share for dinner each night. Again, I've chosen this b/c of the long shelf life (5 years). I also wanted to have a "real" (ish) meal for dinner instead of snacks all day in order to keep things as normal as possible for the kids. This was the least expensive, most lightweight / compact way to do that): $2.65
  
• One THRIVE instant milk pouch (enough for 1 gallon. Milk is HUGE comfort food for my kids): $8.69
  
• Twelve packs of instant oatmeal (we will have oatmeal and fruit for breakfast)
  
• Two rolls crackers (We will have crackers, peanut butter(the boys are carrying it and fruit for lunch)
• 5 high calorie fruit bars (If our energy expenditures are high, I want to have some high calorie food to help minimize fatigue): $2.17
  
• One can formula & bottle (I am breastfeeding, but if I were unable to for any reason, I would still want to provide for Hanna)
  
• 6 jars baby food (Hanna will be eating this in a few month. I only plan to update these kits 1-2 times /year)
  
• One sippy cup (Just for Samantha. Hanna will not be using one for another year)
  
• One plastic plate (For Samantha)
  
• Two plastic spoons and forks
• One mess kit (To cook the MREs in and for me to eat with): $6.99
• Wing Stove: To cook MREs ($7.91)
  
• Water filtering bottle (will filter up to 30 gallons): $19.79
  

Shelter & Heat:

• 2 Tube Tents (I chose these small tents b/c we already have a big one, but it is too big to put in our packs. If we were close to home, but without shelter, we would use the big one. If we had to leave, we would use these small ones. We only got two b/c we figured if they hold two adults, they should hold 1 adult and two kids. Our kids will likely want to be with us anyway): $5.93
  
• 2 Microfiber Blankets (Warm, but small and lightweight): $24.70
  
• 2 Emergency Sleeping Bag (Again, warm, but small and lightweight): $3.46
  
• Waterproof Matches: $0.79
  
• Lighter
• Waterproof fire starter: $7.91
  
• Change of Clothing for Misty Hanna, and Samantha (t-shirt, pants, socks, underwear, jacket)
• 2 trash bags (can double as ponchos)
• 6 Heat Packs: (for use to help warm up the inside of a blanket or sleeping bag) $1.67
  

First Aid:

This is all packed together in a gallon bags with the first aid guide right on top. Much of it I already had, the rest came from this first aid kit ($44.54):

• Clorox Wipes
• Hand Sanitizer
• 25 Antiseptic Towelettes
  
• Butterfly size up to Very large bandages
• Wound Closure Strips
• Gauze Roll
  
• Two cloth diapers
• Small box distilled water: (for washing wounds) $0.59
  
• 20 Various sizes Gauze dressing
• 1 Large wound dressing
• 50 Alcohol pads
• 5 Sting relief pads
• 5 Antibiotic ointment packets
• 1 roll adhesive tape
• 3 Finger Splints
  
• 1 Tweezers
• 1 Scissors
• Two Instant Cold Packs ($0.89)
• Various sizes Quick Clot: ($12.86)
  
• Suture Kit :( $5.93)
• Snake Bite Kit: ($4.94)
  
• 1 pair latex Gloves
• 5 Burn Relief squares
  
• Basic First Aid Guide ($3.45)

This is packed separately:

• Bug Repellent
• Sunscreen
• Infant and adult pain relief
• Children's Benadryl
• Adult and children's cold meds
• Hydrocortizone (this in only b/c my kids have severe eczema)
• Thermometer
• 5 Antacid Tablets
  
• 5 Dust Masks: $0.89
  
• Blessing Oil (I am LDS, it is a religious necessity)

Tools:

• Battery Flashlight (with extra batteries)
• Crank flashlight / radio / cell charger: $14.84
  
• Shovel / Saw / Hatchet / Hammer combo tool: $21.77
• Compass / Whistle combo tool: $2.47
• Duct Tape (you can fix anything with duct tape, right?)
  
• Multi-purpose pocket knife: $5.93
  

Hygiene:

• Soap and washcloth
• Toilet Paper
  
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
  
• Feminine needs
  
• Chapstick
• Contact needs
  
• Old pair (old prescription) glasses
  
• Diapers and wipes

Important Documents / Cash:

• $100 cash in small bills
• List of important phone numbers (Insurance, medical doctors, family and friends, landlord)
• Copies of essential documents (Birth certificates, passports etc)
• Copies of vaccination records
• Copy of Patriarchal Blessing (again, this is b/c I'm LDS)
• Pre-paid phone card

Entertainment:

• Playing cards
• Pen and Paper
• Scriptures
• A book and other small toy for Samantha and Hanna

Micah and Noah's Packs:

There are three reasons I've packed separate kits for the boys: (1) The boy's are at the age where they LOVE to be helpful and to be seen as capable. I think giving them a responsibility would be helpful in time of crisis. (2) If I were to get separated from them, I would want them to have some basic supplies (3) Cory and I don't want to carry everything.

Food & Water:

• Plastic plate
• Plastic fork and spoon
• Sippy Cup
  
• Three 16.9 oz water bottles
• One Pantry can of THRIVE freeze dried fruit
• Three packets instant oatmeal
• One bottle peanut butter
  
• One roll crackers (Ritz in one, Saltines in the other)

Shelter and Heat:

• Change of clothing (t-shirt, pants, socks, underwear, jacket)
• Emergency Blanket: $2.47
  
• Trash Bag (can double as a poncho)
• 2 Heat Packs
  

First Aid:

• Children's Pain reliever
• Small to Medium Bandages
• 1 Large Gauze Bandage
  
• Antiseptic
  

Tools:

• Shake Flashlight (they think these are SO cool...you just have to shake them to make it work): $8.90
  
• Whistle: $0.39
  

Hygeine:

• Toilet Paper
• Hand Sanitizer
• Toothbrush / Toothpaste
• Pullups

Important Documents

• Laminated Card with picture of family, name of child, and mine and Cory's names and cell phone numbers.
• Copy of immunization record

Entertainment:

• Bubbles
• Coloring Book / Crayons
• A few small cars

2nd Adult Kit

Food & Water:

• Twelve 16.9 oz water bottles (this increase the total water to 2.5 bottles per day for me (since I am breastfeeding and two per day for everyone else)
  
• One pantry cans of THRIVE freeze dried fruit
  
• 3 MREs $2.65
  
• One THRIVE Orange Drink Pouch (to help make water palatable if needed): $4.59
  
• Six packs of instant oatmeal
  
• Two rolls crackers
• 3 high calorie fruit bars: $2.17
  
• Spoon and Fork
• 3 MRE Heaters $1.49
  
• Water filtering bottle (will filter up to 30 gallons): $19.79
  

Shelter & Heat:

• 1 Emergency Sleeping Bag (Again, warm, but small and lightweight): $3.46
  
• Waterproof Matches: $0.79
  
• Lighter
• Waterproof fire starter: $7.91
  
• Change of Clothing for Cory (t-shirt, pants, socks, underwear, jacket)
• 2 trash bags (can double as ponchos)
• 3 Heat Packs: (for use to help warm up the inside of a blanket or sleeping bag) $1.67
  

First Aid:

This is all packed together in a gallon bags with the first aid guide right on top. Much of it I already had, the rest came from this first aid kit ($44.54):

• Clorox Wipes
• Hand Sanitizer
• 5 Antiseptic Towelettes
  
• Various bandages
• One cloth diapers
• Small box distilled water: (for washing wounds) $0.59
  
• 5 Various sizes Gauze dressing
• 10 Alcohol pads
• 1 Sting relief pads
• 1 Antibiotic ointment packets
• 1 roll adhesive tape
• 1 Finger Splints
  
• 1 pair latex Gloves
• 2 Burn Relief squares
  
• Basic First Aid Guide ($3.45)

This is packed separately:

• Adult pain relief
• Adult cold meds
• 5 Antacid Tablets
  
• 1 Dust Masks: $0.89
  
• Blessing Oil (I am LDS, it is a religious necessity)

Tools:

• Battery Flashlight (with extra batteries)
• Duct Tape (you can fix anything with duct tape, right?)
  

Hygiene:

• Soap and washcloth
• Toilet Paper
  
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
  
• Chapstick

Important Documents / Cash:

• $100 cash in small bills
• List of important phone numbers (Insurance, medical doctors, family and friends, landlord)
• Copies of essential documents (Birth certificates, passports etc)
• Copies of vaccination records
• Copy of Patriarchal Blessing (again, this is b/c I'm LDS)
• Pre-paid phone card

Entertainment:

• Pen and Paper
• Scriptures

Other emergency items we have in our home that are not in our kit:

• One 55-Gallon water barrels: $69.29
  
• Bung Wrench (to open the barrels): $6.92
  
• Siphon pump (to get the water out of the barrels. THIS IS AWESOME!): $12.86
  
• Fifteen gallons of water in juice bottles
• Three gallons of water frozen in freezer
• Twenty gallons of water in 16.9 oz bottles
• Four gallons of water in various re-used laundry soap containers etc. (to be used for cleaning only)
  
• Gas shut off tool: (essential in earthquake areas) $6.43
  
• Fire extinguisher (in kitchen): $17.99
  
• Rope ladder (stored upstairs)
• Various Flashlights
• Various long burning candles
• Two Family size tents
• Camp Stove
  

Items I plan on adding in the future:

• Walkie-Talkies: $42.56
• Copy of our will (we need to get one)
• Water Filter (will filter up to 13,000 Gallons!): $138.59
  
• Collapsible water carrier: $9.89
  
• Five more 55 gallon water barrels (the recommended amount it 1 gallon per person per day for 2 weeks. That is about 84 gallons for our family. I would like to have about 5 times that. We currently have about 100 gallons, so we need 270 more gallons to reach our goal)
  
• Four 5 gallon water containers: $13.85
  
• More "cleaning only" water containers
• A 2nd fire extinguisher
  
• A 2nd rope ladder
• More Quickclot
• More Burn Relief Gel
  
• Double tools and first aid supplies for 2nd kit (a 2nd mess kit, wing stove, cold pack, suture kit, snake bite kit, shovel/saw, compass/whistle, pocket knife, radio, scissors, tweezers) .
  
• Generator: (I'm not sure if I want the one Shelf Reliance carries or not. I need to do more research): $144.53
  
• Sun oven: $281.21
  

Any thoughts? Suggestions? What did I miss?

**Prices based on the Spring 2011 price list which will be accurate until at least April 1st 2011. You can contact me or visit my Shelf Reliance website for the current discounted pricing**