Prepare Yourselves with a 72 Hour “Go-Bag” by Nathan Hansen

With the economy in the crapper, the government trying daily to decide what rights they no longer feel we need, and the possibility of 1776 being repeated (seeing as the Government can’t remember what the Constitution was written for and why it was written) I think it’s a good idea for those of you that already haven’t, to start getting ready for another war, or at least be prepared for a natural disaster, and having a basic 72 hour kit ready is a really good start. 

Below is a basic list from an LDS preparedness site, to help get you started. There could be some things on the list that you might have overlooked when you first put your kit together. I chose the LDS site because they have been pushing and suggesting their members to be prepared for several years, including home food storage, and emergency kits, they also have canning facilities where you can take in dry goods, and put them in #10 cans, or buy ones they already have prepared at almost half the price of some of the emergency supply food storage brands.

Here is another link that is definitely worth looking at if you are serious about food storage, and emergency preparedness, http://www.ldsavow.com/main.html You have to download the PDF, but it is worth it. I also like how on page 278 they even recommend what firearms to get and even a few name drops. (If you are not LDS, just ignore/skip the preachy stuff, and move on to what you need).

Checklist: 72 Hour Kit From http://lds.about.com/od/preparednessfoodstorage/a/72hour_kit.htm

1. Food and Water (Remember to check and rotate every 6 months)
2. (A three day supply of food and water, per person, when no refrigeration or cooking is available)
3. Protein/Granola Bars
4. Trail Mix/Dried Fruit, any dehydrated food will work; it’s easy to fix and weighs almost nothing.
5. Crackers/Cereals (for munching)
6. Canned Tuna, Beans, Turkey, Beef, Vienna Sausages, etc (“pop-top” cans that open without a can-opener might not be a good idea, the seal doesn’t do too well in really hot or cold environments and could pop open in your bag and make a big mess.
7. Canned Juice
8. Candy/Gum (warning: Jolly Ranchers can melt and using mint gum might make everything taste like mint.
9. Water (1 Gallon/4 Liters per Person)
10. Bedding and Clothing
11. Change of Clothing (short and long sleeved shirts, pants, jackets, socks, etc.)
12. Undergarments
13. Rain Coat/Poncho
14. Blankets and Emergency Heat Blanks (that keep in warmth)
15. Cloth Sheet
16. Plastic Sheet
17. Fuel and Light
18. Battery Lighting (Flashlights, Lamps, etc.) Don’t forget batteries!
19. Extra Batteries
20. Flares
21. Candles
22. Lighter
23. Water-Proof Matches
24. Equipment
25. Whistle (I suggest the emergency whistle with the compass and mirror, it also holds matches and is waterproof)
26. Can Opener
27. Dishes/Utensils
28. Shovel
29. Radio (with batteries!)
30. Pen and Paper
31. Axe
32. Pocket Knife
33. Rope
34. Duct Tape
35. Personal Supplies and Medication
36. First Aid Kit and Supplies
37. Toiletries (roll of toilet paper- remove the center tube to easily flatten into a zip-lock bag, feminine hygiene, folding brush, etc.)
38. Cleaning Supplies (mini hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, dish soap, etc. Warning: Scented soap might “flavor” food items.) I put soap in a vacuum sealed bag then inside a Ziploc bag, so if needed it could be stored again without making a mess.
39. Immunizations Up-to Date
40. Medication (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, children’s medication etc.)
41. Prescription Medication (for 3 days)
42. Personal Documents and Money
43. (Place these items in a water-proof container!)
44. Legal Documents (Birth/Marriage Certificates, Wills, Passports, Contracts, etc)
45. Vaccination Papers
46. Insurance Policies
47. Cash
48. Credit Card (a gift card is perfect for this, most wont deduct any fees if you haven’t used it)
49. Pre-Paid Phone Cards
50. Miscellaneous
51. Bag(s) to put 72 Hour Kit items in (such as duffel bags or back packs, which work great) make sure you can lift/carry it! It is recommended that the bag is no more than 1/4th your weight. I have 2 bags, 1 for me and 1 for my son, if SHTF I have set my sons bag up so he could easily carry it for a while. (He’s only 6)
52. Infant needs (if applicable)
53. This is just a basic list of recommendations; you can go through and personalize it to suit you and your family’s needs.
54. Regardless of what happens with the country, I still strongly recommend that everyone have a go-bag, and at least a 6 week supply of food storage that doesn’t require refrigeration, just in case of a natural disaster like hurricane Sandy, or an earthquake.

I’d like to thank Nathan for sharing this with us. DCC is a blog written for the people and by the people. If you want to submit an article please do so through our Facebook page. -Dean