Thursday 11/06/15
Every household is different. Despite the differences, everyone should keep the same basic supplies in their house in case of an emergency or natural disaster. Below is a list of gear that you will find useful during an emergency. There is a good chance that you will already own most of this gear, but I strongly you to buy any items you are missing.
- Garbage bags. If you have to evacuate during wet weather, these are good for keeping your gear dry.
- Plastic buckets with lids (10 litre capacity). Also useful for keeping your gear dry during wet weather.
- Household candles (at least a dozen).
- Matches (several boxes).
- Candle holder (a glass bottle will do. I have an old fashioned, brass candleholder).
- Portable stove (either butane or hexamine) with extra fuel.
- Portable radio (with spare batteries) for monitoring news and emergency broadcasts.
- Torch (with spare batteries). Please don’t think you can rely on a $2 torch in an emergency.
- Toilet paper (people don’t remember toilet paper until it’s too late). Always keep more than you need.
- Books (even if everything goes well, you’ll have to pass the time somehow).
- Deck of cards (another way to pass the time without electricity).
- Duct tape (get several rolls of good quality tape, you don’t want your repair to fail at a critical moment).
- Note pads.
- Pens.
- Permanent markers.
- First-Aid kit (no, a packet of sticking plasters isn’t enough).
- Basic toolkit (you can guarantee things are going to break during a disaster).
- Telephone with landline connection. Unlike high-tech phones, the basic push-button and rotary dial phones don’t use electricity, so you can still use them during a power outage. Mobile phones are convenient, but the network may become congested, or (depending on the type of emergency) authorities may order the mobile phone network to be temporarily turned off.
- Glow sticks (use these at night and to conserve your batteries).
- String (preferably, paracord).
- Storm whistle.
During a natural disaster, you don’t know how long the electricity and water will remain connected (especially if the town’s water supply becomes contaminated with floodwater or sewerage). It is advisable to fill your sinks and bathtub with water. The buckets I advised you to purchase could also be filled with water.
Basic safety
- Only use your portable stove on a heat resistant surface in a safe, well ventilated area, such as your kitchen. Seriously, don’t cook food in your bedroom.
- Never leave a naked flame unattended. You are already experiencing enough difficulties from the flood/cyclone/earthquake; don’t add a house fire to your problems.
The gear listed above is inexpensive, and portable. If you find yourself in a situation where you have to evacuate your home, you should consider taking this gear with you too.