Like it or not, natural disasters happen. Although it is often possible to predict when and where they will happen, this doesn’t negate the extent of their damage at all. This is why individuals are advised not to wait for an announcement before setting up a survival toolkit in order to get through a catastrophe better equipped. As early as possible, people should devise a survival tools list to be prepared for any eventuality. That being said, the following are the different tools that must be part of every kit.
Please note this is only a short outline of some very basic starter items. It does not include items like food and generators, etc. We’ll ease you into the prep kit slowly … for now!
Duct Tape
Duct tape is incredibly versatile, making it a perfect addition to a survival tools list. It can be used to keep things in place, help board up windows and more.
Knife
Two or three survival knives in the list can be helpful to address several problems. Make sure that the knife is sharpened and is durable; with a cover to hide the blade.
First Aid Kit
A first aid kit may need an article all of its own due to the extent of what it should contain. Typically, the kit should include bandages, basic medicines and some antiseptic to clean wounds. People with specific health problems should customize their kit to meet their own health requirements.
Communication Tools and Extra Batteries
The radio must be run by batteries so that it can still be used even with a power shortage. An extra set of batteries or even two of them will be of immense help as survivors wait it out. Your mobile phone would also work wonderfully, especially if it comes with an inbuilt radio.
Flashlights and Batteries
A couple of flashlights will work wonders in providing visual help at nighttime. Again, an extra set of batteries should be set aside in case the first ones run out.
Rope
One never knows when a good rope might come in handy. This is for situations when duct tape might not be able to handle the job.
Fire Starter
What if there’s a need to cook something? Although most survival kits contain canned food, there are instances when a fire is needed to cook items and keep people warm. Either way, a fire starter would be a great way to cover both needs, plus it helps save the batteries.
Can Opener
Since the length of natural disasters may last several days or even a week, it’s only natural to pack mostly canned and instant goods for the ordeal. This means packing a can opener to make the process easier. Of course, this kind of job can also be accomplished with a knife.
Multi-Tool
Why bring the whole toolkit when a multi-tool would do as well? This may contain pliers, screwdrivers; saw blades, bottle openers and more. They’re light and compact which makes them perfect for emergency situations.
Water Treatment
Prior to an emergency situation, there are the top two things every survivor must always have: food and water. Of the two, water is the more important one. Humans can survive for weeks without food but only a few days without water. Hence, always make sure that the kit contains a portable water filter that would turn water into something drinkable. This is just in case your stockpile of water meant for drinking runs out.
Large Knives
A pocket knife may not always be useful for large jobs such as taking down doors after being trapped in a hurricane. A machete or an ax would be a beneficial tool for situations like this. They’re fairly big and hard to carry around but they’re worth it.
Prepare Now
Of course, this survival tools list is still incomplete. Individuals have the option of adding more items to the list depending on their anticipated situation. Keep in mind that this is something that should be thought of before an emergency happens. This way, individuals would be able to create something that covers everything.
