Add 72-Hour Kit Food and Water • February Prep Challenge #1

Valerie Albrechtsen

1 year ago

The first preparedness challenge in February is to add food and water to your 72-hour kit and make an evacuation plan. Always plan to evacuate on foot to an evacuation shelter (typically a school or church), and pray you get to use your car. Some will need something with wheels to carry multiple 72-hour kits. Remember, water is heavy.

Food and Water

Food and water should last for three days. 72-Hour Kit Food Pack Example.pdf (2022 prices). Choose items with a shelf life of at least 6 months to 1 year.
Try to find foods that are lightweight but high in calories. Stressful situations burn calories. Each adult should try to get up to 2000 calories per day.
Include some kind of comfort food like hard candy.
Foods like beef jerky have strong odors and can make everything smell like jerky.
Put the water you can carry in your kit and extra water near your kit in case you’re fortunate to evacuate by car.
Store your kits inside your home and never in a garage where heat will damage your food.

Add These Items to Your 72-Hour Kit

AN UPDATED EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST: I laminated mine to protect it from water damage. Even though these numbers are in your cell phone, cell phones get damaged during disasters.
AN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION PLAN: Ready.gov/plan has a good one. Print and laminate it or put it in a plastic bag to protect it from water damage.
FAMILY PHOTO: a current photo is helpful for identification or if someone gets separated.
CASH: Keep cash in small bills in a waterproof container and well hidden. Perhaps enough for a night in a hotel and some food.

Create a Prioritized Evacuation List

Fill out my Grab and Go List where you will prioritize what you would take with you if you had 5, 15 or 30 minutes to evacuate.
Hang a copy inside a cupboard door or two in your home. Teach family members how to use it.

Grab and Go List pdf

Grab and go list excel