Create Your 72-Hour Emergency Home Kit While Decluttering
Emergencies are by definition a set of unforeseen circumstances, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t prepare for a home emergency now while you have some free time to think things over. That’s especially true for home emergencies, as there’s risk to your family and property and so you need to be ready. A 72-hour emergency kit is a good precaution, as this kit can get your family going for up to 3 days even without power or any help from others.
The good news is that it won’t have to cost you all that much to gather the supplies you need for your kit. You can get these supplies from the knickknacks you gather during one of your decluttering projects. So be mindful of any items that can go to your kit instead of your trash can when you’re preparing for a garage sale or doing your spring cleaning.
Items You’re Likely to Find While Decluttering
When you’re going through every nook and cranny of your home and garage to get rid of stuff you don’t need, be on the lookout for the following items.
- An additional pair of glasses or contact lenses, even if they’re old prescriptions
- Batteries for the flashlight
- Bleach, which you can make into disinfectant when you mix 1 part bleach to 9 parts water
- Can opener
- Canned goods, dry goods, and other non-perishable food items that may just be taking up cupboard space, enough for 3 days
- Diapers and formulas if you have a baby
- Duct tape
- Extra cell phone charger
- Flashlight
- Garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Matches
- Medications enough for at least 3 days
- Personal items like books, toys, coffee, or anything else that helps particular members of the family feel more comfortable
- Pet food and water if you have a pet
- Pliers
- Scissors
- Solar powered battery for a phone
- Spare clothing, or at least a complete outfit from the bunch of clothes you plan to give away to charity
- Tweezers
- Whistle
- Wrench
Just find an empty plastic bin or a duffle bag that no one has used for some time, and fill them up with these items. If you don’t find the item while you’re decluttering, include them on the list of things you have to buy.
Things You May Have to Buy
These are the other items that you’re less likely to find during spring cleaning, so you will have to buy them instead.
- Additional first aid kit, which is separate from your regular home first aid kit
- Cash, as card systems, may not work perfectly during a local emergency
- Dust mask
- Hand-cranked or battery-powered radio
- Mylar thermal blankets
- Safe baby wipes or extra-moist towelettes
- Sealed cans, bottles, or boxes of water (not the water from the tap that you fill your water containers with) that are enough for everyone for 3 days
- Waterproof local maps
Once you’ve completed your emergency kit, store it where it’s both safe and easily accessible. With this, you have a better chance of going through an emergency safely and comfortably.
Founder, Editor-In-Chief // A native Angeleno. John studied engineering at UCLA; founded Schmoozd, an offline social tech networking event in LA with 30,000 subs; ran a startup accelerator (StartEngine). Worked for several major brands like Toyota, DIRECTV, Hitachi, ICANN, and Raytheon. A mentor at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Entrepreneur School, Dr. David Choi. And advises a dozen local LA startups building amazing tech in various industries; and invested in some. // Let's Connect: john@lastartups.com
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