Simplify Your Family's Emergency Preparedness

Helpful Links for 72-Hour Kits for Families

Hi there!

If you have made it to this page, I just have to say:

You. Are. A. Rockstar.  Huge virtual high five for putting your family’s safety first!

 

Let me know if you have any questions!!!!!

Step 1 - Notes, Ziplocs, & Sharpies

Set of Mini Screwdrivers Super small, lightweight, and inexpensive.  

We also have a set in our kitchen because it’s so handy!

Jumbo Hefty Bags– get the name brand on these

Ziploc BIG Bags – these have a wider base, so they can hold a lot!

Mini Zipper Bags

Step 2 - Packs

I bought rolling backpacks similar to these ones on Amazon for our younger kids. 

If you like the idea of having a RED backpack for your kids, this one is similar to the one linked above

Step 3 - Prepare Your Space

Step 4 - Prepare Your Lists

NONE!

Step 5 - Personal Bags

Disposable pads/placemats or these are the same ones – a clean surface to put food on, etc.

Step 6 - Survival Bags

Work gloves – 12 pair, making them each about $3.50 a pair

Bandana – less than $1 a piece when you buy a dozen

Poncho – I go cheap on these (about $2.50 a piece).  The nicer ones are bulky, and space is at a premium here.  However, I do think it’s worth getting the ones with sleeves and a drawstring around the hood. This set has 4 adult and 4 kid ponchos.

Survival blanket – this is SO much better than the little foil blankets you think of when you hear “emergency blanket.” These combine the quality of reflecting body heat with the durability of a thicker, tougher blanket.

Emergency Sleeping Bag – this 2-pack is a great price

Handwarmers and toe warmers – these 40-packs are the best value for sure!  I have 5 packs of each in each person’s survival bag

Pepper Spray – not only for protection from people, but also animals

Compass/Whistle/Mirror/Waterproof Match Holder/Fire Starter/Necklace Thing

Notice the money-saving 3-pack.  Or heck!  If you buy 30 of them they are dirt cheap.  Get some friends together and split the 30-pack!

Sparkie Fire Starter – watch the video on Amazon – very cool!

Fuel Discs  – Small and lightweight

Super Glue (these singles are great for one-time use) –  in fact, this is the only way I buy Super Glue now. That way the lid doesn’t glue itself shut. Just open it, use it, and throw it away. Get a fresh one the next time you need Super Glue. Genius!

Screwdrivers – already mentioned in Step 1.  Helpful to open battery compartments on anything that requires batteries in your pack – make sure you get the appropriate tips that you’ll need. 

 Zip Ties 

Tube Tent  ***NOTE: there are several options on this page, many of which, are sleeping bags. Make sure you have the TENT selected!***

N95 Masks– MAKE SURE they are N-95 to filter out particulates for smoke from wildfires

Step 7 - Clothing Bags

Jumbo Hefty Bags – get the name brand on these

Ziploc BIG Bags – these have a wider base, so they can hold a lot!

Gloves – these turn out to be a little over a dollar a pair.  Total steal!  I have a few pairs in our car and a few in our baseball wagon, because they’re so cheap!

Step 8 - Random / Fun Bags

Dice for Yahtzee (normal) –  (these are cool black ones)

Official Rules of Yahtzee – I printed this out, folded it up, and included it with the scorecards in each 72-hour kit

Maps – Road Atlas

State

This one is a really good one to have because it’s topographic

Step 9 Loose Items

Comfort food (favorite nonperishable snack) 

  • Make sure you select the pantry can size.  **NOTE: the Snackies Pouches and Snackies Singles have a much shorter shelf life than the pantry cans (most of the Snackies are more like 2 years as opposed to 25 years). All of the freeze-dried fruits and yogurt bites have a shelf life of 25 years in the pantry cans (and the cans have a pop top).  
  • Any of the yogurt bites are awesome.  Our family favorites are strawberry, pomegranate, and vanilla.
  • The freeze-dried fruits are delicious.  Our family’s favorites are the banana slices and the strawberries.
  • The freeze-dried corn is bomb.  I know that might sound weird, but it is SO DANG GOOD!  
  • Each member of our family got to pick one freeze-dried fruit/snack to put in their pack.

Step 10 - 5-Gallon Bucket

This pop-up pod is really awesome for privacy, should the need for a bucket toilet ever arise.

 

This link is a good option – it has the bucket, liners, toilet seat, plus a couple other things.  I have gotten this multiple times for a Classroom Lockdown Kit for my kids’ teachers.

 

Crank/Solar Weather Radio/Flashlight/Phone ChargerThis is the one we have and we are totally happy with it! The radio is pre-loaded with all 7 weatherband channels and you can also set weather alerts for your area.  It has  a battery, solar, AND a crank-powered option to power it up. It also has a USB port to charge electronics. It also has a flashlight and red blinking light built in.  Very cool!

 

Shovel – super compact, but attaches in just a few seconds to have a more usable length of a handle. Has several other tools built in. Comes with an instruction sheet inside the carrying case, so no additional instructions are needed.

Lantern – I like these lanterns because they are fairly compact and have a ton of hooks to hang them any way you want (from a loop inside your tent, or in your car, or from a tree, etc), as well as a magnetic bottom, allowing you to stick it to anything magnetic (like the hood of your car).  These particular ones also have a flashlight option and a red blinking light.  Most other lanterns like these don’t have the concentrated light in the form of a flashlight on the end, so these are extra cool.
These go in and out of stock, so if they are out of stock right now, check the recommended similar products – we have two different kinds and they’re both great!  

Barf Bags – these or these are kinda fun…if you get a big pack, put some in your car for road trips!

Step 11 - Water

Ready-to-Drink Water

Water Tank – I mentioned that we have a 500-gallon water tank for our home water storage.  This is obviously not something we could load into our car and take with us, but since I mentioned it, I wanted to give you the info here in case you wanted it.  

WAter Filtration

LifestrawsAfter researching a bunch of options, I like Lifestraws because they are small and can filter a lot of water for how small they are.  They are also highly effective, filtering out almost anything you would ever need to worry about.  Notice I said “almost everything.”  Still not 100%, but dang close!

Water Filter – Having something larger than Lifestraws isn’t a bad idea.  We have a Crown Berkey water filter and LOVE it.  The awesome thing is, we use it every day in our home, but it is also our emergency water filtration plan.  I love it when things can double up with everyday use and emergency use!  Use code PLANFORAWESOME for 10% off!

Step 12 - Food

Mountain House Camping Food is my favorite.  

CAN OPENER! – this is my favorite – doesn’t go dull after a month, and it does a smooth, clean job. I am confident this will last well past 72 hours! I actually have a couple of these in my long-term food storage as well.

SWINGAWAY CAN OPENER! This is a great add for anyone with #10 cans in their long-term food storage. It gets around the large diameter of a #10 can so much quicker than a regular can opener does!

Disposable pads/placemats or these are the same ones – a clean surface to put food on, etc.

Freaking awesome spork/knife– here is a 3-pack of different colors, to help keep them straight, and another 3-pack with 3 MORE colors (I got one of each pack and am seriously considering throwing all our silverware away and using these on the daily)

Camping Stove – This is the one we got. Very reasonably priced and easy to use (the case is a piece of crap though). However, I was not able to order the butane (fuel canisters) on Amazon because they wouldn’t deliver it to my address. So we just got our fuel at a physical store. Note: you should not use a butane stove indoors. The fumes can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Always use these outside!

JetBoil – Boils water SO FAST! Great for 72-hour kits and/or backup cooking method for power outages.

Canned Heat – awesome because you can use it inside.

Foldable stove –  LOVE these for a 72-hour kit

 

Step 13 - Separate Big Items

NONE!

Step 14 - PETS

This is THE CUTEST STINKIN’ 72-Hour Kit for DOGS.  I am in love with the looks, durability, and functionality.
Use code PLANFORAWESOME10 for 10% off!   You’ll need to add a few essentials like food, and water, but this gets you started with some basics.  

Pet First Aid Kit – the one I linked to before is unavailable but here are some options if you want a pre-done first aid kit.

There are also pre-done entire 72-hour kits for pets ready to go if you don’t want to have to piece your kit together.  Since there are so many different pets out there, here is a list to get you started, but a more narrow search may be better for you, if you type in the specific animal you are looking to cover.

Step 17 - Grab List

NONE! Just do it! This step is FREE!

Step 18 - Rotation Guide

NONE! Just do it! This step is FREE!

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