With everything that has happened here in the Carolinas over the past few days, this post felt really important to share.
It’s not something I’ve EVER talked about with you guys, but Robert and I have made it a priority for years to keep our home disaster kit stocked. Because you just never know when an emergency will strike.
As we were loading up some supplies yesterday to drop off in Western North Carolina, I thought, “We need to share this information. People NEED to know how to prepare for these things.”
What to do before disaster strikes
Robert was part of the Hurricane Katrina relief units when he was in the Marine Corps; he trained in all kinds of survival scenarios in those USMC years. It has influenced a lot about how he and I have prepared our household for natural disasters.
If you want to be really prepared in case of an emergency, doing these steps now will help:
- Take a first aid class. You can take a first aid course online with the Red Cross. It only takes 2 hours. (I did this before my oldest was born, and I’m so glad I did.)
- Make an emergency plan with your family. Talk to your kids in-depth about it.
- Check community events near you for kids’ safety training with local firefighters.
- Gather and inventory all supplies before a storm is even in the forecast. Storms make supplies scarce and scarcity can cause panic; don’t contribute to that panic by hoarding supplies when they’re most needed. You want to compile your disaster kit way before you need it.
Tasks to do 24 hours before a storm
The silver lining of a hurricane is we get a little time to prepare unlike earthquakes and tornadoes.
When a hurricane is forecasted for our area, we try to do these things the day before the storm hits:
- Fill our cars with gas
- Check that the generator is working (make sure it has fuel)
- Fill our go bag and storage bin with supplies (see below in this post)
- Fill Tupperware bowls or 2 liter bottles full of water and place them in the freezer (If your power goes out, you can put them in your fridge to keep it cold longer. If your power is out for a long time, it’s a backup drinkable water source.)
The four things you should always prioritize in a disaster situation are protection, rescue, water, and food.
*Our emergency kit is a little lighter than usual in this photo since we’ve used some of its resources for this storm.
I have included affiliate links in this blog post, but we will be donating all affiliate commission earned from this post this week to Hurricane Helene relief at no cost to you. Full disclosure
Kit Storage
The items in this post are what we recommend you keep in your stash (with a list of the most essential basics at the bottom of this post).
At the very least, plan to store these items in a cool, dry space like a closet or a cabinet on a shelf off of the floor. But we recommend having a waterproof backpack and lidded bin for extreme disaster scenarios (see below).
Go Bag or “Bug-Out” Bag
We keep the most essential items in a waterproof backpack for each adult in the family, so if that’s the only item we have time to grab while we’re running from a dangerous situation, we still have the basics to get by with our go-bag.
What to include in your go bag:
Grab-and-Go Bin
Keep the rest of your emergency kit items inside of a waterproof storage bin like this Rubbermaid ActionPacker Bin. We have our items accessible in a closet, but we keep our bin nearby so we can toss everything in it and run if we have to in a moment’s notice.
When we’re under a tornado watch, we stock the bin. When a tornado warning occurs, we grab the bin and shelter in place in our downstairs, windowless central bathroom.
Food and Water
We have all of these items in our stash and can’t recommend them enough. FEMA recommends that you store a 3-day supply of water – 1 gallon per person per day in your household.
Even if you don’t have any special kind of water storage system, filling pitchers and Rubbermaid containers with water before a storm hits can make a big difference in your survival.
Water Storage Cube – Fill up these water jugs before a hurricane hits. Even though store bought bottled water is scarce in our area right now, we were able to purify our own water and fill these jugs to send to Western North Carolina. A 5.3 gallon jug will sustain 1 person with drinking water for 5 days.
AquaPod Kit – It’s really important to fill this water storage bag in your bathtub before a storm. (We usually have 24-48 hours notice before a hurricane.) It holds up to 100 gallons and protects the water from contaminants.
LifeStraw – This personal water filter makes unsafe water drinkable. It removes bacteria, parasites, microplastics, and will provide 1,000 gallons of clean, safe drinking water. If you need a cheaper alternative, this Membrane Solutions personal filter is just as effective.
ReadyWise Emergency Food Supply – We used to store a lot more canned goods in our survival closet, but often items expired before we could remember to rotate them out. This food supply kit has a shelf life of up to 25 years.
Types of Food to Keep in Your Stash
Use this Food and Water in an Emergency list from FEMA to help you prepare how and where to store your food supply and what kinds you should keep stocked.
We also keep these food items stored:
- Protein rich foods: ready-to-eat meats, beans, and peanut butter (tuna, beef jerky, and Spam are our biggest staples)
- Canned fruits, vegetables, and juices
- Grains: crackers, pretzels, granola bars, oatmeal, and rice
- Dairy: shelf-stable boxed milk or powdered milk, shelf-stable boxed protein shakes
- Canned soups, honey, instant coffee, and tea bags
- Paper plates, disposable cups, disposable utensils
- Keep a manual can opener in your stash too
*If you have toddlers or infants, plan to store formula and baby food as well.
*If you have pets, plan to store a container of pet food. This pet water bottle is also helpful.
Plan to check expiration dates every 6 months and rotate out any items to use and replace them.
If you lose power, plan to eat the perishable food in your refrigerator and pantry first. Then, eat the perishable food in your freezer for up to 48 hours. And finally, begin to use the non-perishable foods.
Hygiene and Health
Robert was hospitalized last year with a serious staph infection all because of a minor cut that got infected, so we’ve learned the hard way how vitally important it is to treat wounds and stay clean.
Always keep a month’s worth of prescription medications in your emergency stockpile.
Also plan to store:
- toothbrushes and toothpaste
- contact lens saline solution and an extra pair of eyeglasses
- feminine hygiene products (a menstrual cup is easy because it can last up to several years)
- soap (Dial works great because it’s antibacterial and cheap.)
- bug repellant and sunscreen
- diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream if you have an infant/toddler
Biodegradable Body Wipes – When water is scarce, these are a must for keeping clean and avoiding illness.
Waterproof First Aid Kit – This pack is waterproof, floats, and has a carabiner clip so you can attach it right to your go-bag for treating a medical emergency.
Hand Sanitizer – Purell is trusted most in hospitals, so it’s a must for us. Not all brands of sanitizer are created the same.
You’ll also likely need these cleaning supplies:
- garbage bags
- Clorox wipes
- work gloves
- chemical resistant gloves
- dust masks
Heat and Light
We grab lights from our stash all the time when we have a power outage, so we’ve tested a lot over the years.
Waterproof Camping Lantern – This lantern has solar charging capability and up to 25 hours of runtime per charge. Plus, it can serve as an emergency backup charger for your phone.
Stormproof Match Kit – The waterproof case holds 25 windproof and waterproof matches. They will relight even after being submerged in water.
Insta-Fire Fire Starter – These make starting a fire easier with capability to start 120 fires in 30 packs.
BioLite CampStove – This wood burning camping stove generates electricity and has a built-in USB charger. Use it as a portable grill, coffee press, and kettle so you can boil water and cook meals. Twigs and pinecones can be used as fire fuel so power can remain plentiful.
3-in-1 Portable Grill and Fire Pit – This is a good, cheaper alternative to the BioLite CampStove. It won’t give you the capability to generate electricity, but it will make it easier to build a fire so you can boil water, keep warm, and have a cooking source.
Solar Powered Head Lamp – If you need to be hands-free, this head lamp is really handy. You don’t have to worry about stocking batteries since it has solar power charging capability.
Power and Communication
Even when I’m on the go on a daily basis, I always make sure I have a small backup charger in my purse. You just never know.
Solar Powered Phone Charger – Solar is the way to go when you need to keep your phone charged. This one also has a built-in flashlight.
Solar Generator – Gas-powered will likely have better performance, but when gasoline is scarce, this is the better bet to last beyond limited resources. If you prefer gas powered, this Honda generator is rated as one of the best out there.
Long Range Walkie Talkies – If someone in your group has to leave for a supply run or to go find help, it’s good to have these so you can still communicate while you’re apart.
Solar Hand Crank Radio – This NOAA weather alert radio has a built-in flashlight, USB output port, and SOS alarm.
A simple Swiss Army knife and some duct tape can go a long way in a disaster situation. This is what we keep on hand…
Survival Tool Kit – This has just about every little tool you’ll need. If you don’t want to get an entire kit, at least have a pocket knife and/or multitool handy.
Life Bivy – You can use this as a thermal sleeping bag or a tent. The entire pouch folds up to the size of a soda can. It comes with an emergency whistle, and the paracord can also be used as fire starter.
Gas Siphon Pump – After a disaster, if you find a gas source or a vehicle with fuel that is no longer drive-able, you can use this siphon kit to remove the fuel and use it where it’s most needed.
Storage Fuel Stabilizer – If you want to stockpile a few gallons of gasoline, it’s important to stabilize it. This gasoline treatment keeps fuel fresh for up to 24 months. Only use designated gas storage jugs, never other unapproved containers. Always store gasoline safely in a well-ventilated area that you can easily access.
It’s a good idea to have an axe and a chainsaw at the ready too.
Documents and Cash
If you end up displaced from your home in a disaster, it’s a frenzy trying to deal with insurance, banks, moving to temporary living conditions.
Having your family’s most important documents and some cash in small bills protected in a fireproof/waterproof document bag is a must. It’s small enough to put in your go bag in a moment’s notice.
Important documents to keep on your person
- Identification: social security cards, birth certificates, passports, military ID, copies of drivers’ licenses, marriage licenses, adoption papers, etc.
- Contact information: hard copies of important phone numbers and addresses of your emergency contacts
- Medical information: hard copies of your medications, medical conditions, and allergies
- Insurance information: health insurance cards, insurance policies, deeds, etc.
Other Items to Pack
That was QUITE a list, but if that feels overwhelming, you can start small with just the basics (and add to your stash gradually).
If I had to keep it to just the basics, I would stockpile these:
When to Maintain Supplies
Mark on your calendar 2 times per year for supply maintenance with dates depending on when storms normally hit your region. We try to check supplies in our emergency kit in late winter and late summer because peak storm season for hurricanes and tornadoes in our area is usually mid-spring and mid-fall.
Rotate out any expired food by using and replenishing any food/water as needed. Replace batteries and other items used after a storm.
I hope you never ever have to use these supplies, but maybe this list gives you some direction so you can have peace of mind if disaster ever strikes.
The worst feeling is knowing my kids are in harm’s way when we hear a hurricane is heading straight for us, but saying a prayer and having a home disaster kit is the best “mama bear protection” I can provide.
Is there anything you would add to this list?