Be prepared: It’s better to have, than have not

Almost everyone in America, from the government to your next-door neighbor, has free advice on emergency preparedness. Despite its recent bad publicity following Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security actually has a Web site worth visiting (ready.gov). While you’re at it, have a look at the U.S. Army site (hooah4health.com). Added to those are views of diverse groups such as Boy Scouts of America (www.scouting.org: pack a knife in your emergency kit) and the Mormon church (providentliving.org: keep ready a year’s supply of food). Then there are nonprofit entities like the American Red Cross that will sell you a Deluxe Emergency Preparedness Kit (RC321195, $64.95, plus $13.95 shipping, redcross.org).
Here are PM emergency kits for home and vehicle.

A Basic Emergency Kit

Gather these into a portable, free-standing container such as a large plastic tub:

• Charged cellphone (and a 12-volt cellphone charger for your car).

• Three-day quantity of food, 1 gal. of water per person per day, disposable cups, plates and eating utensils, and a means to cook, such as a camp stove with sufficient fuel.

• Sanitary supplies for three days.

• Nonscented liquid chlorine bleach.

• Rain gear.

• Work gloves.

• Multitool.

• First-aid kit and first-aid manual.

• Battery-powered flashlight.

• Battery-powered radio.

• Spare batteries.

• Light sticks.

• Filtration mask (NIOSH-N95).

• Plastic sheeting.

• Duct tape.

• Whistle.

• Can opener.

• Garbage bags and ties.

• String or twine.

• Paper pad and pencil.

• Printout of key phone numbers.

• Five-day supply of prescription medications.
Long-Term Recovery Gear

In addition to a well-stocked toolbox, working smoke and CO detectors, add the following:

• 50-ft. heavy-duty rope for tying back or pulling away fallen tree limbs. In the worst case, use it to support failed structural members.

• A chain saw (that you’re sure will start) and fuel or a large bow saw and ax.

• An assortment of nails (especially large commons such as 12d) and self-drilling hexhead sheetmetal screws. You can never tell what you’ll have to fasten closed or open.

• Flexible repair clamps to deal with pipes that have burst from freezing and other damage.

• Buckets, rubber gloves, floor squeegee and absorbent materials as backup to a failed sump pump or for plumbing leaks, or leaks through the roof and walls.

• Heavy-duty tarp and ropes capable of covering one-half the roof of your house (roof damage is rarely larger than that).

• Scrap framing lumber and plywood for use in small, makeshift repairs.
Keep in Your Vehicle

Keep these in a plastic tub:

• Road flares, reflectors.

• 12-volt cellphone charger.

• 50 ft. of nylon cord.

• Heavy-duty plastic tarp.

• Jumper cables.

• One-day supply of food, such as energy bars, and water.

• Flashlight.

• Sand for traction in snow and on ice.

• Folding entrenching shovel.

• Emergency blanket in cold climates.

• 3 gal. of potable water in hot climates.

• Multitool.

• First-aid kit.

• Fire extinguisher.

• Tire inflator/sealant.

• Duct tape.

Source: http://men.msn.com/articlepm.aspx?cp-documentid=702632