The spring storm season will soon be upon us. With the increasing intensity of weather events in recent years, if you do not already have an emergency kit prepared, now is the time to do that. Ready.gov recommends U.S. citizens have at minimum enough food, water and other necessities to last each family member 72 hours. If you are already on a budget, it can be difficult to come up with even more. Here are a few of our favorite tips to make an emergency kit on a budget.
Your doomsday prepping checklist should cover a few specifics; food, water, first aid and shelter. Amazon is an excellent place to pick up a good-size first aid kit that can be used in a number of situations. In addition to the typical bandages and burn ointment, your kit should include a small pair of scissors, tourniquets, eye wash, etc. These kits are relatively inexpensive and should include a first aid manual.
When building an emergency kit, food is a priority. Grocery store shelves empty quickly in emergency situations. Couponing can be a lifesaver here. Follow my tips for saving money on groceries.
The Ready Store runs sales daily on emergency food supplies and survival kits. What makes these food options different is that they have a shelf life of up to 25 years and they require minimal storage and preparation.
Surplus stores can be a great place to pick up emergency preparedness items such as cold weather gear, tents, blankets, etc.
An inexpensive item that shouldn’t be overlooked as you build an emergency kit is drinking water. You cannot live without it for long. Depending on the emergency situation, you may not be able to rely on your city’s water system. If there is a ground disturbance such as an earthquake, that pipeline network may no longer be usable. Groundwater can also become contaminated. You can pick up water purification tablets on Amazon for only a few dollars. A couple of dollars for peace of mind is a pretty good deal.
You can also choose to take the easy route. Amazon carries Grab-’n-Go Emergency Kits that include everything you need to make it 72 hours; protein bars, water boxes, first aid kit, thermal blankets and more. The 2-person, 3-day bag is less than $40!
You can get a long way for little money when it comes to building an emergency kit. Do not put it off any longer. The best time to prepare is before you need to. And don’t forget the pets!
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