Whether you live alone or with a family, having the right kind of emergency supplies is critical. After the pandemic, it has become even more apparent how important it is to have the right supplies for both regular life and emergency situations.
Having the right supplies not only reduces your dependence on other people and emergency services, it will help you get instant help when you need it, and will also put you in a position to help other people. Here are some of the best things to have stored at home for any kind of situation.
1. Power Source
Today we rely a lot on our digital devices for everything from communication and entertainment to gaining vital information about the world. Moreover, nearly all the important devices and machines in our homes also need electricity to run. The best solution is to have a good generator that you can use in case of a power outage. The size of the generator you choose depends on the number of appliances that you want to run and what the total wattage of the devices is.
Also having an emergency power bank for smaller devices such as your laptop or mobile phone or radio will also be useful. This way you can have a generator to create electricity and a good-sized power bank to store some energy for when you need it.
2. First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is a must-have. You can get a variety of premade first aid kits from a medical supplies store that can be stored for quite a long time. However, a more effective approach would be to get a medical aid kit based on the medical needs of your family.
If you have children who are prone to certain allergies or have a person with a specific medical problem, you should stock up on those supplies—asthma inhalers and such. You can still have a general first aid kit but make sure you have the specific things you need as well.
3. Food
In emergency situations, the most essential item is food and water. You can stock up on regular groceries but that will only last you so long. Ideally, you should have a special emergency food storage that is filled with items that have a long shelf life. The way you store your food can have a big impact on how long your food lasts and how well it stores during that period.
You can choose special emergency food packs which are designed to be stored for 10 or even 20 years. Alternatively, you can get regular food items such as grains, cereals, lentils, and powdered food, and preserve them properly. This will also last you many years if done right.
4. Water Filters
If there’s anything more important than food, it’s water. Storing water can be difficult because it’s much harder to keep it in usable condition. You will need different chemicals to periodically treat the water and you will also need a lot of space to store a good amount of water. A more effective solution is to invest in a water filtration system that can help you convert regular water into clean drinking water. You can even source dirty or muddy water and use the system to clean it, making it drinkable.
You will only need to stock up on water filter cartridges or whatever kind of system is used in the filter to help clean the water. These components and accessories can easily be stored for years on end and they are quite small so storing them will not be a problem.
5. Radio Set
In an emergency situation, you need communication, and relying on cell phone networks is not the best option. It would be a good idea to invest in a quality radio set for your own family and also ask your neighbors, friends, and family to invest in sets of their own. This way your entire group can stay in touch through satellite connections and not have to worry about network coverage.
6. Cycle
In an emergency, transport can be difficult to handle when you don’t have access to fuel. In situations like these having a cycle will be the best solution. You could even invest in some carrier accessories for the cycle which will make it easier to move your belongings with you when you need to.
The kind of things you keep at home for emergency situations depends entirely on what your environment is like and what you need for your own living style. You should conduct a thorough analysis of the potential threats and opportunities in your area and create an emergency supply bucket that has all the things you need to combat those challenges and capitalize on those natural resources.
