Episode 1: How to Build a 72-Hour Emergency Kit That Actually Works

Show notes

1. Why 72 hours: after a big storm, wildfire, or long outage, the first three days are often when you're on your own.
2. The bag: a sturdy backpack you already own is fine. Comfort matters, and keep the weight to roughly a fifth of your body weight at most.
3. Water: about a gallon per person per day is the guideline. That's heavy, so carry about a liter and a way to make more. Filters don't handle chemical contamination.
4. Food: no-cook, calorie-dense, long shelf life, plus a few treats for morale. Write expiry dates on tape on the bag.
5. Warmth: mylar blankets, dry socks, beanie, poncho.
6. Light & comms: a hands-free headlamp, a crank/solar weather radio, a whistle (three blasts = help), and a charged power bank.
7. First aid & little things: meds, document copies, small cash, multi-tool, duct tape, fire starters, hygiene items, a paper map, and phone numbers on paper.
8. Test it: walk 20 minutes with it, try a night using only the kit, and check it twice a year when the clocks change.

Gear from this episode

• Water: Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter (SP129)
• Food: Datrex 3600 Emergency Food Bar (72-hour pack)
• Warmth: Swiss Safe Mylar Emergency Blankets (4-pack)
• Light: Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp
• Communication: Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather Radio

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