Costco has started to sell "disaster" kits starting at $1,000. These consist of a year supply of food and will last up to 25 years. Would you ever consider purchasing one of these emergency kits?

i have my own disaster kit. its called camping equipment.

I don't think I'll purchase one of those kits unless it absolutely has almost everything I would need.

But I do make sure I have enough food/water for several months at a time. I think planning for an extended power outage is something we all need to do. I think most people probably have food/water for less than one week. I remember several years ago when the hurricane hit NJ and people were without power for a week or so. My friend who lives in a nice area had no power. My friend said, did you see the people waiting in line at the gas station for hours with a canister waiting to get fuel for their gas generators ? Well, I was one of those a$%#% waiting in line. He has a million dollar house but he didn't have any backup power. I said to him, get a full size generator for your house and to this day he doesn't have one.

Ready.gov recommends putting together an emergency kit (or "go" bag) which has supplies enough for 3 days. They have a list on their website - suggestions of what to put in there.
[www.ready.gov]

Also, there are places where you can order them already made. I got one where the supplies come in a backpack from Emergency Essentials.

Given the kinds of disasters that can happen (hurricanes, EMF, blackouts) I'd suggest getting more than 3 days of supplies.

I personally haven't and wouldn't purchase any kit. Many years ago with all the Earthquakes San Francisco had,
my Mother had a homemade kit of a can opener, cans of food, water, flashlight and if remember correctly a small burner and pot. I don't go to that extreme but do keep distilled water in the garage,and, also keep same in car.
Living in a home built on bedrock, not too worried. With all CA fires now, you just leave, no time to take anything.

We used to keep a kit during hurricane season. Now we don't really do much but make sure the generator is working and we have water, which we need during regular times too because of contamination in our area. We don't even worry about a category one or two but will get some for a category 3 or higher. A week without power, would be nice. Most hurricanes it's usually a few weeks for those of us in the country.

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

With all CA fires now, you just leave, no time to take anything.

thats why u keep go bag. i usually have mine by door or in truck of car, i have enough supplies for 2 weeks or longer. i also have medical kit & rescue kit for people & animals.

MsNinja..i'm doing that tonight, keeping a bag in the truck of my car...so may fires out here, good idea.

I don't have any emergency supplies at home, or even a Go Kit. Ironically, my division at work consists of Emergency Management and I participate in their activities. I know what to do; I just need to do it.

The last major hurricane or earthquake that hit this area, I walked to 7-11 for coffee.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/11/2017 01:35AM by HonnyBrown.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

The last major hurricane or earthquake that hit this area, I walked to 7-11 for coffee.

thats not disaster

You're thinking about being prepared for natural disasters. I am of the mindset that everyone better be prepared and have survival gear for up to a month. What about the latest news of North Korea trying to knock out our power grids. Food and water aside, how many of us would have cash on hand, if that happened. We rely so heavily on technology now and our debit cards.

This could and probably, at some point, will happen. My spouse has been doing a lot of reading on the subject and I don't know the details but she says it would be so easy. I grew up a Mormon so I naturally believe in having some extra supplies on hand. I always buy extra, then I rotate them and use up what I have as I replace it. I don't have enough, probably a couple of weeks worth. I really need to do better. We do keep some extra cash though. Probably water and cash are the two most important commodities to have.

@COMystery wrote:

You're thinking about being prepared for natural disasters. I am of the mindset that everyone better be prepared and have survival gear for up to a month. What about the latest news of North Korea trying to knock out our power grids. Food and water aside, how many of us would have cash on hand, if that happened. We rely so heavily on technology now and our debit cards.

I fixed it for you

@CoffeeQueen wrote:

Probably wine and cash are the two most important commodities to have.

My bad. Reminds me of holidays where I would buy deli dinners and start drinking wine about 9 AM.

@LisaSTL wrote:

I fixed it for you

@CoffeeQueen wrote:

Probably wine and cash are the two most important commodities to have.

COM is absolutely correct. To be properly prepared one prepares for the types of scenarios COM mentioned. Do you have cash on hand or some other form of currency you can use to barter ? That could mean any tangible valuable like jewelry, etc. What about the ability to cook food for weeks without any electrical power ? I wouldn't count on the government to provide any necessities. This is a not thought of often enough topic but an important one.

@7star wrote:

What about the ability to cook food for weeks without any electrical power ? I wouldn't count on the government to provide any necessities. This is a not thought of often enough topic but an important one.

camping equipment w/backup canisters. plenty of mre. canned goods. protein bars. nuts & dried fruit. hand crank or solar powered lantern. small shovel. water purification tablets. good book.

MSM - you're on top of it. I'd add portable solar inverter, survival knife, vinegar, aluminum foil, potassium iodide tablets.

2 large containers of camping food, a 5 gallon bucket with 275 dehydrated meals good for 25 years. Always 2 dozen gallons of water on hand. big generator and small generator. Plenty of camping lanterns and stoves. I was a Marine for 20+ years and an adult Scout leader for 12+ years.
Better to have something and not need it, than need something and not have it.

The LDS church in our area used to let everyone use the cannery; now you have to have a church member with you. Potato pearls were so yummy! We went through a rough patch a few years back and depleted most of our stock. It was good to be able to shop from the pantry at the time. Now we are back to slowly adding back. Coffee, alcohol, ammo, and canned/jarred food mostly.

Those stocking MREs - make sure you've actually eaten one before doing so. They are gross.

Living in hurricane and flash flood areas for close to 40 years, I've learned to stock appropriately most of the time.

If I buy too many veggies at Sam's or Costco, I chop them up and pop them in the dehydrator. I stock up on propane for the grill. I never pass up a great sale on charcoal or lighter fluid. Hopefully, my brother who is now retired doesn't abscond with it & the free smoking wood I magically find on my routes.

I water bath and pressure can stocks and favorite soups/meats/bean combinations. I have a butane burner that has paid for itself multiple times.

I want to say I always have enough jerky to feed one of my brother's former commands of 100 troops, but if I did... It would be a huge big fib. The only time that happened was when I used to make it for him and his troops and then mailed it to Iraq. I make it, I eat it.

My main preparation is filling water jugs, buying water, candles & pet food. I try to have the phone and other equipment fully charged.

Getting internet in my area requires I have a landline. I have a trim line phone that is 40 years old and it was the only way of communication when the 2002 July flood happened for everyone in my condo development. There was no electric or water, but I had a hard wired phone that worked.

I have a few go bags set up all year. One is the first aid bag, the next is the dog's. It always had enough food for a month to handle the ChiX & my Rotti (when she was still alive). That bag also has dog OC dog meds. My go bag has unmentionables, t- shirts, a couple of sweat shirts, socks and a set of pajamas. Plus my OC meds.

Because I route shop, the car always has water, blankets, coolers and fresh motor oil.

The one thing I never have on hand are sweets. I make an oatmeal cookie that can be dessert or a quick breakfast.

Almost forgot, Perrier is always in the car. Never loses the fizz & I've learned to drink it at whatever temperature. Sometimes fizzy becomes important.