Disaster Kit Essentials Edition

March is a pretty busy month for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Today is the last day of its Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Later this month, we’ll see Flood Awareness Week (16-22) and Tsunami Preparedness Week (23-29). These weeks are all part of the NOAA’s efforts to raise awareness to the increasingly turbulent weather, especially during the warmer seasons. They also got us thinking: how do you prepare for an environmental disaster?

One of the best ways to prepare for a disaster is having a disaster kit. This way, when Mother Nature displays her fury, you’ll have a set of supplies that are ready-to-go. Depending on the severity of the emergency, the proper preparations can help you save your home and belongings, and most importantly, the lives of those you love.

A disaster kit should contain enough water and food to help you last for at least three days, as well as a first aid kit. After those are covered, it’s all about adding items that are essential to helping you deal with what nature throws at you. And while it makes sense to prepare a kit tailored to handle the disaster most likely to occur in your area, make sure you don’t include items that become useless in the wrong situation.

This week in FrontPoint Picks, we’re showing you how to prepare your disaster kit, what to include in it, and why it’s necessary to have more than one stowed away in multiple locations.

1. How to Build Your Own Disaster Kit

   

   If you’ve never put together your own disaster kit, you probably do not know where to start. These steps are a good place to begin, but feel free to deviate from the list and include your own essentials. And don’t forget that disaster can strike at any time, so make sure to build another kit to keep at work. For more tips on building a disaster kit, visit Ready.gov.

2. 101 Survival Gear Supplies

   

   If you’re having trouble thinking of what to include in your kit, take a look at this list provided by Off Grid Survival. Readers suggested what to include in a survival kit and the result was this list of 101 survival gear supplies.

3. Make a First Aid Kit

   

   As previously mentioned, first aid supplies are an essential part of any disaster kit. During a disaster however, the common basic first aid kit won’t be able to meet all your needs – you need one that’s more complete. Here are all the items you should include in a first aid kit for a family of four thanks to the Red Cross.

4. Disaster can also strike while you’re in your car, which is why it is important to always keep a kit in your vehicle. Not only will you be prepared during an environmental disaster, but you’ll also be ready in any emergency situation – like that rare instance when a tire pops while in the middle of nowhere. More information on how to survive a night in your car can be found here.
5. The Navy SEAL’s Survival KitThe Navy SEALs have to be ready for anything, including unexpected trouble that leaves them in harsh, rough conditions. Therefore, they know the importance of a good survival kit, which is why they’ve invested in premium kits that are capable of enduring the abuse a SEAL might take. Here are the details of what goes into a Navy Seal’s survival kit.