Do you have a 72 Hr Survival Kit in case of disasters like an Earthquake, Flood, or any other Natural Disaster? If you don’t, you are not alone, as many households across the globe are unprepared enough if all hell breaks loose.
Before the pandemic happened, I was unprepared like a scout to make sure I have a 72 Hr Survival Kit in my house in case of Emergencies where help may not come for at least 72 hours, like a flood or earthquake.
But when the panic of the toilet paper shortage happened right before the pandemic shutdown, it made me worried about other supplies not being in stock on the shelves if something really serious happened.
But why a 72 hr Survival Kit? According to Health Canada, if an emergency happens in your area, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours.
The purpose of this post is to help prepare everyone with building a 72hr Survival kit that can be secured in one backpack, and in a location that is easy to find in case of emergencies.
Ready to build your 72hr Survival Kit? Then let’s get to it!
Best Urban 72 Hr Survival Kit Guide – 2 Person Disaster Kit
This emergency kit list is packed with survival supplies for two people, that can be secured in one backpack and ready to go.
From food, water, and light, to charging cell phones, providing warmth, and giving you tools for survival, the Urban 72 Hr Survival Kit has you covered.
Ideal for two people, this Urban 72 Hour Survival Kit is packed to the max with essential survival components like food, water, hygiene goods, a first aid kit, important tools, and survival gear that includes a tent, sleeping bags, and much more.
Stuff happens when you least expect it. Staying ahead of the game with a well-prepared emergency kit that includes all your essentials will help you survive the first few critical days of an emergency.
Your focus should be on you and your loved one’s safety, instead of frantically looking for supplies, or even worse, leaving with nothing at all.
Related Article: 10 Must-Have Items For A ‘Travel Go Bag’ – Always Be Prepared
Urban 72 Hr Survival Kit Contents
Organization
Backpack
If you’re looking for an emergency survival backpack that will let you stay agile, you should look for a smaller backpack up to 50 liters of capacity.
The key to a survival pack is to hold enough emergency gear for up to 3 days, but small and light enough that won’t slow you down.
Great backpack brands like Osprey, North Face, and Kelty make durable packs that hold up in any condition, and store your Urban 72 Hr Survival Kit gear perfectly.
Emergency Preparedness Guide
Every day folks like you (and me) are thrown into life and death emergency situations without any warning.
Unfortunately, some NEVER recover due to a lack of proper mindset, skills, tactics, and gear.
With a Tiny SURVIVAL GUIDE, you can learn to survive threats like Wilderness Mishaps, Natural Disasters, Vehicle Accidents, Hiking, Camping and Hunting Emergencies, and a lot MORE!
Weatherproof Zip Lock Bags
Zip Lock Bags are multi-purpose bags that can be used in times of emergency.
Use zip-lock bags to store different first-aid supplies, keeping them clean and dry. You can pack full small bags into a larger bag for easier and more efficient access. (For example, pack gauze in one bag, band-aids in another, tape and scissors in a third; put them all in one larger bag.)
You can even hang a zip-lock bag on a tree to hold rainwater or snow if you run out of water during an emergency situation.
Related Article: Nomatic Travel Bag 40L Review – The Perfect Travel Backpack
Food & Water
Water
According to Health BC, Canada, when it comes to water it is recommended that each person have:
- 2 Litres (8 cups) for drinking per day; and
- 2 Litres (8 cups) for cooking and cleaning per day.
So, for 72 hours, each person should have:
- 6 Litres (24 cups) for washing; and
- 6 Litres (24 cups) for cooking and cleaning
- 12 Litres (48 cups) of water total.
Include some easily carried small bottles in case you have to evacuate your home.
Commercially bottled water should be replaced every 6-12 months. Bottled water is not a sterile product so should be replaced to help ensure safety.
Water Pouches – In case of a disaster, you can keep water stocked up with S.O.S. Emergency Water with a 5-year shelf life. This safe drinking water can be stored as a reserve if in case any disaster strikes and there is limited access to clean water.
Great hydration item for your Urban 72 Hr Survival Kit.
Folding 1L Water Container – Folding 1L Water Container enables you quickly and safely store all the water your family needs in the event of an emergency or natural disasters like a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, fire, flood, or drought.
Water Purification Tablets – Water Purification Tablets make contaminated water bacteriologically suitable to drink within 35 minutes.
Food
3600 calorie food bar – You could just replace protein bars in your 72 Hr Survival Kit, every few months, but adding a 3600 calorie bar into your kit means you can set it and forget it.
High energy value. Ready to eat. Perfect for anyone in the process of building a disaster/emergency Kit.
The emergency food rations are US Coast guard approved and have a shelf life of 5 years from the date of manufacture.
Related Article: 6 Amazing Smart Water Bottles Reviewed – Stay Hydrated
Light & Communication
When a disaster strikes like an earthquake, access to power may be an issue. Communication may be down as well in terms of cellphone transmissions or television communication.
That’s why packing the following in your 72hr survival kit can be a valuable asset in keeping up to date on what is going on in your area.
Dynamo Radio
Keep your household prepared with an AM/FM & NOAA weather alert radio, broadcast emergency weather alerts for your areas such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and severe storms.
2-in-1 Phone Charger Lanterns (Pictured Above)
I use these for camping and they are perfect for lighting up an area, as well as charging my smartphone.
They are lightweight, inflatable, and portable with 130 lumens of the warm LED light.
Plus, this extra-bright LED solar lantern and phone charger, can recharge your smartphone or tablet with a 2.1 Amp output port and built-in 2000 mAh lithium-ion battery.
Light Sticks
Lightsticks are perfect for emergency situations because they can be seen from a mile away and will provide light power when you need it most. And the best thing is that most lightsticks can last for at least 12 hours.
Related Article: Camping Gear Essentials List – 20+ Best Camping Gadgets & Gear
Shelter & Warmth
Depending on the damage to your home, you may not be able to sleep safely while help is on the way. Adding some shelter items, and things to keep you warm at night in your 72 hr survival kit is important.
Reflective Sleeping Bags
Reflective Sleeping Bags are designed for emergency and survival and can reflect 90% of body heat.
They are a must-have in emergencies, and you never know when they will come in handy.
It can also be used for other functions such as an emergency blanket, ground cover, rescue or distress beacon, rain poncho, rain cloth, or awning.
Emergency Ponchos
Emergency Ponchos are perfect for your survival kit, survival gear, hiking gear, earthquake kit, bug-out bag, or car emergency kit.
When you’re in an emergency, you need your hands free, so adding a waterproof poncho in your kit means you’re always prepared, no matter what life throws your way.
Tube Tent
Tube Tents are perfect for a 72 hr survival kit because they are durable enough for repeated use, and can be folded up and placed back inside your survival backpack.
Popular tube tents are windproof and waterproof and are an essential tool for you to escape the elements and stay alive in an emergency.
Hand Warmers
Having hand warmers that can provide up to 10 hours of heat is ideal if you are facing cold weather outdoors. They can easily fit inside a pair of gloves or pockets to bring quick and gentle natural heat.
Survival Tools
You might not be able to grab your tools in times of emergency, and having a few survival tools in your 72 hr survival kit can be a lifesaver.
These items can stay in your emergency bag for a long time, and when you need them, they will be there for you.
5-in-1 Survival Whistle
A 5-in-1 Survival Whistle comes with a water-resistant storage container, liquid compass, signaling mirror, whistle, and flint.
This item can easily fit into your backpack, purse, or survival pack for easy storage and transportation. You can hang it from your gear, neck, or wrist with the lanyard.
It may be an item that you may not use, but it’s great to have when you need it.
Multitool Knife
A Multitool Knife with at least 12 tools in one multitool like a Plier, Knife, Saw, Screwdriver, Wire Cutter, Bottle/Can Opener is the ultimate survival tool in any emergency occasion.
Emergency Ropes
Emergency Ropes and cords are essential for fastening supplies and gear together, tying down loads, and can even be used for making emergency shelters! (Tie between two trees and suspend tar or blanket over), etc.
They are also perfect in case you need to pull someone out of a deep hole created by an earthquake. I know that sounds like an extreme situation, but you never know.
Work Gloves
Having a pair of durable work gloves in your survival kit can be used to protect your hands against cuts and abrasions while sifting through debris after an emergency event such as an earthquake, hurricane, tornado, tsunami, winter storm, terrorist attack, flood, fire, accident, or other disasters.
Duct Tape
What can you do with Duct Tape? Duct tape is the perfect survival tool that gives you the ability to make emergency repairs on, tents, gear, bags, tarps, packs, sleeping bags, clothing, rain gear, etc.
Duct Tape can also be used as an emergency bandage to stop bleeding if you don’t have proper first aid tools around you. I wouldn’t recommend this as the go-to bandage for every first-aid situation, but it can help.
Can Opener
Having a can opener in your survival kit is a necessity. Most of the food you will be putting in your survival kit will be mostly canned goods because of their life shelf.
Items like canned meat such as tuna, salmon, chicken, and turkey and canned vegetables such as beans, carrots, and peas work well in emergencies.
Sewing Kit
Having a sewing kit is an essential part of being prepared, and it serves as a multipurpose tool that has several useful survival applications to it.
A survival sewing kit should be able to repair, fix a ripped tent or tarp, mend backpacks, sleeping bags, and gear. Also, in an extreme emergency, stitch up a wound.
Games
If you are stuck for up to 72 hr waiting for help to arrive or pass the time until the power comes back to your home, have a deck of cards or travel board games in your survival pack to avoid boredom.
First Aid & Sanitation
Staying clean in times following a disaster is extremely important. Not only does it give comfort in stressful conditions, but it helps keep away disease and infection.
Make sure your environment is bacteria-free by having the proper sanitation supplies stocked with your emergency supplies.
You never know how long you may be without basic water and sanitation services so be prepared for the worse in building your 72 hr survival kit.
Toothbrush
Every survival kit needs to include a toothbrush because you will want to keep your teeth clean and debris-free.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste is a necessity in your emergency kit, although it may be difficult to pack due to its potential to explode and cover everything in minty freshness.
You can always use salt or baking soda in a pinch, or even purchase toothpaste powder or toothpaste tablets.
Basic Grooming
Grooming is often ignored in a survival situation as we concentrate more on our urgent needs to survive.
But it is essential to recognize that basic grooming is also an important factor in greatly improving our odds of survival in an emergency situation.
With proper grooming, we can avoid viruses and bacteria from poisoning our food and water resources. Here are some grooming essentials:
- Comb
- Razor
- Shaving Cream
- Shampoo
- Soap Bar
- 2 Feminine Pads
- Washcloth
- Toilet Paper Roll
- Bio-hazard Bags For A Bucket
- Face Masks
First Aid Kit
Safety is the fundamental core to survival. An All-Purpose First Aid Kit will have you prepared for any potential emergency at home, in the office, or on the go.
Make sure you have all the essential first aid supplies that are ideal to treat pain and swelling, as well as cuts, scrapes, and burns.
How To Stay Healthy During An Emergency
Getting enough sleep is important to rest your body and give you the energy to keep going in a survival situation. Having sufficient rest will give you the ability to think and respond effectively in different critical situations.
Keeping healthy is one of the most important grooming skills that you need to learn in a survival situation. Always wash your hands before handling food or drinking water. Keep objects that may contain bacteria like equipment, your hands, or sticks away from your mouth. Make it a habit to clean your teeth and mouth at least once a day.
If possible wear clothing that will protect you from insect bites and stings and keep your clothes clean. Keep your clothes dry and clean to prevent your body temperature from dropping which could be fatal in a survival situation.
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