Yesterday for Family Night we decided to put together a 72-hour Emergency Kit for our little family. Our ward has been pushing preparedness for some time and will be having an emergency drill on September 8th. I felt strongly that Nathan and I should follow the counsel of our Bishopric and of the Prophet and get this kit together so we could be sufficiently prepared in the event of a disaster. I went to this site to get an idea of what we needed, and added a few other things that I thought would come in handy in case of a disaster. In thinking about what we would need, I reflected on Hurricane Katrina and realized that if those families had prepared emergency kits like this one, they would have been in a much better situation when that disaster hit. I had a dream a while back that a disaster happened near our home, and in my dream I was not afraid, I just knew that we needed to get our kit and go, and we would be safe. Since that dream I have really wanted to get a kit together and knowing that we now have one, I have that same feeling of peace.

Here is what we put in our kit:

A change of clothing (including underwear) for each member of the family. Long pants and long-sleeved shirts

Fleece blankets and solar emergency blankets

Rain ponchos

Hand warmers (these are a gel packed in a plastic bag that you squish and they produce 18 hours of heat)

Emergency stoves (one for each day, you pop the lid off, light, and can use as a heat source for food)

Matches in a waterproof containter

Utility knife and can opener

Mess kit and “sporks” (we got them for $2.75 each at Out N’ Back)

Travel sized hygiene items, including folding toothbrushes, waschloth, comb, toothpaste, soap, etc.

Travel sized bottle of Tylenol, infant Tylenol, and Ibuprofen

Small First Aid Kit with manual

Cloth diapers, pins, vinyl pants, wipes

Feminine hygiene needs

Bleach in a small container and medicine droppers to disinfect and clean drinking water

Wind-up flashlight

72-hour food kits (We made these as a Relief Society activity using those vacuum sealers. I’ll put up the menu later.)

We packed all of these items in a large backpack so that when disaster strikes, we can just grab it and go.  In total, I think we spent around $60 or $70.  Not a large price to pay for a little security!  I remember making a kit like this with my family growing up, and it was such a neat feeling to know that we were doing something to be better prepared and follow the Prophet’s counsel. It was neat to have that feeling again as I did it with my own family.