Recent events have highlighted the need to be prepared in case of emergencies. You definitely don’t need to build a bunker, or stockpile weapons and MREs, but keeping food, water, and supplies on hand is easy and worthwhile. You should be able to hole up and keep yourself alive for a few days, or be ready to leave home on a few hours’ notice. This latter is easier if you already have most of what you need in a bugout bag:
Backpack
I like my REI Flash 62L, but the main thing is to shop around and find something that fits your body
Water
Depending on conditions, plan on at least 3-4 liters per person, per day.
- 1.5L bottle
- 2L Platypus bag
- Filter
- Iodine tablets
Food
- Aluminum spork
- Cooking pot
- Backpacking stove + fuel can
- MREs + protein bars
Shelter
- Backpacking tent
- Ground pad
- Sleeping bag
Spare Clothes
- Beanie
- Gloves
- Jacket
- Rain poncho
- Socks
- Underwear
First Aid Kit
- Bandaids
- Gauze
- Medical Tape
- Nitrile Gloves
- Painkillers
- Tourniquet
Misc.
- Carabiners
- Compass
- Fixed-blade knife
- Garbage bags
- Hand sanitizer
- Headlamp
- Lighters
- Multitool
- Paracord or twine
- Personal medications + toiletries
- Spare phone battery
- Toilet paper
- USB charger
- Ziploc with copies of important documents
Some other odds and ends… What would you need to stay alive for a couple of days, if the power went out?
More Resources
Bugout Bags for Disasters - Fin, EA Forum
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Nuclear Preparedness Guide - Fin, EA Forum