Gulf Coast Readiness

72 Hour Kits

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“One of the lessons of modern history—lost on most Americans, unfortunately—is that our circumstances can change literally overnight.” A High Mobility 72 Hour Kit, Ward Dorrity

“Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take [any] person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” Ezekiel 33:4

The Lord Holds Us Accountable

Prophets and Church leaders have been admonishing us for years to be prepared. We’ve been instructed to pay off debt and live within our means, gather a food storage, and be physically and spiritually prepared for any eventuality. If you haven’t already begun, now—more than ever—is the time to start. One of the easiest, and probably most important, ways to begin preparing is to create and maintain a 72 hour kit for each and every member of your family. These kits, also known as Bug Out Bags (BOB) or Get Out of Dodge Bags (GOOD) are absolutely essential to ensure that you and your family have all items which are key to your survival for the first three days of a disaster.

The objective of the 72 hour kit is to have, previously assembled and placed in one location, all of those essential items you will need during a 72 hour time period following an emergency. When an emergency occurs you will probably not have the luxury of going around the house gathering up needed items, especially if you have to evacuate your home on short notice.

Take time now to gather whatever you need to survive for three days (72 hours) based on the assumption that those items are the only possessions you will have. Store these kits in a closet near the front door or some other easily accessible place where they can be quickly and easily grabbed on the way out the door.

Many people have difficulty creating a 72 hour kit because they feel overwhelmed by the prospect or feel they simply can’t afford to purchase items that will be packed away and unused for months at a time. You must realize that your 72 hour kit is like an insurance policy for your life. When disaster strikes, it strikes quickly and elicits fear throughout the community. Fear may well be responsible for more deaths than exposure, hunger and injury combined. Fear is usually based on lack of self-confidence and lack of adequate preparation and experience. The comfort you will feel of knowing that you have a 72 hour kit ready and available will allow you to keep overpowering fear at bay and make rational decisions for you and your family.

This article offers essential advice for creating a 72 hour kit and many recommendations on what to include. Although this list is by no means exhaustive, it includes most of the necessary items essential to survival. When creating your kit you should personalize it to you and your family’s own needs. No two kits should be the same. One approach is to create a basic kit for each member of your family that includes only the BASIC components, and then individualize each one from there that is suitable for each member of your family.

If you have questions or need assistance in creating your 72 hour kit, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Many church members already have 72 hour kits and would be more than willing to show you how to make your own.

72 Hour Kit Essentials

To provide maximum protection in an emergency, a 72-hour kit should be:

Portable-Your kit won’t be of much value in an evacuation if you can’t carry it. Keep it compact and lightweight.

Easily accessible-Keep your kit near an exit door, where you can grab it and go. Don’t bury it under clutter.

Up-to-date-Rotate food and medications at least every six months. Check the clothing annually to make sure it fits. Check expiration dates on batteries.

Complete-Check your kit regularly to make sure you have everything your family needs for three days’ survival.

Waterproof-Put all items inside ziplock bags or tied plastic garbage bags, so they won’t be ruined by rain or flood water.

Usable-Make sure you know how to use everything in your kit, and that the supplies are of good quality. Don’t weigh down your kit with junk.

Divisible-Provide a backpack or portable container for each family member, in case you get separated.

Personalized-No commercial kit or generic supply list will completely provide for the unique needs of your family. You will need to adjust the contents and check them frequently to make sure your current needs such as medications, baby supplies, and so forth, are met.

Versatile-Make sure your kit contains supplies for sheltering at home as well as for evacuation.

72 Hour Kit Components

Recommended Food Items

Miscellaneous Helpful Items

First-Aid Supplies

Bedding/Clothing

Fuel and Light

Personal Documents and Money

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