Most people know they need an emergency survival kit, but more than 60% of the population still doesn't have one. There are a growing number of reasons that you may need an emergency disaster survival kit, which means delaying can only be detrimental. You can not predict when an emergency will occur or what type of emergency it will be, which makes your kit essential.
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When creating your emergency survival kit list, planning for every possible outcome is an effort in futility. A much better option is to follow the advice provided by government agencies, nonprofit groups, and preparedness experts when making your purchase. To simplify things, many people have opted for a prepackaged emergency survival kit. These kits are designed to provide you with the resources that you will need, regardless of what happens. This can be accomplished by focusing on the most common obstacles that you will face, such as loss of electricity, loss of shelter, and the need for first aid. Some kits will be designed as a 72 hour emergency kit because disaster relief agencies have noted that it could take up to three days to assist you when a major disaster strikes.
The biggest decision you will have when making your purchase is determining which kit will be right for your situation. There are a number of key factors to consider when comparing one emergency kit to another.
How to Choose the Right Emergency Survival Kit
To make your decision easier, there are a few simple questions that you can answer to help you find the best emergency survival kit for your situation. This will largely dictate what type of emergency disaster survival kit is best for you. It will also affect what types of items are the most important to include on your survival kit list.
Where Will Your Emergency Survival Kit Be Used?
The easiest question to answer is where you will plan on using your emergency kit. This is important because it will affect what types and how many items you will need. For example, a family emergency kit will be much different than an standard survival kit that you plan on keeping at the office. Some of the most common places that people decide to store their kits include: the home, office, in the car, with the kids, and camping/outdoor outings.
An emergency disaster survival kit designed for the office is normally much smaller because commercial areas tend to be evacuated or rescued before residential areas. Additionally, your office may not have much extra space so you may only have room for a small kit.
On the other hand, if you are choosing a family emergency survival kit for the home then it will need to include more items. The same is true if you are taking your kit camping or on other outdoor activities. There is even an kit designed to double as a children's backpack. Some space is devoted to emergency supplies, while the rest is used for school supplies.
How Many People Will Be Using Your Kit?
The next question you need to answer is how many people you expect to be protecting? This may seem like an easy question when you take it at face value, but emergencies inherently have unexpected variables. For example, if you are close with your neighbors then your emergency survival kit may be used by them as well. A 72 hour emergency survival kit won't last that long if it was designed for three people, but will be used by five.
If anything, you should always over prepare rather than under prepare when choosing your kit. No one in a natural disaster has ever complained about having too much food and water. Even if you have no idea how someone else could end up sharing your supplies, it is always a good idea to have one that includes a little extra.
How Long Do You Want Your Emergency Survival Kit Last?
The final question you need to answer is how long you will need your emergency survival kit to last. If you are looking for a small emergency disaster survival kit to keep in the office, then you may not need a full 72 hours worth of resources. Again, it is always better to overestimate then under estimate your needs.
An Home Emergency Kit is One Way to Be Prepared
The hard truth is that the only way to guarantee you will be prepared when you need it most is by having an emergency kit. Even if you think that you already have everything you need in your home, that doesn't mean you will be able to gather it when the moment of truth strikes. There are an infinite number of problems that can arise if you don't plan ahead. Your flashlight batteries might be dead. You may not have a bag to carry everything in. You may leave something behind.
Being prepared means taking as much control over your situation as possible and in a disaster a survival kit can put you at an advantage.
Your Emergency Survival Kit Will Allow You to Evacuate Immediately
Some people choose not to create an emergency list because they think that when a disaster strikes, they will be able to gather everything they need in time to evacuate. Depending on what happens, the ability to get out of your home immediately with your kit could be critically important. Taking 10 or 15 minutes to gather supplies simply may not be an option.
An Emergency Survival Kit Guarantees That You Know What You Have
One of the biggest benefits of an emergency kit is that you know exactly what you have. By organizing and storing everything in a single location, you eliminate the possibility that you will forget something when gathering your emergency supplies. Another benefit is that you will have had the extra time to double check and make sure that your kit has everything you will need. If you think locking your keys in your car is easy, just imagine how easy it will be to forget something on the kitchen table when you are rushing out the door after an earthquake.
An Emergency Survival Kit Allows You to Rest Easy
If you are fortunate enough to never be involved with an emergency or natural disaster, you will still benefit from owning a kit. Simply knowing that you are as well prepared as possible can be extremely comforting and rewarding. Some people have security systems on their homes, not to protect their belongings, but to feel safer. An emergency survival kit provides you with that same level of comfort.
