Need survival kit ideas?
I have many people ask me for survival kit ideas, a bug out bag list, or 72 hr kit suggestions. I’ve spent some time trying to decide the best way to address these questions. Not only should you be able to survive in your own home for 72 hours, you should be able to survive on the go for 72 hrs in case of an evacuation or the destruction of your home. Building a survival kit that will allow you to live completely on your own for 3 full days is no simple task and can be quite overwhelming. The organization, planning and prep can seem daunting and so can the cost.
Looking for an easier way?
Here is the good news: I’ve made it easier for you! I’ve broken down a portable 72 kit list into weeks that add up to 6 months. So each week, you will only have to purchase, organize (or re-organize if you already have a kit) 1/25th of your kit. Sound more do-able?
Each Wednesday I will address an overall topic / theme. I will give suggestions of things you may want to consider including in that category, but you will need to determine what is right for your family.
In addition, you can enter a giveaway each week to win items that will help you build your kit. All you have to do is leave a comment each week. Sound like fun?
Weekly Topics:
Since I have already completed the series, you can skip ahead if you want by clicking on each week’s topic below. Or, just follow along each Wednesday as I re-post each week’s topic with added ideas / comments from readers and / or additional information I’ve learned over the last 6 months:
- Week 1: Packaging
- Week 2: Water part I
- Week 3: Water Part II
- Week 4: Food Part I
- Week #5: Food Part II
- Week #6: How ya gonna cook?
- Week #7: How ya gonna eat?
- Week #8: Protection from the elements
- Week #9: Where ya gonna sleep?
- Week #10: Staying Warm
- Week #11: Bandages
- Week #12: Sanitation
- Week #13: Other First Aid
- Week #14: Meds
- Week #15: Hand Tools
- Week #16: Communication
- Week #17: Light
- Week #18: Random Tools
- Week #19: Hygiene
- Week #20: Entertainment
- Week #21: Baby / Kids
- Week #22: Prepare for your Pet
- Week #23: Important Documents
- Week #24: Religious Items
- Week #25: Rotate
- Week #26: The List
If you’ve already built your kit, you can add to it, or double check the items you have in that category each week.
Money
You should have a good amount of money in your survival kit. It should be in small (think $1) bills and some quarters b/c it is unlikely others would be able to “break a $100 bill” in an emergency situation. As such, I recommend adding at least $1 per person per week to your kit. For my family of six, that would be $6 per week.
Don’t miss a week!
Come back and visit each Wednesday. Or better yet, subscribe to my blog by email orin a readerto be sure you don’t miss a week!
I shared with friends at church. I talked with at total of 11 individuals this week so far.
Thank you Dione!
I joined in here late so have been trying to do some catch-up reading onprevious weeks. Can't seem to locate infor for week #9.
Sorry about that Rachel! Here is the link for week #9: http://www.yourownhomestore.com/2011/11/survival-kit-series-week-9-where-ya.html
I've also updated the post above to include all the links so far. Thanks for reminding me to do that!
just found the rest of them. Thank you for posting them.
Also have a question, do you want us to send a post to the questions above each time we talk to someone, or should we save it up and post once a week?
Rachel: It is up to you! I keep count either way. If it is easier for you to just post it each time you do something, great! If you'd rather keep track somewhere else and just post once a week that is totally fine too. Thanks for asking!
I have been in my home town for the last week and have been able to share your site with several friends. And I am constantly “sharing” your posts on my facebook page. Thanks, Misty, for all the information you provide.
Thanks Marcia! I appreciate the support
I have pinned your 72 kit week by week post to my pintrest board because I think it’s such a awesome idea and I’ve enjoyed getting excited about getting mine finally put together!!
Thanks Sabrina! LOVING pinterest!
This is great! I love your preparedness info. Thanks so much
You are welcome Chelsey! I’m so glad you’ve found it helpful!
I don’t know if we can qualify more than once, but I’m still sharing. I’ve emailed 17 more people, and put links on Pinterest.
and…still going. 
Just once Chelsey, but I’m still very grateful! Thanks!
no problem. I love your site – still sharing.
I love your recipes from food storage. Thank you for sharing. Do you do this all by yourself? I have shared it with women at work, in my ward, friends, and family. I think I totaled 53.
Welcome Rochelle! And thanks for sharing! Yes, I currently do this all myself though in the next month I will be adding some “team members” to help me out! (-:
Swe are starting with week ! again? Revising/updatoing our !st week right??? Or am I in the wrong section?
I’ll start with week #1 again next week Melanie! You can see week #26 here: http://www.yourownhomestore.com/2012/04/survival-kit-series-week-26-list/
This is fantastic! I’ve been telling all of my friends about this. I recently found this blog through Pinterest, and what a great time of the year to do so. Tornado season is in full swing. Thanks for all the info, and for FREE.
You are welcome Liz!
A friend just sent me your way- and I LOVE it. Thanks for the motivation!! Thank heaven for the internet!
You are welcome Cortney. Thanks for the comment! (-:
Would you consider adding a link at the bottom of each separate post, to get to the NEXT step? For example, at the bottom of “week 1″, there be a link directly to “week 2″‘s post? I know it would take some doing, but for those of us reading through post to post, it would be very helpful.
Yes, it has been on my “to-do” list for a while…I just haven’t gotten to it yet! I should have done it when I created the whole thing, then it wouldn’t have seemed quite so overwhelming! (-: I will do it soon and let you know when I do!
I’ve pinned your site and can’t wait for others to do the same!
Thanks Debbie!
I just found you via Pintrest. I absolutely love the info you’ve included here. I’m always interested in what others are doing and how to get started. I do have 2 questions though. (1) Is “religious items” just whatever items you believe you’ll need or is there supposed to be a link? I’ve tried and it keeps telling me there’s nothing there. (2) Am I supposed to continue adding the $1/week/person indefinitely of do you suggest a specific amount?
Thanks for all the time you’ve put into this for those of us that just don’t know where to start.
(1) Nope, it is an actual post. Sorry about that and thank you for catching that broken link! Here is the correct link to the religious items post: http://www.yourownhomestore.com/religious-items/
(2) I’ve continued to add it every week. I occasionally use the money in my kit for “mini-emergencies” when I don’t have other cash (to pay a babysitter, buy fresh strawberries on the side of the road etc, pay the toll on a toll road etc.) so I’m always replenishing mine. I say the more the better (to a point). My own personal goal is to have at least $100 per person in our family there.
LOVE this! I’ve been trying to team up with my mom for quite a while to get our family prepared! I’m thinking that since everything is already laid our for us…WE CAN DO IT!! I’m wondering if you mentioned and I missed it…Where you keep your backpacks? We live in an earthquake prone area and if our house collapsed or something, I’m wondering where a good place might be to store everything, easily accessible. Thanks for all your hard work!!
Sorry for the late response Leah! It has been a crazy (good) weekend here with family visiting. (-:
I keep my kits in my van. I like having them with me wherever I am (and I’m almost always where the van is). If I’m at the Zoo with my kids and an earthquake hits, I can grab my kit and walk home. However, if I’m home, it is still there with me. And there isn’t much over our garage, so even if our house collapsed, it is likely the car would be okay (scratched, I’m sure, but okay). I feel the kits are pretty safe there.
I hope that helps!
Thank you for this. Found you from Pinterest. I have a couple of things, but I would not consider it a kit. It is something I have been meaning to do.
I also wanted to thank you for adding the ideas for outside the regular kit. In my area, evacuation type emergencies are very rare. No earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis etc, but the very real possibility of being trapped IN the house by a blizzard or ice storm.
Now I can get some evacuation packs ready, but also have the ease or benefit of a cheaper at home option too.
Thanks.
Hello, and thank you so much for this great and simple breakdown! I’ve been using it to make bug out bags for my family recently. We homeschool, and will be using this as a guide to a home-Ec type course this year. I would love to share this out with my other middle school families as well (with your permission, of course). I teach middle school for an online charter school. Would that be ok with you? I would of course give you full credit.
thank you!
Of course Amy! Thank you so much for asking and for sharing it!
My 14 year old Son is a 1st Class rank Boy Scout. He is working on Eagle Required Merit Badges. One of these is “Emergency Preparedness” & it is NOT cheap, nor easy!
I have been looking on-line for a plan to make this simpler on us. I think you may be our answer!
Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
~ Konnie-with-a-K
you have some really awesome ideas and i am very interested in survival kits and being prepared for emergency situations. i have come across something recently that i thought about while reading your week by week approach and seeing you talk about your two daughters.
http://stuffyoucanthave.blogspot.com/2011/06/survival-doll.html
it is a doll that is filled with other essential survival goods. the doll is not obvious about what it contains, so if anyone ever tried to take stuff from you in an emergency situation (i.e. crazed/traumatized survivors/ other evacuees…) it would be one of the last things that they would think to take, especially from little girls. i hope that you find this helpful!! thanks
Oh my! How clever. Thank you so much for sharing EMily. I’m going to mention it on facebook! Thanks so much!
Hi, I know this is kind of odd but, I am having a Halloween party and my theme is the zombie apocalypse. Part of my entertainment is to teach kids how to be prepared. I would like to do a 72 hour kit for each child so they at least have one for themselves in the event of an emergency. I will be having around 60 children or so. Any ideas on how to keep the cost low and it still be effective? Thank you and sorry for the odd request.
Wow Tila. I guess that depends on what you mean by “low cost” and “effective” For 60 kids….wow. Do you want them to each have their own backpack? What are the ages?
Hi Misty,
Thank you so much for posting this wonderful resource. I had always thought about having some extra water on hand but never an actual 72 hour pack. I myself am a dog owner, and she is like a child to me. I would suggest protective footwear. If extensive walking on rough terrain is a must, the pads of their paws can become sensitive and raw very quickly. I would suggest something that would allow easy walking on icy surfaces, something with some grip, and on both hot and cold ground. Crunchy snow and ice can also easily damage their pads. I would also suggest some protective covering for them such as a jacket. Since my dog is an inside dog, and her breed is not resistant to either hot or cold weather, she would need a jacket in consistent 50 degree weather. I would also add a pet friendly sunscreen for animals.
Also, I apologize for forgetting, but do you have insect repellent on the list? I’m from South Carolina, and the Mosquitos and other insects are very cruel to us most of the year.
Thank you again! I plan to start putting together a kit soon.
Best,
Amber
Thanks for the insight Amber! I love it when people with more experience than I chime in.
Hi,
I am just starting and wanted to know if you had a comprehensive list of all the items in the 72hr packs (so that I can be on the lookout on the off weeks).
Also, I would love to see a comprehensive list of what supplies you recommend for an emergency which requires us to hunker down at home for a while.
Thanks!
Alison
Hi Alison! Welcome!
Unfortunately, I don’t have either of the lists you requested in a simple format. You can browse the site and find lots of tips etc. But I have yet to come up with a list of what to have at home (Though that sounds like a great topic for a future blog post! Thanks for the idea…)
As for the 72 hr packs, they are just listed each week. But I will condense it all into one post in the next few weeks as I’m sure that would be helpful to many. I also plan on putting the entire series into e-book format soon.
A few things I wanted to add… Mini m&m containers fit quarters perfectly and one can be put in each pack, the mini bags for meds are sold at craft stores. Putting clothing in gallon zip locks keeps them dry and the air can be squished out to make it smaller same for a small light fleece blanket. An empty wipe box can be thrown in to hold delicate food items like granola bars, crackers, etc and it keeps it all in one place. Altoid tins or travel soap containers are great for mini first aide kit, sewing kit, or activity stuff. Quite books are great for toddlers and hold some novelty for young kids. Stainless steel cooking stuff is light weight and works well. 100% polyester fleece is water resistant and has tons of uses besides warmth, a small blow up swim ring has lots of uses especially for lil ones in flood situations or for keeping an infant in place if you have to sleep outside or where a playpen or crib isn’t available. Use a key ring, a carabiner and a small laminated card with your & hubby’s info and ICE numbers to attach to the kids in case they get separated anywhere so an adult can help them find you. (I do this when we go to any public place where depredation is possible my kids are runners and are easily distracted). A small pup tent for every 3 people is good too for emergency shelter in case you evacuate and can’t get indoors. Gallon zip locks have a ton of uses too! Also sunblock and aloe are a must no matter the time of year. I’d also look into the bug repellent bracelets. I usually use skin so soft oil for bug repellent but that could get messy in a kit. Love love love the whole series. I just read the entire thing!!! I have lots of this stuff around our home I just need to get it into packs for everyone! Oh and any twin sheet and 2 large heavy duty rings can be made into a sling for a baby or small toddler there are tons of tutorials on making them and how to use them properly!
Almost forgot… Pedialyte packets or freeze pops are a must for small kids and babies. The freezer pop ones are great and relatively inexpensive and do not have to be frozen, I buy them and then just use one as needed much less waste then a whole bottle. The dry mix packets would be less space and weight but cost more and can be harder to find. Mio type drink mixes are decent too for flavoring water. You can also use those tiny zip bags to make your own individual drink packets from kool-aid or any instant drink mix. Though plain water is still healthier.
A small can of playdoh is a good activity item. So are pony beads and a shoelace.
Rain ponchos and aluminum foil are good items too you can make a small stove or even a water purifier with aluminum foil.
For the caffeine addicts you can also buy energy strips at the dollar tree.
Bandanas serve tons of purposes and take up minimal room.
Make sure each person who can handle a hike is wearing cargo pants or has them.. All those pockets are very handy. Also a fishing vest would be a good investment.
A spare set of keys for vehicle, home, lock box or anything else important for each adult and older child. Accidents happen and searching for lost keys could be a huge disaster.
Bobby pins and diaper pins are useful in many ways too.
I also recommend anyone old enough be certified in CPR & First Aid for all ages.
A bottle/cup tether is awesome for small kids and babies too.
For baby clothes I’d pack onesies and sleepers and a thick lined hoodie. Maybe a thin pair of pants and shorts go at least 1 size big then what they just now fit into. You’ll more than likely be carrying them so you want their weight minimal as possible. I’d pack a pair of long socks and rain style boots for older babies who walk again at least a size too big.
A thick necklace chain for your rings is a good idea too. I often can’t wear mine but I can’t imagine not having them on me either. It’s a good way to hide them if necessary too.
They now sell a reusable baby food pouch that would be very helpful if you have to make your own baby food.
Glucose tablets for anyone prone to low blood sugar is good too.
Dry rice (not instant) will hep dry out a cell phone and can be put in a sock and warmed for a heat compress. I even keep a container of it in my car in case I drop my phone in a puddle!
It’s good to keep in mind to that a lot of times if you are forced to evacuate you may be out for more than 72 hours or there may not be shelter available. Serious disasters would cause roadways to be unusable or seriously congested and you should always keep in mind that not everyone out there is friendly and you need a way to defend yourself from predators (animal or human) if necessary. You may also need basic skill in how to find your own food sources and know what’s safe and what’s not. And the proper way to gut something if you have to hunt or fish. All those old enough should be able to do this because its not a gaur enter that you will be together at all times or that someone isn’t going to get sick or injured and need to be cared for.
Okay I think that’s all lol sorry for flooding the comments. I just thought some of these could be added or useful.
Thank you Melissa! Many of these are addressed in each individual week’s post, but some are not. I appreciate your experience!
And sorry my response was so delayed. I was in Costa Rica for a week and I’m just now getting caught up!
So I recently became interested in having a 72 hour kit, and I just found your amazing website today. But as I was thinking about a kit for my situation, I also have to think about having a kit for my two small dogs. An idea that I thought of was also packing doggy coats for both of my dogs. (They are used to wearing them during cold winter days) Both are very small and one is very thinned haired. I just wanted to throw that out there.
Week #22 is all about pets Sam! You can find it here: http://www.yourownhomestore.com/survival-kit-ideas-week-22-prepare-for-your-pet/
I don’t have pets, so my advice was a bit limited, but there are a bunch of great comments from readers too!
Congratulation on your TV debut! You are officially super cool!
Thanks Amber!
I love all your weekly survival kit to do’s. It definetly makes it much easier to gather a 3 day BOB together. I do have a questions about the MONEY. Is there a certain amount you want to get up to past $100, or just keep collecting?
Thank you for all your tips and research.
Sorry about the delayed response Sherie. Life has been a bit crazy this last month. My personal goal is to collect / maintain about $75-$100 per person in my family. I don’t know that I have a specific reason for that. It is really hard to guess what prices and / or needs will be…I want to have a good amount of cash, but not go overboard. Some of that is in $5 bills and I even have a few $10 bills….
This is AMAZING. This year my husband and I are putting together our 72 hour kits/food storage/emergency preparedness for our little family of three. Your website, and each link above has helped IMMENSELY. Thank you thank you so much for putting all the work and time into this. You might have just saved our lives with this wonderful information. We’ve gone through each link and made a 52-week plan of getting everything together (still starving students, so we had to spread them all out between $5-10 a week purchases). Thank you SO much for this incredible resource.
Thank you for your very kind comment Mandy! It is people like you that keep me going! I’m so glad it has been helpful! I hope you enjoy the “preparing for less” series I’ve started on Fridays as well!
Thank you so much for this information I am going to start my own notebooks and info. This is very helpful especially being single I will tell my family where to find this and they will know where to look and have my information.
You are welcome Kimberly! I’m so glad it was helfpuL!
Hi Misty, this is a wonderful resource – thank you!
Hey Sue! I’m glad you found it! (-: Miss California!
Thank you for sharing your list for survival packing. I love how you have broken it down into easy managable steps. Just thought you might want to add items for home/self defense. ie. guns and ammo. If there were a time that you would need emergency supplies, you would need a way to protect those valuable assets from those who would want to steal. Just thinking.
I know lots of people recommend that Lisa and my husband and I have many discussions about it, but I’ve chose not to address it here b/c of how controversial it is. (_:
Forget the folder, just scan everything and transfer it to a thumb drive. Complete all the forms, add photos and documents as suggested, scan the pages to your PC, then transfer the pages to a thumb drive and password protect it. Be sure at least one friend or family member who lives outside your home has the password. Keep the drive somewhere easily retrieved – a safe, safe deposit box, on top of the frig in a baggie (in case of flood), etc. I would also include everyone’s medical information (current prescriptions, pharmacy, allergies, surgical and medical history, etc.), Wills, attorney’s name, and where the original documents can be found. For good measure I’d make a copy of the thumb drive and keep it outside my residence. God forbid something happens you can just hand the drive to the police to save time.
Hope I didn’t repeat someone else’s idea but there were too many posts to go through them all. God bless.
Hi! I’m just getting started building my 72 hour kits and your site has been incredibly helpful! I’ve been meaning to do this for awhile (think YEARS haha), but I never knew how to get started. Your site has made it foolproof! I’m now on week 7 and I already feel so much more prepared! I do have a question/request though: How did you fit everything into backpacks! Again, I’m only on week 7 and I feel like I’m already running out of room in our packs! Is there any way you could do a post on how to organize the bags and/or post pictures of your completed packs?
Thank you!
Hi MIsty,
After the birth of my son in 2006 we decided to get our family prepared. I wish I had your site then. I found when starting mine there was no where with a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan, list and tips. I decided to combine what I found and create my own. We do have 72 hour packs in the car but also have 5 plastic tubs with other supplies like clothes, tools, hygiene & towels etc.
I noticed that some people have asked for a list of everything to collect for an emergency in messages. I don’t claim to have everything but I do have a pretty exhaustive excel spreadsheet list. If you would like to have it and make it available or use it in any way helpful I would be happy to send you a copy. My list is pretty long and has items from babies to grandparents. I tell people not to remove items but to just highlight the items pertinent to them and their family now. But as time goes by things change and you may be caring for an elderly adult and need to add items to your supplies. You may find yourself caring for an aging parent, have a baby or you yourself may get older and require these items to be added later.
Something that I mention to people when the ask for me to help them get prepared is that Emergency Preparedness is so much more than preparing for an earthquake, flood, tornado etc. An emergency can be something like an unexpected job loss, unexpected medical expense or a number of other unexpected things that can happen in your life that create an emergency situation. And I hope we don’t have to actually use these supplies in an emergency situation but if we do it will provide comfort and stability at a time when these will be scarce. Also if you never need to use them then an opportunity may arise that you can use your supplies to help someone who is dealing with an emergency.
Thanks for your site and all your helpful information.
thanks so much for this post , I am passing it on to friends
Hi there!
I emailed you last year to see if you were going to do a printable -emergency- kit -by -week, and you replied ‘hopefully by february’, so I looked back at the website and I couldn’t find a link for it, but i may have missed it. Did I?!
Thanks,
Amy
No Amy, you didn’t miss anything. I haven’t gotten to it yet. It is in the works, but life is always busier than you think it will be, right?
How about a section on security of your person and belongings? When traveling I have occasionally used a money belt (flat discrete, with a zipper) to carry extra cash and emergency numbers in. I have sometimes even kept extra money in my shoe! I know some security specialists advise caution in your clothing–sometimes you want bright colors in order to be found easily; in other situations you want to blend in and be unnoticed. Is there a way to secure a backpack so it is not easily snatched off your back?
In a disaster or emergency, most people are looking out for themselves, I want to be reasonably secure without skulking around in camouflage or packing weapons–just need some common sense suggestions.
I’m looking forward to starting this with you for the next 6 months. Stumbled on your site thru pinterest yesterday. Kind of excited when I read today’s that you will be starting over, now I dont feel like I’m behind
This is going to be fun and helpful and make me a better wife and mother.