How to Make a Home Survival Kit

With the possibility of some catastrophic event taking place in today's modern world it is imperative that families ready themselves for the conditions that would follow. You should plan ahead and know where you will get fresh drinking water or food if contact from the outside world is cut off for any amount of time. Even something as simple as a winter storm or hurricane can knock out both power and supply lines for days, or even weeks at a time.

While premade survival kits are available for sale it is an easy task to fashion such a kit from household articles and items that are readily on hand. Focus on stocking enough supplies to last your family for three days. Once you have a fully stocked 3 day kit, you can add things to it, with an eventual goal of having two weeks of food and water on hand, just in case.

Food and Water: Water and food items are the top priority in any survival kit. Make water your first priority, and purchase one gallon per person, per day—so if you have 4 people in your family, you will need 12 gallons in your survival kit. Stored water should be rotated every six months. For food, focus on canned goods, dried foods, and quality non-perishable snacks like granola bars and nuts. And how upset will you be if you take the time to acquire everything you need and forget a can opener? Plan ahead.

Household items: You should have a disaster plan in place if you need to evacuate, but if you are stuck at home and cut off from civilization then there are a few items that are absolute essentials. Things such as fresh batteries, battery powered radio and flashlights should be kept in good working order and fresh batteries rotated every six months to assure that they are functional when you need them. Some of the items you should have on hand include:

  • A manual can opener
  • An alternative cooking source—a gas grill or barbeque works great
  • Candles with matches
  • Aluminum foil (for cooking over an open flame or on a grill)
  • Hand cranked radio
  • Extra prescription drugs or over the counter medications
  • Pet food and supplies
  • Vitamins

First Aid Kit: A first aid kit is essential and should include bandages, gauze, white medical adhesive tape and anti bacterial solutions. You can purchase a premade kit, or assemble your own. Don’t forget to include a basic first aid handbook as well.

Toiletries: Don't forget toiletries like toothbrushes, razors, soaps and toilet paper! In the middle of a storm, you will not have the opportunity to drive to the store and pick up these often overlooked items. A change of clothing for each family member is important to have on hand as well.

I.D. and papers:  Make copies of important papers and identification and include them in your survival kit.  If you can, set aside some cash for your kit as well. If the power goes out, you will not be able to use an ATM, debit, or credit card, so cash is essential.

Once you have assembled a home survival kit, make sure you check the dates on the products you have stored. Check at least once every few months to be sure the water, food, and batteries in your kit are still good—your survival kit won’t do you much good if the products in it are out of date!