Best earthquake survival kits?

Question

I want to prepare my family in case there is a huge earthquake . I know the basics,battery radio,batteries,firstaid kit,matches,canned foods,can opener,extra clothes,blankets,I even thought of having extra bags of dog and cat food for my pets.Any more suggestions? My main concern is what are the best containers to store water in? You know ones that won't collapse too easily if something should fall on it? I want to keep these containers outside in our shed since we do not have a garage. We live in the desert where the temp can get upto 120 degrees in the summer.Would this water be drinkable and safe to drink? whatever is left that won't evaporate that is,and how often should I change it out?To whoever answers,thank you very much.

Answer 1

Well I guess you should have some condoms. The last thing you need is a baby 9 months down the road.

We decided our best survival planning was living close to the supermarket we we could loot if it got that bad.

Answer 2

Here's some pretty level headed info.

make sure you remember the bleach purification method as this is usually the most readily available

Answer 3

check www.emergencyessentials.com

http://beprepared.com/category.asp_Q_c_E...

They have lots of good stuff including barrels for water.  The water in the shed should be fine in one of their blue barrels.  But you may want to refill it once in a while so it taste better if you need it.  

You should consider a gun and lots of ammo.  If not then maybe a bow and arrow and some arrows.  Likely you will not need it in the desert for New Orlean type looters, but you may need a meal if it goes on for a while.

Always a knife, saw, rope and a striker for a fire.  

You may want a large tarp in the desert to create a shady spot to sleep if the house is wrecked.

Answer 4

Red,

I could type out a list, but really that is rather exsausting.  My husband and I have over a years worth of food storage, and a generally extremely self sufficient, needing little from the outside world.

If you live in an earthquake zone, there are several things you can do.  First, store water only in the blue plastic containers.  they are designed to hold water, and the plastic they are made from does not contain impurities that other containers might have.  

You need to build a frame to put your water jugs on.  Solid, made from 2X4's.  The frame will protect your water jugs from being crushed in an earthquake, and from falling onto the ground and splitting open.

You can sterilize water by boiling (takes a lot of fuel), bleach, iodine, UV light, tablets or filters.

Check out a SteriPen at this web site:

http://www.steripen.com/

Join these two yahoo groups, and you will have access to TONS of information!  They are amazing groups.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FoodStorag...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EmergencyP...

Be sure to invest in LED flashlights.  Also a solar charger for cell phones, and a hand crank radio.

Buy a LARGE tent.  This is a great time of year to buy one!  That way if your house falls down you have a place to live.  Maybe all the windows in your house break...just set the tent up in your livingroom (if you house is still safe) and sleep bug free, and warmer in the desert night.

Someone might have alread posted this site but I'll post it too:

http://beprepared.com/

We have a lot of their items, from their propane heaters (safe for indoor use) to hand crank radios, ect.

If you join the groups, I'll probably end up chatting with you there.  Those two groups are a wealth of information.

~Garnet

Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

Food storage and supplys 10 years

Answer 5

Basics:

Water

MRE's (meals ready to eat)

survival blanket

knife, axe, hammer, shovel

battery & hand crank radio

batteries

first aid kit

all weather matches

canned foods

can opener

extra clothes

blankets

dog and cat food for my pets

basically anything you would bring with you camping, but more of it.

You can go to an Army/Navy store and buy a trunk to store the stuff.

Answer 6

You should have a minimum of 2 gal per day per member of your family. This covers cooking as well as drinking. I prefer 3 Gallons for southern New Mexico desert. I keep min in three forty gallon barrels the blue kind you can buy for about $75 EACH. Do not have everything in one location. put one in your shed and one under a tree. If they are kept sterile once they are sealed they should last five years easily. Note once you open one you muse re-sterilize and reseal. Use RO water to fill and explain to the man what you are doing he knows how to do the sterilization and sealing.