Tips for 72 Hour Kits

For storage and easy transport:

• Emergency preparedness supplies are packed in a durable duffel with adjustable shoulder strap and double hand straps.
• Supplies meant for individual personal use are packed inside the duffel in two separate compact hard-sided carrying cases.

• Bag(s) to put 72 Hour Kit items in (such as duffel bags or back packs, rolling packs) Make sure you can lift/carry it!
• Each person in the family can have their own personal 72hour bag which contains items that are specific to them. Older family members can be in charge of task specific items that will help others in the family, such as cooking tools, maintenance tools, first aid items, etc.

Tips:

1. Update your 72 Hour Kit every six months (put a note in your calendar/planner) to make sure that: all food, water, and medication is fresh and has not expired; clothing fits; personal documents and credit cards are up to date; and batteries are charged.
2. Small toys/games are important too as they will provide some comfort and entertainment during a stressful time.
3. Older children can be responsible for their own pack of items/clothes too.
4. You can include any other items in your 72 Hour Kit that you feel are necessary for your family's survival.
5. Some items and/or flavors might leak, melt, "flavor" other items, or break open. Dividing groups of items into individual Ziploc bags might help prevent this.
6. Keep things small.
7. Store water where it won't freeze, food where it won't get too hot, and everything else wherever you have room -- just be sure you can get to it easily.
8. Pack the entire kit in plastic storage boxes to make them easier to load into the car on short notice. Keep the food in a different container than everything else. Bottled water can be loaded separately.
9. Load everything into the car ahead of time to see how it fits and if you need to make changes.
10. Write down the earliest expiration date for both food and medication. Put it in your calendar and check all food and medication on that date. Replace anything that will expire within six months and start over with the new earliest date.
11. Replace water every year to maintain fresh taste.