Frugal Fridays: Disaster Looms
Fri Jan 11, 2008 at 02:02:09 PM PDT
Welcome to Frugal Fridays where we share money saving tips, discuss living frugally and generally talk about personal finance issues. Folks we have a disaster on the horizon and we need to batten down and prepare. No, I'm not talking about your favorite candidate losing the nomination, I'm talking about something a little closer to home. It may be something as minor as a short term power outage or as major as Hurricane Katrina, but each and every one of us will most likely face some natural or man-made disaster in the next 5 years. A few weeks ago, in the midst of the Southern California fires, I did a diary on how to put together a home disaster kit. As with many of the topics I write about, I picked that one in hopes of inspiring me to actually assemble a disaster kit for myself. It turns out that putting such a thing together takes a lot more time and thought than I had realized. (Or maybe I had realized, which is why I hadn't done it!) I hope that by sharing some of the lessons I have learned below, I can boost you up a bit on your own learning curve.
When I started to assemble such a kit, I realized that there is an economy of scale to these things, in both time and money. It doesn't take that much more time to assemble 2 than to assemble one and some supplies are much cheaper when bought in bulk. So I decided to make ones for friends and family this Christmas. I ended up making 10 different kits, each one customized for a particular purpose or person. As it turns out, my parents have also recently been thinking along these lines and so after the holidays, my stepdad and I put our heads together and traded some ideas back and forth. Now, today, I am finally ready to reveal the culmination of all this work.
First Make a Plan
Before you can build a disaster kit, you need to think about what kind of disaster you are likely to face and what your needs would be in each situation. What if it happened when you were at work? In a public place? On the road? What would you need to keep yourself and others around you save and healthy until help arrives? What kind of help from rescuers or relief agencies do you expect? What would you do if they couldn't respond for a few days or even longer?
Call me a Pollyanna-ish ostrich, or whatever, but I really think the likelihood of a disaster where all of society breaks down, like nuclear Armageddon, is so remote that I'm just not going to spend my time and money preparing for it. If you are concerned about these sorts of things and want to know about hard core survivalists, there is a ton of information on the web. Just google "survivalist supplies" to get started.
Here are some of the types of disasters I think I could face, ranging from most likely to least:
- short term localized utility outage (such as storm related)
- major earthquake that could cause extended utility outages (including water) and would make it difficult for us to evacuate the region
- house fire that destroys all or part of our house and contents
- being stranded in our car in a remote location, possibly in adverse weather
- widespread extended power outage
- flu pandemic
- neighborhood fire that affects a large number of homes at once
You Will Need Multiple Kits
Obviously no one kit will suffice for all circumstances. Here is the list of kits that I have decided we need for ourselves. One type of kit that I've decided we don't need, but you may, is a kit to keep at work. Mr. sarahnity and I both work in places that have plenty of food, water and first aid supplies available and we wear clothes that would be comfortable if we had to climb over rubble. We drive to work, so the kits we keep in our cars would also be available. The only thing I felt the need to add to my supplies at work was a flashlight I can use to find my way out of the building in case of a power outage.
- Everyday stuff: These are things you should carry with you every time you leave the house.
- Day Hike: Take with you every time you go hiking out of sight of buildings or your car. These supplies can fit in your pockets or in a fanny pack.
- Car: Keep these in your car at all times. These supplies should fit in an old backpack. Include the Day Hike Kit as well.
- Car (cold weather): Add these supplies to your car kit if you are traveling in or near snow.
- Documents: Make copies of important documents and computer files. Leave one set in a safe location away from your house (with trustworthy friends or family) and keep one set in your home go bag. A 2.5 gallon ziploc bag makes a good waterproof bag and use plastic sheet protectors to hold papers (get the kind that will expand to hold 10-50 pages). Keep the document originals in a fire safe or in a safe deposit box.
- Home - Go Bag: This should be the first thing (after people and pets) that you grab if you have to evacuate your house in a hurry. It should include one copy of your Document Kit.
- List of Things to Grab When Evacuating: Make a list now of all the things you would like to grab when you are evacuating your house (assuming you have time to safely grab anything) and keep that list in your Go Bag. I guarantee you that you won't think of everything you'd like to take in the heat of the moment, even if you do have time to go through your house and pack stuff up. I'm still thinking of things to add to this list weeks after I initially started to make it. All of these should be transported in a waterproof box, if possible.
- Home - Disaster Kit: These supplies should be stored together and should fit in a large backpack or 5 gallon bucket. Take them with you if you have to evacuate only if you have time to safely grab them.
- Home - Camping Kit: These should be kept near your Disaster Kit so you can also grab them quickly in case of evacuation. These could be very useful if your home is not safe to stay in, but relief shelters are not available.
- List of Home Disaster Supplies: These are things you have in your home that would be very helpful in a disaster, but you use them routinely so they aren't stored with your Disaster Kit. Make a list of them, and where they are stored, in advance and keep it with your disaster kit.
Best Sources I've Found
I did quite a bit of comparison shopping both on-line and locally and I found that prices could vary quite a bit from store to store for different items. Unfortunately, I didn't find any one source that was best for all things. Here's where I looked:
- My Own House: a lot of items I put in these kits I already had sitting around the house. It was just the matter of digging them out of the various hiding spots and assembling them all in one place that was tiresome.
- Amazon: I found their reviews for some items to be very helpful when deciding what to buy and the prices of their affiliated vendors were usually among the best I found.
- Google Shopping: I used them mostly for price comparisons once I knew what I wanted to buy. Occasionally I would find a better price on something than I found through Amazon, so it was worth checking.
- Minimus: This is a great source for travel or sample sized items. The prices are generally better than the local drugstore, as long as your order totals over $20. Under that amount, and shipping charges can be significant.
- Other local stores: I don't know if it is just in our area, but I was very disappointed in the prices I saw at the locally at the army surplus store or the discount camping store (Sports Basement). I usually found better deals for the items they carried on the web, even when I factored in shipping. These are good places to wander around to get ideas of what you might want to include in your kit, however.
If I found a particularly good source for some item detailed in the lists below, I linked to that source in the list.
Other Considerations and Tips
A few more things to keep in mind:
- Where and how to store your kits: In general, you want to make sure your kits will be stored in a way to keep the contents safe from water and vermin damage and handy enough that you can reach them in a disaster. I would recommend a plastic storage bin for anything kept in an outbuilding or garage, while a backpack or duffel bag should be fine for supplies in your house. I recently saw the damage a rat did to a kit in a canvas bag that was hung on a post in a garage. It wasn't pretty.
- Consider making more than one set: If you have friends or family who need to be more prepared than they currently are, consider making kits for them too. As I said above, it doesn't take that much more effort and it will be greatly appreciated.
- Always keep your car gas tank at least half full: This is definitely one of those "do as I say, not as I do" pieces of advice. Right now, my car is sitting in the driveway with nothing but fumes in the tank.
Detailed Kit Contents
These are the detailed contents of the kits I put together. At the end, I also listed some survival supplies that I have seen suggested, but I didn't include in mine. These kits are designed for 2 adults and one cat. I've put these lists in a google spreadsheet that you should be able to view. I'll be updating that with suggestions from the comments or other things that occur to me in the future. Note that there is a fair bit of overlap between the car kit and the go-bag. If your car is certain to be available when you evacuate your house (i.e., it is not parked in a garage which could be on fire or collapsed) you could eliminate some of this duplication.
- Everyday Kit
- Photo ID
- Emergency contact info: Take a business card from spouse, write "In case of emergency notify:" at the top and then add home and cell phone numbers. On the back, keep the name and phone number of the out of area contact you and your family members agree to relay messages through in case the local phone system goes down.
- cell phone: Don't answer it if you really don't want people to bug you, but do carry it
- keychain items: Some or all of these would be useful to also carry and are small enough to attach to your keychain
- LED flashlight
- mini Swiss Army knife
- tweezers such as these or something similar
- Day Hike Kit:
- Leatherman Tool or Swiss Army Knife: Genuine Leathermans are pricey, but fantastic
- flashlight: even a tiny LED flashlight will help you find your way in the dark
- loud whistlewith compass, signal mirror and waterproof holder for matches: can help to signal for help or find your way out of the wilderness
- emergency mylar blanket
- tiny 1st aid kit: bandages, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, alcohol wipes, antibiotic wipes, aspirin
- insect repellent, sun burn cream, sun screen: can find these in small bottles or even single-use packets
- dental floss: not for oral hygiene, it is nice twine
- chemical hand warmers: tuck inside your shirt to keep your core temperature up
- hat: shaded brim for summer, warm for other seasons - you lose a lot of heat through your head
- water
- Car Kit:
- charger for cell phone
- Maps: local, and regional use to find alternate routes
- sturdy shoes & socks: if you get caught wearing sandals or dress shoes, you'll need a good pair to walk in
- work gloves: useful if you need to move debris, change a tire, etc.
- illuminated safety vest: it is not just reflective but has LEDs in it to improve your visibility if you have to leave your car at night
- 2 signal flares: can also be used to signal rescuers
- Day Hike Kit (see above)
- Cash: bills for emergency expenses and coins (for payphones) I keep about $50 handy
- crank flashlight w/ emergency radio: These combo units are now available. "Duracell 3 in 1" seems to be best recommended by users on amazon.com. Flashlight has multi-band radio (am/fm/weather) and USB port. Can charge to or from USB devices. (The default merchant on Amazon is not the lowest price. I ordered from T.F.N., also through Amazon, and was very happy.)
- First aid kit: Include pain relievers and cold and allergy medicine and 2 pairs latex gloves. You can buy a ready made kit or assemble your own
- spare eyeglasses for everyone in your household
- 4 emergency mylar blankets
- 2 rain ponchos
- 2 light sticks such as these
- pens, pencils, markers & duct tape: Wrap a few feet of duct tape around one of these pens. A knife can be used as a pencil sharpener in a pinch. Include at least one permanent marking pen.
- fire starter (tinder): you can buy commercial tinder that will work when wet, or just keep some dryer lint in a ziploc baggie, or you can make firestarters from candle wax, dryer lint or sawdust and egg cartons
- small toiletry pouch (we had lots of old pouches sitting around, but a quart sized ziploc bag would work well too):
- small sewing kit (needle, thread, spare buttons) in dire emergency, could be used to stitch up a wound. (I've picked these up for free from hotels.)
- sanitary pads and/or tampons
- packaged sanitary wipes
- 2 tissue packs
- fasteners: plastic cable ties, wire twist-ties, safety pins, rubber bands
- swiss army knife, leatherman, or camping multi-tool at the very least, this should have a blade and a can opener
- box of matches
- power bars or candy something tasty to keep your blood sugar from dropping while you change your tire (or keep you from starving for a day)
- water: at least 1 day supply water (each person needs 1/2 gallon drinking water per day)
- gatorade or vitamin powdered drink mix improves the taste of water
- small towel as Douglas Adams says, never travel without a towel (I picked up a multi-pack like this.)
- deck of cards to alleviate boredom while waiting for rescue
- Car Kit (cold weather):
- candles or sterno cans
- coffee can or other metal container melt snow in the can for water - be sure to ventilate the car by cracking a window
- survival food
- warm gloves
- snow boots and warm socks
- tea bags improves the taste of drinking water from snowmelt
- Documents Kit:
- ID documents: (Include copies of all items, except keep an original of a bill with your local address)
- birth certificates
- drivers licenses
- marriage license
- passports
- all medication prescriptions (including eyeglasses)
- current pictures of pets
- ham radio license
- power or water bill with your name(s) and address
- Financial documents: (Copy front and backs of all cards)
- credit cards
- ATM cards
- auto club membership cards
- most recent tax return
- list of all financial accounts: name & phone of institution, account numbers and name on accounts
- Wills, durable powers of attorney & trust documents
- Phone List: Make a list of phone numbers you would need in an emergency. Here is a sample of the one I use.
- Computer backup: DVD or USB thumb drive with copies of critical computer files
- Home - Go Bag:
- waterproof luggage tag with your contact info: attach to the outside of your kit
- Document Kit (see above) You can double the ziploc bags for extra waterproof protection. Add the following
- Disaster Lists: List of things not in bag to grab in case of evacuation and list of useful disaster supplies in your home and where to find them
- Blank paper useful for leaving notes to inform people where you evacuated to, etc.
- Disaster recovery info print out info on how to purify water and other helpful info on how to recover from a diaster from the American Red Cross
- First aid booklet many first aid kits or courses will give out such a booklet
- Maps: one local, one state or region use to find shelter locations or alternative evacuation routes
- cash: a few hundred dollars in 20s and a few dollars in coins. Coins can be useful in pay phones, if any can be found. Cash may be needed for several days if power is out and ATMs are down.
- crank flashlight w/ radio (see Car Kit)
- tiny 1st aid kit (see Day Hike Kit)
- insect repellent, sun burn cream, sun screen (see Car Kit)
- prescription medication and vitamins keep a one month (or a two week, if that's all you can get) supply of all meds in a ziploc bag. Rotate out each month when you get prescriptions refilled.
- spare eyeglasses for everyone in your household
- 4 emergency mylar blankets
- 2 rain ponchos
- 2 light sticks such as these
- Pens, pencils, markers & duct tape (see Car Kit)
- other small items: (keep in ziploc bag)
- 2 pairs of latex gloves
- fasteners: plastic cable ties, wire twist-ties, safety pins, rubber bands
- key ring with spare keys to house and cars
- swiss army knife, leatherman, or camping multi-tool at the very least, this should have a blade and a can opener
- box of matches
- small sewing kit (needle, thread, spare buttons)
- small toiletry pouch
- sanitary pads and/or tampons
- soap/shampoo/conditioner/lotion (I used some small samples I've picked up from hotels)
- packaged sanitary wipes
- toothbrush
- toothpaste & dental floss
- brush or comb (you want to look your best in a disaster)
- small bottle hand sanitizer
- 2 travel pack tissues
- food in ziploc bag:
- power bars or candy bars (food to keep your blood sugar from crashing)
- gatorade or vitamin water powder packets
- salt and pepper shakers or individual packets (some of us would sorely miss salt if we didn't have it)
- small towel (see Car Kit)
- deck of cards to alleviate boredom in the shelter
- cat food: enough for a few days
- harness and leash for cat
- List of Things to Grab When Evacuating: Here's a combination of mine and my parents' list.
- cat (in harness or cat carrier)
- cell phones, purse, wallets, keys, glasses, sunglasses
- cash
- contents of fire safe
- laptops, computers, hard drives and current file backups
- photos (wedding album & video, other family photos)
- personal letters
- original poetry, music or artwork
- cameras
- musical instruments
- cell phone chargers
- change of clothes for 5 days & jackets & rain gear
- rechargeable batteries and chargers
- ipod, pda, speakers & chargers
- cat carrier
- disaster kit
- camping gear
- Home - Disaster Kit:
- plastic bags (various sizes from large garbage to small trashcan sized
- plastic sheeting and/or tarp use as a ground cloth or for emergency home repairs
- tube tent
- 2 dust masks
- 50 feet of 1/4" nylon rope
- emergency candles don't use these after an earthquake, there is too much danger of starting a fire when an aftershock knocks them over
- water purification tablets
- manual can opener
- duct tape
- emergency food supplies like this for 2 adults for 3 days)
- water 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days (1/2 gallon for drinking, 1/2 gallon for sanitation)
- work gloves
- landline phone (not cordless) in case of a power outage, cordless phones won't work in the house
- Home - Camping Kit: (we don't camp much, so our supplies are kind of minimal)
- battery powered lantern great to have if you are prone to power outages
- tent
- sleeping bags
- cooking pans & utensils
- plates, cups, eating utensils
- toilet paper
- aluminum foil
- folding chairs
- List of Home Disaster Supplies:
- fire extinguisher stored in the kitchen
- more flashlights (including the kind you can wear on your head) - stored around the house
- wrench to turn off gas attached to the gas meter (only use it if you smell gas)
- cleaning supplies
- bleach can be used for water purification too
- ammonia do NOT mix with bleach ever!
- dish soap
- wipes
- plastic bags including small trashcan sized ones. If your water is out, you can use plastic bags to hold waste in the toilet.
- aluminum foil & plastic storage containers
- canned and dry food stored in pantry - canned soups that don't need to be mixed with water make better emergency rations than dry food like pasta or rice
- propane barbecue grill ours has an extra burner on the side so we can cook on it if the gas and electricity are off in the house
- Other Items I did not include above:
- baby & child care items
- dog or other pet items
- eyeglass repair kit (add to Go Bag)
- collapseable shovel add to car kit to help extract car from mud or snow; can come in handy when camping for digging latrines
- survival manuals: such as US army Survival Manual or The Book of Survival
- flint/steel fire starter such as this
- collapseable saw like a Sven saw
- sterno cans, mini cook stove
- hatchet if you are trying to start a fire using wet wood, use a hatchet to cut away the wet surface and get down to the dry core
- ironed cotton handkerchief in ziploc bag if you iron it and put it directly into a bag, it is a sterile cloth
- phone card can be useful in payphones, but these expire fairly frequently and so seem to be more expensive than they are worth
- water purification system
- battery powered radio & spare batteries this may be more reliable and long lasting than the crank type
- firearms and ammunition or other defense weapons you cannot take weapons into a shelter
- solar powered garden lights Can pick them up cheap at end of season sales.
- plastic 5 gallon bucket with lid Can be used as waterproof storage or line with plastic bags and you can use it as a camp toilet.
- fire extinguisher (add to Car Kit)
- ice scraper and snow brush (add to Cold Weather Car Kit)
- traction mats or old rugs (add to Cold Weather Car Kit)
- tire chains (add to Cold Weather Car Kit)
- salt (add to Cold Weather Car Kit)
- cat box litter or sand (add to Cold Weather Car Kit)
Update Your Kits
Once you've finished assembling them, I know you thought you'd be done for good, but unfortunately, that's not the case.
- Every Month: replace prescription medicines with new refills and use the ones you've taken out of your kit.
- Every Three Months (or more frequently): update your computer backup disk.
- Every Year: check the expiration dates on over the counter meds. Replace snack foods and pet foods with fresh supplies. Review your phone list and other documents for changes.
- Every 3-5 Years: replace emergency rations and water.
