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My Comprehensive 72 hour kit
¨ BIG backpack to hold everything ¨ mini set of scriptures ¨ compass and map of local area ¨ change of clothing in Ziploc bag and pair of sturdy shoes ¨ 72-Hour Food and Water Supply (at least 2 liters of water per person per day) ¨ water sanitation tablets ¨ solar/handcrank radio with flashlight & extra batteries (test it every 6 months and replace batteries as needed) ¨ whistle ¨ 100-hour emergency candle ¨ 12-hour lightstick or flashlight with extra batteries (need 2 sources of light) ¨ multifunction pliers/pocket knife w/ can opener for food ¨ mess kit: plate, utensils, and cup ¨ wool blend blanket ¨ emergency sleeping bag ¨ (3) 20-hour hand and body warmers ¨ poncho with hood ¨ tube tent ¨ waterproof matches ¨ firestarters (need 2 sources of fire) ¨ tri-fold shovel ¨ nylon utility cord ¨ leather gloves ¨ duct tape ¨ memo pad and marking pens ¨ mini-sewing kit ¨ chapstick with sunscreen ¨ toilet paper ¨ soap ¨ 2 washcloths (one for personal use, one for dishes) ¨ toothpaste and toothbrush ¨ baby wipes (no showers unless it rains) ¨ feminine items and/or baby items (diapers, formula) ¨ prescription/medications ¨ first-aid kit ¨ basic first-aid & CPR booklet ¨ antibacterial gel ¨ sunscreen w/ insect repellant ¨ flat-fold stove & sterno can fuel ¨ several large trash bags for various uses ¨ important papers in Ziploc bag: financial documents, photos of family members, driver’s license, etc.
*Have child’s kit contain at least food, water bottle, emergency blanket, flashlight, change of clothes and ID card. |
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* Creative Places to store your Food Storage: *
I begged my parents for an old pantry cabinet and now have room in my garage to store a couple months worth of saltine crackers, muffin mix, Mac and cheese, Peanut Butter, cold cereal (got a year supply when they went on sale for $1 a box!), canned vegetables (bought only when on sale of course), raisins, soup, spaghetti sauce, some apple juice and bottled water. On top of this cabinet I store my extra canning jars.
Under my boys’ bunk beds I found room to store (in their cases) 60 #10 cans of flour, sugar, red and white wheat, oats, & spaghetti from the LDS Cannery. It’s covered up by the bedskirt and now the kids can’t hide their toys under there!
Under my daughter’s bed there’s room for 42 cans on their sides or 60 cans of food once I lift it. She has a step stool to help her get in bed. There we’ll put all the “sweet” stuff like sugar, fruit drink mix, hot cocoa, and apple slices.
In our bedroom we have made nightstands out of 4 cases stacked high (6 #10 cans in each case) and if you want you can cover yours with fabric to match your bedroom. That’s another 48 cans of food!!! Also, we lifted our bed with 2 inch high bricks (23 cents each) to fit another 18 cases! In our closet we have some #10 cans of peaches and fruit cocktail (Check Costco- #10 can for only a few bucks!)
In my kitchen pantry I have a year supply of homemade jams, more cereal and 24 #10 cans that I got from the cannery—I have practically one of everything from the cannery there. Yes, I really use my wheat to make homemade bread every week and yes, I drink the powdered milk. Took my kids and me one week to get used to it (took my husband 2 weeks!) and now it’s great not having to buy those big gallons of milk every week at the store. On the floor are all my 2-liter bottles of water that I rotate through.
In our finished basement we’ll put along the wall 5 cases of each: red wheat, white wheat, flour, and oats.
Above my refrigerator I have two little cabinet drawers that I can’t reach without a step stool so in there I have stored a year supply of salt. We really don’t use that much salt so it’s more like 5 years for our family. Good thing the stuff lasts 20 years!
In all the bathrooms under the sink cabinets I store TP and in the extra drawers there are toiletry items such as toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and soap.
The kids bedroom closets, up high where they can’t reach anyways, are there old clothes and shoes to be passed down, and also future clothes that I find in good condition at consignment shops for less than 1/2 the regular price.
Out in our garage, hung on hooks are our 72-hour comprehensive kits ready to go. But these could be put in a coat closet or in the trunk of your car. Be aware they won’t last as long in places of extreme heat or where frequent temperature changes may occur. Ideally, you should rotate (meaning EAT the food and change out the outgrown kids clothes) every year. Troy’s and mine are extra large since the kids can’t carry very much right now. Also in our garage are our 55-gallon and two 15-gallon water barrels put on wood slats. You’re not supposed to have them touch the concrete and you need to keep them away from smelly things like the lawnmower & gasoline. This is a good 2-week supply for our family of five to drink and help us keep clean. On top, I put paper towels, toilet paper, and the Toilet Bucket. It’s my version of the Port-a-Potty. All you need is a few large heavy duty garbage bags, a box of kitty litter and some rolls of TP inside a 5 gallon bucket with a lid. Think Diaper Genie style. Thankfully, we haven’t had to use it yet.
Now I just need to find a place to store a year supply of diapers & wipes for our new baby. No, actually I have a box of heavy duty cloth diapers. It’ll take a major disaster for me to use them though. I’ve tried and I’m very thankful for the person who invented the disposable diaper. |
Young Family Fun Pages |
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Food Storage Lists and Ideas |
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How to Eat an Elephant
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