I am very proud of myself. I went yesterday to go through our 72 hour kits that we had and throw away whatever was too old. I came to find (I hadn't looked too closely at them before, they were gifts...several years ago) that everything in them had expired! I mean everything! My how time flies! Our ramen noodles and Oreos were past the expiration date by 2 years!! So I chucked it all, except for the bottled water, which was expired too, but we can always add a couple drops of bleach or boil them to make them good again. So, since we were now 72 hour kit-less, I made a shopping list and headed to Walmart... Here is what I've put together, and I must say, for a first timer, I'm pretty impressed with myself!
They consist of...
6 rolls of toilet paper, 14 water bottles, 1 radio with headphones, 4 pairs rubber gloves, a whistle (to "call" for help), cotton balls, antibacterial wipes, an emergency blanket (the silver kind), matches in a waterproof case, a flashlight, lighter, toothpaste, 2 eyedroppers (for bleaching water), 2 travel bottles of Pert Plus, 2 travel deodorants, 2 travel lotions, one can opener...
10 pack Great Value cracker snacks (peanut butter crackers, cheese and crackers)
6 - 10 fl ounce Great Value 100% apple juice fruit punch bottles
6 pack GV crunchy peanut butter granola bars
4 Starkist Tuna instant lunch packets
8 ready to eat GV sugar-free fruit cups
3 Bumble Bee ready to eat Chicken Salad lunches
4 Minute Made ready to eat Brown Rice Bowls
2 cans GV ready to eat mini Beef Ravioli
8 add water GV instant oatmeal bowls
3 "heat and eat" Progresso Soup bowls
3 cans GV veggie juice (generic V8)
All in all if you look at the food, it's more then 72 hours worth of survival... I'm really proud of myself!!! The rice bowls don't last much more then a year, so it's important to eat and renew what's not going to last much longer every year!! I've learned that the hard way! Don't forget to look past this post, there's a new one under it!!
9 comments:
Good job! We've also been working on our food storage and emergency kits. Costco sells these great crank up flashlight/radios for pretty cheap (that way you don't need batteries). Some other tips I've found: Pack a book and some family photos in Mariska's bag in case you're stuck away from home. And don't forget scissors and candles - you never know when you'll need 'em! Happy gathering!
Good ideas! We're SLOWLY getting out 3 month supply in order. I have a few gallons of water hidden around the house and my closet is full of cans... but at the same time, we don't want to get to much more because we'll have to move it!! I don't want to go back and forth from the truck with 25 different cases of canned green beans, or 20 gallons of water! I know it's really important, but I'm thinking I'll start trying harder with the 3 month supply once we move, and have space for it all!!
Yeah, good job!
Scissors are a really good idea. And a little sewing kit. And you might as well pack a small coloring book and 8 pack of crayons in Mariska's bag too.
We're slowly working on ours too. I really like what my stake is doing...every month, the stake president gives a family preparedness assignment for everyone to get for their families so you can slowly start building everything up. This month was powdered milk and candles. Last night we got some candles at Walmart. They have these 9 hour candles--3 for like $2.50. (In the camping section.) You can also buy a little lantern specifically for the candles. That's next on our list.
How did you forget about the Oreos! And just out of curiousity, why did you put them in a 72 hour kit?
Chocolate is a must have for 72 hour kits - especially for kids. It takes the stress off.
I am impressed! What a great idea! :) I would just have to keep myself out of when I am needing a chocolate fix! I might have to hide them from myself! :)
I let the oreos expire because they were tucked away in the closet for years... I didn't put them in, our original kits were a mix of gifts from my parents and Brent's grandparents.
Ahhhh. Well, an expired Oreo...is a sad thing.
Good call on the chocolate! Another thought, thought not necessarily for your emergency backpacks: Crowbars! Or maybe just one for the home and/or car. You never know when you'll need to pry stuff apart or smash things. Of course, these are all great ideas that I haven't managed to implement in our own storage. Gotta get into that again!
Way to go! That all looks very yummy even to this queazy preggy lady.
It feels so nice to start getting prepared huh! I know we don't have everything in exact order, but our kits are good enough to grab - n- go -n- survive for 72hours at least for now!
I'm so happy for you! Way to be so organized! And mmmmm I'll have to put Oreo's in our kits now that you mentioned it!
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