Are Store Bought Survival Kits All I Really Need To Survive On?

As a preparedness expert, I get asked a lot of questions. Such as, How much water do I really need? and, What do those survival bars taste like? When should I stay put, and when should I go? These are all good questions. 

Today I want to answer one of the most common questions I get as far as home preparedness goes. And that is: Are those store bought or pre-made survival kits any good or all I need to survive?

What I tell people as a general rule is that if you haven't started or taken any preparedness steps yet, they make an excellent starting point, or starter kit. They are not generally good, if you just buy them, stick them in the closet, and that is the end of your preparations.

I'd like you to take a moment to look at this video from DadLabs titled: Is Your Family Prepared for Disaster?

This video does an excellent job of driving this point home as any I have ever seen. In case you missed it, Those premade kits just don't have enough items for you and your family to make it through a disaster.

Sure, they may be good during a brief power outage or get you through a single night, but for a real disaster, they don't even come close to what you would need to get by.

Most local, state, federal, and even non-profit agencies will tell you need at least three days worth of food and water to survive a disaster. The key to this phrase is "at least" and most people tend to think if they have three days worth of these items they will be fine. 

In fact I think this statement does more harm than good, since the average household is unprepared and when you hear three days worth people tend to think, well - I have enough food stocked up to last that long. The truth is when you really get down to it, you don't have enough to make it that long.

The whole idea of where the three days comes in is that is how long these agencies estimate it will take for government aid to reach and rescue people in the affected area. As we have seen in past disasters, this may not always be the case.

So if you prepare as if you are going to be on your own, and for an extended length of time, the store bought kits are no where near enough to sustain you and your family for three days or longer.

Comments

[Holly R. Boyd]

You can easily survive on Freeze dried food - if you choose the right kind. Note the calories each has. My husband and I were looking into where to invest our money, even thought about gold, but when a disaster really hits, a gold bar won't be much use. But food, ah, we always will need food and if it is freeze dried, it will last 10 years until a disaster! And if no disaster, you just eat your food and enjoy no grocery bills for 2021! You can't go wrong, so we decided to share the sense of peace we get from knowing no matter what goes down, we won't go hungry! The labels prove it's just food, none of the garbage we get in store bought food. And it all tastes amazing!

[Richard Stooker]

So much depends on exactly what happens. Some people just want to get through a short storm related blackout. Some survivalists are not only ready for the end of civilization as we know it, they seem to welcome the prospect :) And there are plenty of in-between scenarios, where political problems in another country cause food shortages in the US, for example.

And even the most-likely short term situations vary. People in wild fire areas of California and close to potential terrorist targets may need to evacuate, while others must hunker down in their homes.

Having plenty of freeze dried foods on hand could be a God send. At least company says their #10 cans will last up to 30 years. I don't think I'd wait that long to either it.

http://www.freezedriedfoods.org/

[Holly R. Boyd]

There are only 2 makers of this freeze dried food in America - although one claims 30 years longevity - I'd error on the side of caution. 10 years is more apt and more honest!

You really are going to be needing food, if you watch news you know this.