Many of us used to put off the duty of gathering an emergency supply of supplies. We know it needs to be done, but since it's not urgent, we'll put it off for the time being and do it later.
Yet, as we now know, ‘eventually’ may be sooner than anyone anticipated.
We are not saying that you should begin excavating an underground shelter right away, stocking it up with protein bars and soup cans. At least, not right away.
However, having a few things on hand before you need them will alleviate your mind, and may help you out in the future. You never know when you may need to use an emergency disaster kit.
So, what is an emergency disaster kit? What do you fill it with? Better yet, what are your best options for filling it up?
In this article, we will be looking at the best quality items that you will need for your disaster kit.
We have sorted each item into 10 lists, and picked out five of each that, we believe, will serve you well in the face of disaster.
So, let’s get started.
Essential Items For Any Disaster Kit
When creating a survival plan, there are certain items that you will need to have on hand immediately.
As human beings, our primary needs are to eat, drink, and rest. However, to survive, you will need much more than water, tinned food, and a sleeping bag.
Think about how many personal items you use on a daily basis, and how much you would struggle if you didn’t have them… e.g., toilet paper.
Below, we have created 10 separate lists filled with items that you will need to include in your disaster kit. The 10 lists are organized into the following categories:
- Portable storage (e.g., backpacks)
- First aid kits
- Power banks and batteries
- Radios
- Multitools
- Torches, lighters, and matches
- Comfort (e.g., sleeping bags)
- Hygiene (e.g., toilet paper)
- Food and drink
- Entertainment
We have listed 5 items in each category, providing you with links to each essential item.
It is up to you to read through each list, and work out which items you will need for your own disaster kit.
10 Disaster Kit Lists
Here are our 10 disaster kit lists for all your survival needs.
OUR TOP PICK
Your first thoughts may be to gather food and water, and maybe a sleeping bag, but what use will these items be if you can’t carry them with you?
In the face of disaster, you may find yourself on your feet for days on end.
To survive, you will need a lot of survival items, and it would be impossible to carry them all by hand.
A backpack would be preferable, leaving your hands free to carry additional items, while a cart may hold more room.
EDITORS CHOICE
It may seem trivial, but imagine that you cut your finger while on the road.
In normal, everyday scenarios, this would not be an issue, but if you do not have easy access to professional medical help, that tiny cut could lead to a nasty infection.
You could buy an empty kit and fill it with supplies, or you can buy a readily-filled first aid kit.
These will provide you with plasters, bandages, antiseptic wipes, and everything else you will need in case of an emergency.
Additionally, your dental hygiene may not be something at the forefront of your mind, but it should definitely be considered, especially if you’re not brushing your teeth often.
BEST VALUE
These days, communication is instantaneous. Pretty much everyone has a cellphone, so it has never been easier to get in contact with another person, even if they’re on the other side of the world.
Now, imagine how much harder life would be if you couldn’t charge your phone.
Power banks are, pretty much, essential items. You never know when you will need to charge an electronic device.
Batteries are also important, and are even better if they are rechargeable.
RUNNER UP
As we mentioned earlier, cellphones are absolutely useful to have.
However, if the power lines go down, and Wi-Fi becomes non-existent, then you may not be able to use them to communicate with others.
This is why it is essential to consider grabbing some 2-way radios, or walkie-talkies.
This way, you can communicate with those that you are travelling with, even if you have been separated.
RUNNER UP
Multitools have multiple benefits, hence the name.
You may not think it is important now, but what if you need to cut something open? What if you need to open a box, or cut a rope?
Instead of wasting money (and space in your backpack/cart) on multiple tools, you should cut out the middle man and grab a multitool instead.
They are light, compact, and incredibly useful!
RUNNER UP
What do each of these items have in common?
They all provide light. You might not think so right now, but the power of light may just get you through the worst of scenarios.
A torch or flashlight is certainly essential, as you cannot rely on electricity during a disaster.
Additionally, lighters and matches will be super handy if you need to create warmth, e.g., lighting a fire. You will also need to create fires to cook food.
RUNNER UP
In disaster scenarios, you will need to get as much rest as you can, whenever you can.
These opportunities may not arise often, so it is up to you to ensure that you can do as much as you can to make yourself comfortable during these rare moments.
Sleeping bags are an obvious choice, but you may also want to grab a blanket too, and even a pillow.
If you don’t get a comfortable night’s rest, you won’t have enough strength to go on for long periods of time.
RUNNER UP
Hygiene is not all about keeping yourself smelling good, although this is a nice benefit to have. It is also a matter of keeping yourself healthy by keeping bacteria at bay.
Bleach and other cleaning supplies will make your life so much easier, trust us.
Also, if you find yourself going days (or even weeks) without a shower or bathe, these other cleaning supplies will keep you going for the time being.
RUNNER UP
Clean water can be hard to come by during a disaster or emergency.
With some purification tablets or water filters, you can rest assured knowing that you can keep hydrated without accidentally poisoning yourself.
Additionally, it is always a good idea to have food on you at all times.
Tightly packaged and tinned foods that have long shelf lives are handy, and the packs that we have listed below are also good choices.
RUNNER UP
Lastly, you should always have some form of entertainment with you, no matter what.
Depending on the scenario that you find yourself in, you need to take some time to yourself to keep your mind healthy and happy.
If you have children travelling with you, you will need to keep them happy, too.
Here are some great distractions for potentially difficult times.
Final Thoughts
So, there we have it: those were our 10 lists to help you create your very own disaster kit.
We listed 50 items in total, and while you don’t need to purchase every single item on each list, the variety will definitely help you make some decisions on what you need.
While most of us know that we will need the basics, such as food and water, you may forget about other essential items that will aid your survival, such as matches, power banks, and even some toys for entertainment.
Even if you think that prepping a survival kit may be a little extreme, as we mentioned earlier, you never know when disaster will strike.
It is much better to be prepared than to be left to scavenge when it is already too late.
We hope you found this article helpful and informative.
Good luck.
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