Natural disasters are an uncomfortable reality. With global warming taking its toll on weather patterns, we're seeing more and more of them these days. Survivalism is no longer a niche interest, relegated to the likes of doomsday preppers. Being ready for disaster to strike is just good common sense, and at Fresh Chalk, is something our founders take seriously. Adam Doppelt, one of our four founders, has put a lot of research into building his home emergency kit to help sustain him and his family in the event of calamity. Here he shares his recommendations for building a kit of your own, so you can have peace of mind knowing you've got the resources you'll need stashed away for safe keeping.
... more4 in 1 Emergency Tool
Seattle is at high risk for a quake, and broken gas lines often lead to fires after some shaking. Stash this sturdy tool nearby so you can shut off the gas. This is also your chance to be a hero as you dash around the neighborhood turning off everyone's gas.
Mountain House Freeze Dried Food
If your city loses power for a couple of days the food will be gone. Consider picking up a "meal bucket" that holds 30 days of freeze dried meals. I picked the Mountain House bucket because I like their camping food, but there are plenty of other brands out there. The shelf life is thirty years!
Vont LED Camping Lantern
We seem to lose power once or twice a year in my neighborhood. One memorable winter outage lasted for several days. These LED lamps are a lifesaver. We have three, stored right next to a huge pack of batteries. I've heard good things about solar lanterns too.
Potable Aqua Purification Tablets
Iodine tablets are an easy way to purify water. It's not quite as good as boiling, but it'll work in a pinch. 50 tablets will purify six gallons of water. Pro tip - mix with gatorade powder to cover the mild flavor.
Feelle Solar Charger
If you lose power, your phone will instantly become your most precious possession. Keep it juiced up with a solar charger, ideally a compact one that folds up when not in use. The RAVPower one I own isn't offered anymore, but people seem to like this model on Amazon.
WaterBOB Bathtub Storage Emergency Drinking Water
One of the first things to do in any major emergency is to fill up the tub with extra water. Everyone in Texas learned this quite recently. The WaterBOB is a giant plastic bag that sits in your tub and keeps the water clean for a few weeks. You can easily pump water out into a cup.
LeatherMan Wingman Multitool
I like to have a multitool around the house. I use my Leatherman a surprising amount, and it's handy to have one nearby for many kinds of emergencies. It's one of the few things I'd throw in the car if we had to leave unexpectedly. I also love my Gerber Dime, which is roughly the size of my pinky. I use it every week to break down boxes in the garage.
Fenix E12 V2 160 Lumen LED flashlight
There are a lot of people who are obsessed with flashlights. I'm not one of them, but I love my Fenix E12. This little guy lasts for ages on a single AA. It's small enough to leave in my jacket pocket. I doubt it's waterproof, but I've used it many times in the rain while walking the dog.
