Five unusual items for your emergency supplies

“The easiest period in a crisis situation is actually the battle itself. The most difficult is the period of indecision -- whether to fight or run away. And the most dangerous period is the aftermath. It is then, with all his resources spent and his guard down, that an individual must watch out for dulled reactions and faulty judgment.”- Richard M. Nixon

Here’s another fun story from the October 2009 edition of Popular Mechanics.

Beyond First Aid Kits: 5 Unexpected Survival Kit Essentials

1. Beer (or other gifts)

Remember yesterday’s blog about surviving the aftermath of Hurricane Ike? A man in Galveston found that beer was great for recruiting help: “Need your neighbor to help you clear trees out of your yard? A case of Bud is a better motivator than a $20 bill when all the stores are boarded up.”
Don’t drink beer or smoke? Then stock other items to share with helpers – bottled water, chocolate, candy, diapers, etc.

2. Handheld CB Radio

CBs will work when cell phone towers are down and may reach emergency crews and tow trucks
that you need.

3. Contractor Bags

Thick, sturdy 3-mil contractor bags are tough to store sharp debris, drag heavy objects, act as water barrier for leaky structures, and serve as a poncho in a pinch.

4. Glow Bracelets

With no electricity, houses and neighborhoods are really dark at night. One Ike survivor says, “I used them [glow bracelets] to mark the location of radios, flashlights, batteries and door handles.”

5. A Good Book

Remember Daryl Jané from yesterday who was stuck in his Jeep for two weeks? He says, “It gets so boring after a while. If I’d had a book I would have been set.” I suggest keeping THE “good book”, scriptures, in your glove compartment. It never gets boring.

Bottom Line

The items above all deal with surviving the aftermath. Barter for cleanup, means to call for help, tools for cleanup, tools for dealing with the dark, and something to overcome boredom. Don’t forget that 72 hour kits are just the beginning. It will be far longer before life returns to normal.