Large bucket 72 Hour Kits

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By: Cara Lee

Our kit/s are stored in large white frosting buckets that I purchased from our grocery store. We sell clean, empty buckets with tight-fitting lids, for a couple of dollars. They are waterproof and food safe, so I recommend that you go to any grocery store that has a from-scratch bakery and ask if they sell similar buckets. (The ones we have had 40 lbs of frosting in them originally.)

Warmth and Shelter

Water-Proof Matches
Emergency reflective blankets
Buddy Burner
2 6-hour Hand and Body warm packs
2 Ponchos
6' Tin foil for cooking (folded up flat)
Wool mittens, hats

Light Sources
Flashlight -battery run or hand generated
Batteries -stored separately
100 hour emergency candle
2 Light sticks

Safety

First Aid Kit
Plus bottle of Potassium iodide tablets for purifying water (I have found them
in camping supplies at Wal-Mart, ShopKo, etc)
Bug dope -get the small packets to save space
Sunscreen - small bottle or package

Money
at least $20 in your kit, plus quarters and dimes for phone calls.
phone card

Food

6 Beef or Buffalo Jerky sticks (3 per day each) -a high quality one is available
at the ON Store.
2 cans of meat, 2 cans vegetables and 2 cans fruit
2 cans Soup, read-to-eat variety
small pkg. cookies
Dried Fruit
Granola
4 Power Bars
3 packages of hot chocolate & 2 qts. potable water, easily stored in plastic pop
bottles.
Hard Candy and Chewing Gum
MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) -also found some of these in the camping supplies at department stores. These are very handy for 72 hour kits and you could buy one for each meal instead of some of the other products listed here.
Packages of peanut butter and crackers
small can opener
Paper Plates and cups, Plastic silverware
a garbage bag

Personal needs (Place in an ice cream bucket)*
hotel soap or anti-bacterial liquid soap
toothbrushes and gel, or baking soda
small shampoo
comb
roll of toilet paper
sanitary napkins (good for large wounds)
Boy Scout Handbook for info on 1st Aid and survival
small-disposable pack wash wipes

Communications
Small am/fm radio with batteries stored separately in the bucket
Whistle with neck cord

Tools
Pocket knife
Shovel (foldable ones are available in many dept stores in camping supplies)
Hatchet or ax
Sewing kit
50 foot nylon rope and clothespins
Fishing line and hooks

Important Papers
Copies of birth certificates, marriage license, will, insurance forms, copies of genealogy records.
Phone numbers you might need.
Credit card info.
Up to date photos of each family member.
I also took finger prints and hand prints of each family member for identification.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS
Potable water--
When my boys were toddlers, I kept a change of clothes in the kit also. If you have babies, you will need some paper diapers also.
It is a sensible idea to change the food and clothing in these kits every 6 months, when you switch the clocks back or forward perhaps. This is especially true if you have small children as they out-grow them so quickly.
Durable nylon packs
Metalized Woven Thermal Blanket
Separate nylon bag with tent.
*The Ice Cream bucket can be used for a porta potty if needed. Even if you live in warm areas of the country or world, you still need warm clothing in case of rain and winds. People get very chilled if wet and under stress. You don't want to experience hypothermia!

Be sure to personalize your bucket with items that fit your family. Also have enough items for each family member split among several buckets being sure enough people will be able to grab and carry them quickly.

We would LOVE to spotlight your ideas!!

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