What is in your disaster kit?

hmd

Home and Car?  We haven't really put anything together.  We have a small first aid kit.  And helmets in the basement for the kids, in case of tornado.  During the winter, I usually put a blanket in the car.  I was thinking of buying some of those mylar ones.  Are they a waste?  What about a fire escape ladder?  

hmd

So maybe I am not as far behind as I thought.  lol

jillyjill1026sr

We have a battery powered radio, candles, matches, lighter, flashlights, batteries, first-aid kit, canned food, can opener, water, dog food, diapers and wipes, cash, sleeping bag, and a jacket for each of us. It's all dispersed between two big grab 'n go plastic tubs.

hmd

Diapers.  See I would have never thought of that.  Hopefully DS3 will potty-train soon.  : )

ConnieRob

I keep our pantry well stocked in the winter time in case of snow or ice. Canned soups, beans, rice, veggies, jars of peanut butter, plus cans of evaporated milk and dry milk powder just in case.

I keep some extra meat and loaves of bread in the freezer as well.

Our first winter here we got got witha. Freak snow storm on Christmas and got 12 inches of snow. Luckily I had stocked up on food for the holiday so we were fine. It was 3 days before we were able to dig our way out.

Also I make sure that we have an extra propane tank for the BBQ in case we lose power. I can cook out back in a pinch.

Plus booze and hot chocolate fixings

hmd

Here is another question.  Do you bring your keys up to bed with you at night/have a spare somewhere?  I thought about this recently.  What if I had to get out of the house and leave in my car, but my keys were downstairs and I couldn't get to them.  Too many scenarios to think about.

Andrewsgal

hmd said:

Here is another question.  Do you bring your keys up to bed with you at night/have a spare somewhere?  I thought about this recently.  What if I had to get out of the house and leave in my car, but my keys were downstairs and I couldn't get to them.  Too many scenarios to think about.

Isn't your car downstairs too?

outnumbered

Andrewsgal said:

Here is another question.  Do you bring your keys up to bed with you at night/have a spare somewhere?  I thought about this recently.  What if I had to get out of the house and leave in my car, but my keys were downstairs and I couldn't get to them.  Too many scenarios to think about.

Isn't your car downstairs too?

I suspend mine on a pulley system.  It is right outside the bedroom window.  I even keep parachutes inside of it.  You can never be too prepared.

hmd

Andrewsgal said:

Here is another question.  Do you bring your keys up to bed with you at night/have a spare somewhere?  I thought about this recently.  What if I had to get out of the house and leave in my car, but my keys were downstairs and I couldn't get to them.  Too many scenarios to think about.

Isn't your car downstairs too?

Ha ha.  Yes.  But currently the garage is not attached to the house, and we park outside.  So I am thinking if I had to escape out the window...Way over-thinking, I guess.

hmd

outnumbered said:

Andrewsgal said:

Here is another question.  Do you bring your keys up to bed with you at night/have a spare somewhere?  I thought about this recently.  What if I had to get out of the house and leave in my car, but my keys were downstairs and I couldn't get to them.  Too many scenarios to think about.

Isn't your car downstairs too?

I suspend mine on a pulley system.  It is right outside the bedroom window.  I even keep parachutes inside of it.  You can never be too prepared.

MacGyver used a parachute once.  You must have seen that episode.  

ETA: On a car, I mean.

outnumbered

hmd said:

outnumbered said:

Andrewsgal said:

Here is another question.  Do you bring your keys up to bed with you at night/have a spare somewhere?  I thought about this recently.  What if I had to get out of the house and leave in my car, but my keys were downstairs and I couldn't get to them.  Too many scenarios to think about.

Isn't your car downstairs too?

I suspend mine on a pulley system.  It is right outside the bedroom window.  I even keep parachutes inside of it.  You can never be too prepared.

MacGyver used a parachute once.  You must have seen that episode.  

ETA: On a car, I mean.

I thought AGs reply was funny.  It is a good thought to keep a spare.  We have a detached garage that is close to the house.  If there was a fire it would be great to be able to spare the cars.

dizzycooks

Nope.  Umm we have food, but if the power went out we would be in trouble because most of it's fresh and in the freezer or fridge.  And I have no idea where our flashlights are.  DH and I came to the conclusion we also have no candles anymore.

outnumbered

All humor aside we do keep a kit in the car.  It has jumper cables, first aid kit, and a blanket.  I also keep a small bag of warm clothes for the kids.  We spend a lot of time outside on hikes and it is great to throw on a extra sweatshirt or change a pair of wet socks.  In the winter I keep a shovel, ice scraper, extra hats and mittens, and a bag of kitty litter in the car.

zbeesma86

we have a small hurricane box. that's about it.

and I took some matches out of it the other day-- whoops.

NicoleWI

Nothing. I should at least get a couple gallons of water and leave them in the basement.

alli2672

hmd said:

Here is another question.  Do you bring your keys up to bed with you at night/have a spare somewhere?  I thought about this recently.  What if I had to get out of the house and leave in my car, but my keys were downstairs and I couldn't get to them.  Too many scenarios to think about

haha...I don't do this, but when my boys were little (1 y/o and infant), I did bring my baby bjorn upstairs with me when DH was working overnights.  I figured that if there was a fire, and I had to use the fire escape ladder, I could put on in the bjorn and carry the other one. 

I have sort of a complicated lay-out to the house now, but I still have several things in place so that I can get all four kids outside by myself in the case of a fire. 

I have no idea why this is such a big concern of mine. 

catycate

Last year, the was a ice storm in Atlanta that stranded people for up to 17 hours in their cars. I wasn't in it, but it brought me to a near panic thinking about being stuck with two littles in the car, so the only kit I have is 2 boxes of granola bars, bottled water and raisins. I should probably up my disaster kit game. I feel very unprepared after reading this.

Linnea503

So, I am basically a safety nerd. At the risk of being made fun of for my high level of anxiety about this, I will go ahead and share my list. I know what I have because I keep an updated inventory on my fridge. "> DH thinks I am crazy, but he eased up a bit when we needed all the bottled water I stock piled a few months back.

In the garage I have:

canned food and bottled drinking water

food for the dog

empty laundry detergent bottles with water for bathing/flushing/washing.

batteries

propane

canned and powdered milk

candles

I have a first aid kit, warm clothes, a flashlight, blankets, and extra shoes in the car (I need some food in there)

I have an emergency kit/evacuation bag. It's basically my emergency kit but packed into a giant backpack we could grab if we were evacuated:

power bars

crank/solar radio and cell phone charger

clothing for all family members (I packed stuff that I was going to otherwise donate)

cash

diapers and wipes

matches

quarters

ibuprofen/pepcid/immodium

kids tylenol

tampons

whistle

toothbrushes, soap, etc

dust masks

bottle/can opener

multi-tool

waterproof gear bag

toilet paper

first aid kit 

pacifiers

copies of important documents

I live in the PacNW and we are supposedly due for a devastating earthquake anytime in the next 100 years I think. That's my motivator. 

I made my lists and then just gathered stuff from around the house, my goodwill donation pile, camping gear, etc. I have a shopping list I buy things off from time to time to keep everything updated. 

penguingrrl

Before a weather emergency I make sure there's enough wine in the house...