HOUSE
- a laptop computer with good batteries and a wifi antenna (or an analog external modem)
- any needed prescription medications
- diapers and baby food if you have a baby
- pet supplies for your pet
- menstrual pads and birth control – to cover those bases
- fire extinguisher
- lots of blankets including one emergency foil blanket.
- 20 gallons of water stored somewhere out of the way.
- A cast iron skillet
- A few cans of sterno and a sterno “stove” – buy these at Walmart or wherever in the camping aisle) or a CHARCOAL burning BBQ grill. (These can burn wood in an emergency)
- Two good flashlights and two sets of extra batteries for these
- Candles – go for piller candles that don’t need holders
- 4 working lighters
- Two 30-40 gal paint buckets – put in an inch of water and you have emergency toilets. A large empty trash can also works in a pinch.
- Toilet paper
- canned food for a minimum of five days
- a MANUAL can opener – the electric one won’t help you
- two heavy glass mugs, two glass bowls, two spoons
- one good knife
- a good battery operated radio
- an old analog phone – one w/o batteries. Try a Goodwill or grandma’s attic. These work off the phone line’s power and do not require additional electricity.
- A good wrist watch
- some good books, a board game, a deck of cards
- A bottle of Vitamin C
- A good first aid kit – try buying one of the “family” kits sold at Walmart, etc
- A cell phone if you live somewhere where there is a signal.
- A shovel
- A police scanner or NOAA weather radio
If you live somewhere really rural you might want to add…
- A CB radio with a dipole antenna or amateur (ham) band radio with booster. The Ham requires a license, 11 meter CB does not.
And if you can make these long term improvements
- A wood stove to your home
- A hand pump for your well
- An axe and maul
- A steel bucket
- Solar panels
CAR
- full gas tank
- 2 gallons extra
- sterno cans and stove
- 100 feet of 90+ lb rope
- 10 feet of tow rope
- 100 feet of 30+ rope
- flashlight and batteries
- foot operated air pump – try a camping store
- battery operated pump
- jumper cables
- tire patch kit with can of Fix-a-Flat
- basic tool set – automotive store
- lug wrench
- spare tire or very high quality donut.
- WD-40
- First Aid Kit w/any needed prescriptions
- Change of clothes
- Winter coat
- Rain coat
- Tarp
- wool blanket
- foil blanket
- 2 gallons of water
- toilet paper
- lighter
- work gloves
- maps of your town, state, and states to the north and south of you
- a compass – GPS is cool but if you have no power you have no GPS
- two days of snack food
- a good book
- menstrual pads and birth control – to cover those bases
- FRS/GMRS radio pair (for talking to the guy you are following – you know the one who goes ninety in a thirty five and loses you in no time flat.
- and if you can CB radio, amateur radio, police scanner or NOAA radio
