By Michael, on March 4th, 2009 
Most Americans honestly do not know how to survive if they suddenly couldn’t run down to Wal-Mart and fill up their shopping carts. The truth is that we live during times when a disaster or an emergency could strike at any time. It is important to be prepared, and nobody is going to prepare for you.
The following is a list of 11 key items that you will want to make sure that you and your family have in case you are faced with an emergency situation…..
#1) Storable Food
Most Americans cannot conceive of a world where you can’t just run out to McDonald’s or to the supermarket and get all the food you want. However, if you are trapped in your home during an emergency for an extended period of time, you and your family are going to need food. Even if you plan to grow food you better have a substantial amount of storable food put away.
#2) Clean Water
Most people could make it for a number of weeks without food, but without water you will die in a matter of days. You and your family are going to need clean water. Is there an abundant supply of water near your home? Will you be able to boil water if you need to? Without clean water you just are not going to survive for long.
#3) Shelter
What would you do if you lost your home or you were forced from your home? You and your family will need a warm place to sleep. Make sure you aren’t just relying on the power company to keep your home warm in the winter. If you need firewood, start chopping now. In addition, always make sure you have a backup plan if you have to leave where you are at. Do you have family you can move in with if necessary? Do you have a tent that you could set up in the woods?
#4) Warm Clothing
This is especially important if you live in a colder climate. You are your family need to prepare as if you would not be able to depend on the power company. Store up clothing as if you would have to make it without heat if necessary. Always make sure to have plenty of blankets as well. Already there have been recent news stories this winter of people freezing to death inside their own homes after having their heat turned off. Don’t let that be you.
#5) Communication
This is especially important if you live in an isolated area. Always have a way to communicate with the outside world. Whether it is an emergency cell phone or something else, if you are able to call an ambulance in a timely manner it might save your life. Also, you are going to want a way to be in contact with your family and close friends. It is those who are willing to work together that will have the best chance of making it.
#6) Lighters Or Matches
There may come a day when you need to start a fire in order to cook food or to boil water or to stay warm. When that day comes, do you really want to try rubbing sticks together to start a fire? Of course not. Now is the time to put away a supply of lighters or matches so that you will be prepared when you really need them.
#7) Comfortable Shoes
This is an item that not a lot of people think of when it comes to survival. But what if you find yourself in an emergency situation where you are not able to use your car? What if you find yourself out in the wilderness far from the nearest town? Especially if you are headed out to a wilderness area, make certain to have some shoes on hand that will be comfortable.
#8) Flashlight And Plenty Of Extra Batteries
Just think about what happens when the power goes out now. What quickly becomes one of the most important items? A flashlight. Without a flashlight, you won’t be able to do much of anything after the sun goes down. Also, make sure you have plenty of extra batteries, because in a prolonged crisis your flashlight will be of little help without batteries.
#9) A Battery-Powered Radio
In a crisis situation, you will want to know what is going on in the world around you. A battery-powered radio can be a great source of information. You can even get a wind-up radio in some stores that doesn’t require batteries at all. Now, you can certainly survive without a radio, but you are your family will feel much better if you have some way of keeping track of what is going on out there.
#10) A Swiss Army Knife
If you have ever owned one you probably already know how incredibly handy they can be. In a disaster or emergency situation, a Swiss Army knife can be a very valuable and versatile tool.
#11) Sanitation Supplies And A First Aid Kit
What would you do without toilet paper? What if you had to go without soap or shampoo for several days? You get the idea. Things can get messy and smelly fast. Make sure that you and your family have plenty of sanitation supplies on hand. In addition, make sure that you have first aid supplies so that you can treat any injuries that occur.
Lastly, always have a backup plan for everything. When you are out there surviving on your own and things don’t go according to plan, what are you going to do?
Always have a plan.
Most of the residents down in New Orleans never imagined that something as bad as Hurricane Katrina could happen. A lot of them were very unprepared when it hit. Don’t let that happen to you and your family.
