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With the UK in the grip of some pretty bad weather, the Highways Agency has advised anyone who needs to drive somewhere to carry a snow emergency kit with food, hot drink in a thermos flask, blankets, etc.

I used to have an earthquake preparedness kit when I lived in Japan, with tins of bottled water, radio and so on.

What kind of disaster kits do you guys have?

That's what all the piles of unpainted miniatures are for - it's not that I buy too much stuff, I'm just being prepared!

This is where us brits are either laughed at or we gawp in horrified fascination at lists of what prep kits look like in places where real bad weather situations happen.

Me. As I drive for my job I carry a thermos and food around as a matter of course. Got a big boy coat for when it rains/snows, torch and bits and bobs for car emergencies.

Extra jerry cans full of fuel and water. Rations. Weapon. Repair kit. First Aid kit. Spare Mags. Mag light. Solar charger. Sat Phone. Spare laptop. Entrenching Tool. Axe. Chains.

Living to the East of lake Michigan we get lake effect snow a lot.

So we have a snow shovel in the trunk, blankets, at least one more coat for each of us, and a charger for our phones. We plan our routes based on hills and traffic flow. Highway isn't always the safe option so we try for main roads that are straight shots as well.

For home, we make sure to have at least three days worth of food and plans to fight off cabin fever.

 ProtoClone wrote:
Living to the East of lake Michigan we get lake effect snow a lot.

So we have a snow shovel in the trunk, blankets, at least one more coat for each of us, and a charger for our phones. We plan our routes based on hills and traffic flow. Highway isn't always the safe option so we try for main roads that are straight shots as well.

For home, we make sure to have at least three days worth of food and plans to fight off cabin fever.

It's safe to say that because bad weather rarely affects the UK, the majority of drivers do not plan routes off what they know.

P.P.P.P.P.P. People!

My disaster plan is to leave if we have bad weather. My place does't have a generator, and we have a well for water. I don't know if this is standard or screwed up or what, but when we lose power (which is fairly common and short lived) the first time you flush the toilet or wash your hands, the pressure tank vents and then bleeds off 100% of the air in it - I guess there is a solenoid that is supposed to close it again that can't when there is no power. As a pracitical consequence, as soon as we lose power we also functionally lose water.

I know I really need to stock up on emergency supplies but for now, leaving is my plan.

You could just buy a generator.

I've thought about it, or at least a battery backup of some kind for the well pump. It just hasn't been enough of an issue for me to have actually done anything, which is a pretty good outlook to avoiding disaster which will surely never, ever bite me in the future

At the base minimum I could out a few gallons of water down in the basement.

Also, oops,. was this thread only supposed to be for vehicles? If so, my bad.

Threw an earthquake one recently.

its just a bag full of bottled water, a blanket, first aid, a basic knife, flashlights, and a portable battery.

i need to get food into it at some point. iv tried one of those brick foods. its pretty bad. you guys have any ideas for alternatives? was thinking a bunch of canned beans or something that i rotate out when it starts going.

I have a few emergency packs.

my car always will have a tool kit, fold-up shovel, jumper cables, emergency blanket, some food and water, and a CB radio.

For my home, small generator, cans of fuel, minimum of two weeks of food (often much more), 40 gallons of treated and stored water, water purifier, 40 firearms and 50,000 rounds of ammo.

I also keep a backpack for each person in my home. Each one contains basic survival stuff, food, and a change of clothes. Adult packs weigh about 30 pounds. Kids are about 10.

Candles in the cupboard and a first aid kit covers it.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
With the UK in the grip of some pretty bad weather, the Highways Agency has advised anyone who needs to drive somewhere to carry a snow emergency kit with food, hot drink in a thermos flask, blankets, etc.

I used to have an earthquake preparedness kit when I lived in Japan, with tins of bottled water, radio and so on.

What kind of disaster kits do you guys have?

I have canned goods, coffee, dried foods (like peanut butter, crackers, and ramen), MREs, and bottled water stored. Enough for a household of three for two weeks. The water, PB/ramen, and canned goods get rotated on a regular basis. When something comes up, I make sure to have extra charcoal and full propane gas bottles for the grills ahead of time.


There are first aid kits in the house and in all vehicles. We also stay on top of vehicle maintenance, including the one thing many people neglect: the spare tire. I make sure any vehicle I own has the tools to change a flat, and has the room for an extra spare tire in the event of an emergency. I make sure to have extras like the means to jump a battery, tire repair kit, a couple of quarts of motor oil, a jug of coolant, highway flares, a poncho, etc. for all the family vehicles.

We have a 10,000 watt gasoline generator and keep I it maintained. I make it a point to have several good flashlights (Surefire, Maglite, Pelican, etc) and a small stash of batteries.

We keep a spare kerosene heater and a Mr. Heater propane bottle shop heater for emergencies. Ditto for fuel cans and a couple of bottles of fuel treatment, for both kerosene and gasoline.

The little things are often the most important. Matches, professional grade extention cords, a tool kit/socket set, spare blankets, candles, basic camping gear, a good utility knife, etc. Having a little OTC meds kits is a good idea. I make it a point to keep a check on the expiration dates if a possible emergency is on the horizon, and replace what is needed. It's a must to make sure any prescription medications are filled and any extra medical needs (i.e. oxygen tanks) are taken care of beforehand in preparation. Always have fire extinguishers on hand and up to date, in the home, shop, vehicles, etc.


Communications: I have a couple NOAA weather radios, a portable FM/AM radio, and access to citizens band radio.


Of course, I have a bug out bag. And the means to defend what I have in a disaster.


This is just a few examples of what I do to prepare for emergencies and disasters. None of this is particularly outlandish or overly expensive. Most are mostly common items that can be purchased anywhere, and stuff most people will use daily anyway. Having lived through enough hurricanes, winter storms, and a couple of cases of minor civil disorder, it's worth it to me.

I used to rent a house out in Amish country, so severe weather cut me off from the rest of the world for days at a time. Now I own a home in a lower class urban neighborhood, where if there is an emergency, or severe weather that locks us in the local area, I don't want to have to leave my house and deal with the locals. So the plan has pretty much stayed the same.

I have a bug out bag in my van in case staying home isn't possible, or we are on the road and something happens. It has some MRE's (gift from a family member, I can make better long term food supplies in my house, couple of bottles of water, flashlight, glowsticks, matches, and a few iodine tablets for purifying water in them. I also keep a small mountain of coats and blankets in my car, but thats more due to laziness than anything.

My house isn't geared towards prepping, or static long term storage just yet. Going to be working on that in the next few months.

What do I lack? Hmm.... Guns and ammo aplenty for hunting, tools for almost any need, enough dry or otherwise long-keeping food for an emergency, a well on the yard if communal water or bottled stuff runs out, several working vehicles.

I guess my first aid skills could be better - got several kits and a lot of odds and ends but my military first aid skills are quite outdated by now.

Sheer. Blind. Luck.

Also, the sense to not venture out when it’s all crap.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, my car is full of my LARP kit, including the chain mail.

If it all goes properly Tits up, I’ll be the Lord Humongous!

Disasters are pretty rare here. And I live right in the middle of the city next to the supermarket, so I figure I will be fine in any case without much in the way of preparation.
Apart from that I have a range of archaeological tools such as shovels and machetes that might come in handy in a disaster. I also keep a flashlight close to my bed in case of power failures.
I do still really need to get a new first aid kit though. Not just for emergencies, but having more first aid kits at hand during an excavation is always handy.

On the Crimea my family has a dacha in the mountains that is quite remote (well, relatively remote. It actually is not that far from a village, but the road to it is virtually non-existent so it takes quite a while to travel to and from there through the forest). We are largely self-sufficient there with a well and a big vegetable garden. No electricity anyways, so it doesn't matter if power goes out. There is also always a supply of canned food in case of emergency. And rifles and ammo for hunting as well. It is really primitive. You could easily survive an apocalypse there, because there wouldn't be much difference before and after.

I've got a gun and a knife in my car which is basically the only way I travel. That gives me 2 days to find water...I think I need to pack some water in my car. I have a med kit in my trunk. I think I'm as prepared as you need to be if I just get some water bottles in my trunk too.

Just remember, keep plastic bottles of water out of sunlight.

First aid kit in the car and one in the house, decent first aid skills, a couple of torches around and snow shovel in the garage. That’s about all I need where I am. Worst case I will be cut off for 24h with snow (the road at the end of mine is cleared very well in the snow due to lorry’s needing it), or without electricity for a few days.

One minor issue I found the other day when it snowed though, my snow shovel was in the garage, and the garage door was blocked by snow...

That is why I carry a flamethrower in my car.

Rations for a month (including distilled water), lighters, matches, fire lighters, generator with 40hrs worth of fuel, trenching tool, spade, pick, axe, hatchet, variety of knives and saws, compound bow, rifle and rounds, full med kit, 50sqm of tarp, EPURB, Sat. phone, wind up radio, three wind up torches, four litres of pure alcohol, six sleeping bags and various board games/puzzle books.

Living in NZ its pretty much just a case of when and not if and having been through Christchurch preparation is always reassuring.

 Desubot wrote:
Threw an earthquake one recently.

its just a bag full of bottled water, a blanket, first aid, a basic knife, flashlights, and a portable battery.

i need to get food into it at some point. iv tried one of those brick foods. its pretty bad. you guys have any ideas for alternatives? was thinking a bunch of canned beans or something that i rotate out when it starts going.

One thing to note on canned food. As long as it is properly stored and sealed, it is actually fully edible long after the expiration date. Indefinitely according to the USDA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1rZAT2GtmI

First Aid bag with batteries, flashlight, gauze, band-aids, water bottle, scissors, tweezers, anti-bacterial gel, and a copy of Big 'Uns magazine.

a good big bag of kitty litter in the boot, when I lived in Sawtry I had that in my (gawds forsaken) Peugot. stay mostly on the A and M roads. have plenty of food.

 Grey Templar wrote:

 Desubot wrote:
Threw an earthquake one recently.

its just a bag full of bottled water, a blanket, first aid, a basic knife, flashlights, and a portable battery.

i need to get food into it at some point. iv tried one of those brick foods. its pretty bad. you guys have any ideas for alternatives? was thinking a bunch of canned beans or something that i rotate out when it starts going.

One thing to note on canned food. As long as it is properly stored and sealed, it is actually fully edible long after the expiration date. Indefinitely according to the USDA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1rZAT2GtmI

Depends totally on what it is. Also if there is any rust or large dents on the can throw it away.

I have a bag with some clothing, my spare glasses and a powerbank (which has an ultrabright LED flashlight built in) and a small solar panel to charge it with cables in it, but disasters that require evacuation are somewhat rare around here.

The last decent earthquake around here was 28 years ago (the anniversary was 2 days ago).
It doesn't snow, and even the worst storms only lasted for about a week (and we have access to separate grid power supplies).

 ingtaer wrote:

 Grey Templar wrote:

 Desubot wrote:
Threw an earthquake one recently.

its just a bag full of bottled water, a blanket, first aid, a basic knife, flashlights, and a portable battery.

i need to get food into it at some point. iv tried one of those brick foods. its pretty bad. you guys have any ideas for alternatives? was thinking a bunch of canned beans or something that i rotate out when it starts going.

One thing to note on canned food. As long as it is properly stored and sealed, it is actually fully edible long after the expiration date. Indefinitely according to the USDA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1rZAT2GtmI

Depends totally on what it is. Also if there is any rust or large dents on the can throw it away.

Rust and dents would not fall within "Properly stored and sealed". Obviously damaged cans should be tossed, but provided they remain intact and are stored properly the food will be edible. Palatable is another story of course. 15 year old creamed corn probably tastes like crap, but it is still nutritiously viable.

I have a get home bag in my car;
- medical
- fire lighting tools
- emergency shelter
- blanket
- torch & batteries
- flares
- water
- shotgun shells for tinder and fishing weight
- paracord
- maps

In the winter I have an additional winter car kit with additional food, blankets, more first aid, shovel, etc. At home we have much more robust supplies.

 Grey Templar wrote:

 ingtaer wrote:

 Grey Templar wrote:

 Desubot wrote:
Threw an earthquake one recently.

its just a bag full of bottled water, a blanket, first aid, a basic knife, flashlights, and a portable battery.

i need to get food into it at some point. iv tried one of those brick foods. its pretty bad. you guys have any ideas for alternatives? was thinking a bunch of canned beans or something that i rotate out when it starts going.

One thing to note on canned food. As long as it is properly stored and sealed, it is actually fully edible long after the expiration date. Indefinitely according to the USDA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1rZAT2GtmI

Depends totally on what it is. Also if there is any rust or large dents on the can throw it away.

Rust and dents would not fall within "Properly stored and sealed". Obviously damaged cans should be tossed, but provided they remain intact and are stored properly the food will be edible. Palatable is another story of course. 15 year old creamed corn probably tastes like crap, but it is still nutritiously viable.

Indeed, was just pointing that out for others who might not be aware. Few other things to bear in mind are to buy locally canned stuff, stuff that is supposed to be cooked normally (stews/soups etc.) and low acid stuff. These all keep longer and better. How palatable they are is totally subjective, cant say as I find most tinned food nice anyway, that's why I have a gun to chase down some lovely venison.
Edit: It is also worth pointing out that a stash of dried herbs and spices as well as long lasting condiments are a great idea.