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Emergency Readiness Planning and Essential Kits

Quick Summary​

Emergency readiness depends on three key elements: planning ahead, preparing your supplies, and practicing your skills. A well-thought-out plan with the right kit can make the difference between weathering an emergency comfortably or facing serious hardship.

Why This Matters​

Emergencies happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Whether it's a power outage lasting several days, getting stranded during a road trip, or facing a natural disaster, having a plan and the right supplies dramatically improves your chances of staying safe and comfortable.

Consider recent events: the 2021 Texas winter storm left millions without power or heat for days. Hurricane Katrina displaced hundreds of thousands. Even something as simple as a car breakdown in a remote area can become dangerous without basic preparedness.

Remember: Failure to plan is planning to fail.

The Three Pillars of Readiness​

Planning​

Planning means thinking through realistic scenarios that could affect you and your family, then taking steps to increase your chances of staying safe and comfortable.

Consider these factors:

  • Duration: How long might you need to be self-reliant? (72 hours? A week? Longer?)
  • Environment: What's your local climate and terrain? How might weather change seasonally?
  • Location: Are you usually at home, traveling, or working in remote areas?
  • Transportation: Do you rely on a car, public transit, or do you walk/bike regularly?

Research your area:

  • Common local emergencies (floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, blizzards)
  • Evacuation routes and shelter locations
  • Local emergency services and their capabilities
  • Geographic features you could navigate by if GPS fails

Preparation​

A plan without preparation is just wishful thinking. Preparation means getting your supplies ready and keeping yourself in good health.

Personal preparation:

  • Keep medical checkups and vaccinations current
  • Maintain good physical fitness
  • Learn basic skills (first aid, fire starting, basic repairs)
  • Know where emergency exits are in buildings you frequent

Supply preparation:

  • Build appropriate readiness kits for different scenarios
  • Rotate perishable supplies regularly
  • Store kits in accessible locations
  • Customize kits for your specific needs and environment

Practice​

Regularly test your plan and practice using your supplies. This ensures everything works when you need it most and helps you identify gaps in your preparation.

Practice activities:

  • Build a fire in wet conditions
  • Set up emergency shelter in your backyard
  • Cook a meal using only your emergency supplies
  • Navigate without GPS using map and compass
  • Practice first aid scenarios

Building Your Readiness Kit​

The Layered Approach​

Organize your supplies in layers based on how you'll carry and access them:

  1. On your person: Essential items you always carry (wallet, keys, phone, small multitool)
  2. Everyday carry bag: Items you have with you most days (medications, basic first aid, snacks)
  3. Vehicle kit: Supplies kept in your car for road emergencies
  4. Home kit: Comprehensive supplies for sheltering in place
  5. Go bag: Portable kit for evacuations

Kit Selection Criteria​

Choose items that are:

  • Multipurpose: A bandana can be a first aid item, signaling device, or water filter
  • Compact: Space is always limited
  • Lightweight: You might need to carry everything
  • Durable: Must work when you need it most
  • Functional: Avoid gadgets that look cool but don't work reliably

Essential Categories​

Every readiness kit should address these seven categories:

Water​

Goal: Ability to find, collect, transport, and purify water

Basic items:

  • Water purification tablets or drops
  • Portable water filter (like LifeStraw)
  • Collapsible water container
  • Small tubing for siphoning
  • Bandana or cloth for pre-filtering

Fire​

Goal: Multiple ways to start and maintain fire

Basic items:

  • Lighter (primary)
  • Waterproof matches (backup)
  • Fire steel/magnesium bar (backup)
  • Tinder material (dryer lint, petroleum jelly cotton balls)
  • Small candle

Shelter​

Goal: Protection from elements

Basic items:

  • Emergency poncho or tarp
  • Space blanket (reflects body heat)
  • 550 paracord (50+ feet)
  • Duct tape (wrapped around pencil to save space)
  • Large garbage bags

Food​

Goal: Sustenance and food procurement

Basic items:

  • High-energy food bars (3-day supply minimum)
  • Bouillon cubes or soup packets
  • Basic fishing kit (hooks, line, small weights)
  • Snare wire
  • Aluminum foil (cooking, signaling)
  • Small knife

Medical​

Goal: Treat injuries and illness

Basic items:

  • Adhesive bandages (various sizes)
  • Gauze pads and medical tape
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Pain relievers (ibuprofen, acetaminophen)
  • Anti-diarrheal medication
  • Any personal prescription medications
  • Lip balm
  • Safety pins
Medical Disclaimer

These are basic first aid items only. For serious medical conditions, seek professional medical care immediately. Consider taking a first aid course to learn proper use of medical supplies.

Signaling​

Goal: Attract attention and communicate

Basic items:

  • Signal mirror
  • Whistle
  • Bright colored bandana or cloth
  • Flashlight with extra batteries
  • Permanent marker
  • Reflective tape

Miscellaneous​

Goal: Navigation, repairs, and general utility

Basic items:

  • Compass (button compass minimum)
  • Needle and thread
  • Safety pins
  • Small knife or multitool
  • Cash in small bills
  • Copies of important documents (in waterproof bag)
  • Emergency contact information

Kit Containers​

Your kit container should be:

  • Waterproof or water-resistant
  • Easy to carry or attach to your body
  • Sized appropriately for contents
  • Durable enough for rough handling

Container options:

  • Small pelican case
  • Military surplus ammo can
  • Large ziplock bags (double-bagged)
  • Small backpack or messenger bag
  • Even an old tobacco tin works for pocket kits

Modern Upgrades​

While traditional methods work, modern technology can improve your readiness:

Water:

  • Portable UV sterilizers kill viruses that filters miss
  • Gravity-fed filters process large quantities easily

Power:

  • Small solar panels keep devices charged
  • Hand-crank radios work without batteries
  • Power banks provide multiple phone charges

Communication:

  • Two-way radios for short-range communication
  • Satellite communicators for remote emergencies
  • Offline map apps on your phone

Common Mistakes​

Mistake: Building one giant kit for every scenario Why it's wrong: Heavy, expensive, and often left behind when you need it Instead: Build smaller, specific kits for different situations

Mistake: Buying expensive gear without learning to use it Why it's wrong: Complex equipment fails when you're stressed and untrained Instead: Start simple, master basics, then upgrade gradually

Mistake: Never testing or updating supplies Why it's wrong: Batteries die, food expires, and you forget how things work Instead: Schedule quarterly kit reviews and practice sessions

Getting Started​

  1. Start small: Build a basic 72-hour kit first
  2. Focus on likely scenarios: Power outage, car trouble, minor injuries
  3. Use what you have: Many household items work in emergencies
  4. Practice regularly: Monthly skill practice, quarterly kit review
  5. Expand gradually: Add items and skills as you learn
  • Next: Water Procurement and Purification - Essential hydration skills
  • Medical emergency response
  • Advanced: Home Emergency Preparedness - Comprehensive household planning

Budget Option: DIY Basic Kit ($25-40)​

Build your own using household items and basic supplies from hardware/pharmacy

  • Good for: Learning basics, tight budgets
  • Pros: Customizable, educational, affordable
  • Cons: Takes time to research and assemble

Best Value: Ready America 72-Hour Kit ⭐ ($45-65)​

  • Pre-assembled 72-hour kit for 2 people
  • Good for: Quick start, basic emergencies
  • Pros: Ready to go, decent quality, affordable
  • Cons: Generic contents, some low-quality items
  • View on Amazon

Premium Option: Individual First Aid Kit + Custom Additions ($89-120)​

Start with quality medical kit, add other categories

  • Good for: Serious preparedness, frequent travelers
  • Pros: High-quality components, modular expansion
  • Cons: More expensive, requires research
  • View Professional Kit
Source

Adapted from Field Manual FM-3-05-70

Last updated: January 18, 2026