Could you survive 72 hours in an emergency? By Michelle Warren • Bankrate.com
First aid kit. Build your own or buy one from the Red Cross for $41.95.
Special needs items. Infant formula, prescriptions and equipment for people with disabilities.
Extra keys for your house and car.
Cash. Automated bank machines and credit cards may not work during an emergency. Be sure your stash of cash includes small bills as well as change for pay phones when the cell phone runs out.
A copy of your emergency plan. Everyone in the house should be familiar with the plan, which should include: safe exits from home and neighbourhood; a meeting place should people be separated; health information; a plan for picking up children from school or daycare; emergency contacts; information about pets; and the location of fire extinguishers, water valves, electrical boxes, gas valves and floor drains.
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Emergency extras
While the above items -- which amount to an initial investment of less than $100 plus about $30 per person for food and water -- should see you through the first 72 hours of an emergency, there are a number of items to consider if you want to make life a little easier, especially if you're stranded for longer than 72 hours.
Candles, matches or lighters. Cost: $5 or more.
Additional water and water purifying tablets. Cost: Aquatabs start at $8.75.
A warm sleeping bag for each member of the household should you be without heat. Cost: $50 or more.
Hand sanitizer. Cost: $5 or more.
Basic toiletries, including extra toilet paper. Cost: $5.
A basic toolkits with hammer, wrench, nails, pliers, screwdrivers and duct tape. Cost: $25 or more.
A camping stove with fuel. Cost: $100 or more.
A whistle to attract attention. Cost: $4 or more.
Garbage bags. Cost: $5 or more.
Rope. Cost of 50 feet of twisted polypropylene rope: $5.79.
Shovel. Cost: $15 or more.
Chlorine bleach. Cost: $2 or more.
A deck of playing cards plus paper and colouring pencils or crayons. Cost: $10.
You can stock up on most emergency kit items at the local grocery or hardware store. If you want to make things easy, you can buy a ready-made emergency kit that will get you started; you'll still need to invest in food and water.
The Canadian Red Cross has a kit ($59.95) available online, and St. John Ambulance sells several options ($34.95 to $59.95) online or through many major retailers. In addition, a number of private companies sell emergency kits both online and at retailers across Canada.
From nature's wrath to health crisis to man-made horrors, emergencies come in many forms. Are you ready?
Michelle Warren is a freelance writer living in Toronto.
