List of Items in a 30 Day Emergency Supply

If you get caught in a natural or man-made disaster, it could be a while before civic amenities get back to normal. Food and water supplies could be rationed or nonexistent, and the authorities may have their hands full dealing with any aftermath. Having enough food, adequate medicines and basic tools increases your chances of surviving unscathed. A kit with enough supplies to sustain you for 30 days could save your life.

Water

• Water is not just for drinking; you need enough to prepare meals and for washing yourself and your clothes. You need to store 1 gallon of water per adult, per day; that's a total of 30 gallons each. It must be stored in clean, airtight containers to keep it fresh and should be divided into water for drinking, cooking and sanitation.

Food

• Without enough food, morale can drop rapidly, you will also lack the energy to perform essential tasks. Dried pasta and rice--9 pounds per person--will keep fresh and do not require refrigeration. Sterilized milk can be stored for more than a year, but if you don't have the space, use dried milk and store 7 pounds per person. Have one tin of ready-to-eat meat per person and a half tin of canned vegetables per day. Each adult requires about a half-pound of salt for 30 days and 5 pounds of sugar.

  Canned food stays fresh for a long time, but you should periodically check your survival kit and replace items approaching their expiration dates. Cereals, energy bars, crackers--bread will go stale--and peanut butter should also be in your 30-day survival kit. You may be in the middle of a disaster zone but treats such as chocolate and candy help keep your spirits up and provide energy.

Warmth

• A survival kit should contain some means of heating food and keeping warm. A camping stove may be useful in the first few days after a disaster, but a wood stove is a better option. It provides warmth and you can use anything that burns as fuel. Pack a tent, sleeping bag and warm, waterproof clothes. Sturdy shoes or boots are better than training shoes and stilettos.

Medicine

• If you are on medication, it is a good idea to keep a 30-day supply in your kit. Medicines such as painkillers, diarrhea tablets and antihistamines should be included. Iodine to sterilize wounds, bandages and plasters will keep you prepared to deal with injuries.

Tools

• A hunting knife, scissors, needle and thread, and wind-up torch are all handy items for a kit. You will need canteens to cook in, an axe to chop wood and fishing line and hooks to fish. To listen for emergency broadcasts, pack a wind-up radio that does not require batteries.