San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Survival kits for the car and home
Packaged kits ( below) are available from retailers. If you assemble your own, here’s the minimum it should contain, according to the Red Cross. For the car, much of the gear is best placed tightly into a backpack to save space. At home, most items can be stored in a basic outdoor garbage can.
FOR THE CAR
Water: A three- day supply amounting
to 1 gallon per person per day. Food: A three- day supply, about 1,000 calories — something lightweight like energy bars
Water purification tablets, or a water filter in case you go beyond three days and need to find alternate sources of water.
Portable radio
Flashlight and/ or light stick Charger for cell phones and devices, powered by batteries, along with a cell phone charger cord for the car Batteries
Blankets: Emergency survival models are compact and light
Tube tent
Sanitation and personal hygiene supplies, including toilet paper Leatherman- style multitool or pocketknife with can opener, screwdriver heads and knife blade Poncho or other rain gear Candles
Waterproof matches
50 feet of rope ( 3/ 16 or bigger) Duct tape
Work gloves
First- aid kit
Sewing kit
Whistle
Smoke/ dust mask
Gas meter valve shut- off wrench Instant hand warmers
FOR THE HOME
All the previous items, plus: Medications, at least a seven- day
supply
Cash: Small bills and coins
Tools: Foldable shovel, hatchet, screwdriver, pliers, pocketknife and can opener
Extra clothes
Battery- powered lamp
Plastic sheeting ( for emergency shelter)
Paper or plastic plates, bowls and
cutlery
Small cooking pot
Soap and bath towels
Copies of personal documents Emergency contact list
Maps of the area
OTHER ITEMS TO CONSIDER
Additional medical supplies ( hearing aids, glasses, contacts, syringes, etc.) Baby supplies
Games and toys ( for children)
Pet supplies
Two- way radios
Extra car and house keys Scissors
Sleeping bags