Welcome!
Welcome to week #8 in the “72 Hour Kit Ideas: A week by week approach” series.
This series is all about making it simple and do-able to get a 72 hour kit put together for you and your family.
Creating such a kit can be overwhelming and financially difficult to do all at once. But through this series, I’ve broken it down for you into 26 small steps! You can see all the steps here. Just take one small baby step each week and in 6 months you will have a well stocked, personalized kit!
You can even go through the series a few times over a year or two adding just the most basic supplies the first six months and then a few more “extra” supplies each time you cycle through it again.
Want even more help?
This series is also available as an e-book. Purchasing the e-book gives you a few additional benefits over just reading the free series:
- Additional details and tips
- The ability to print the entire book!
- Pictures of my own kit showing just how I pack each week.
Download “Your Own 72 Hour Kit Plan” E-Book Now!
Week #8: Shelter
You will need a way to protect your family from the “elements” following a disaster. It may be extremely hot or cold. It may be raining or snowing.
Personally, I think this is one area you can skimp on a bit until you have more funds. While it is possible that you would have to evacuate completely on foot with nowhere to go, it is far more likely that you’d be traveling to some sort of shelter. Many churches provide shelter during an emergency and the Red Cross usually has something available as well. The chances of not being able to find any shelter are slim.
However, it is possible you will need to walk to that shelter and you may need to protect your family as you go. You may also prefer to sleep outside of a provided shelter to keep your family separate from others.
This week, add something to protect your family from the elements.
Suggestions:
Tents are ideal, but can get pricey and heavy! There are ways to protect your family 
from the elements on a smaller budget. As such, I’ve separated my suggestions into three categories. If you have small children, make sure you choose something they will actually use / wear. You should show it to them and have them practice wearing it (poncho) or getting in it (tent).
Small Budget:
- Try a poncho (you can even use a large garbage bag instead).
- A couple of drop cloths can work as well: hang one above you on trees or a rope and lay one out under you if needed.
Medium Budget:
- A couple of tarps (used similarly to the drop cloths mentioned above with a rope).
- A more durable poncho.
- A tube tent or two.
Larger Budget:
- A popup or dome tent.
What we have done in our family:
We have six ponchos total and one dome tent and a drop cloth (to go under the tent) in each adult kit. We would each sleep with two kiddos in a tent with us. We used to have tube tents instead and just recently switched to the dome tents. They are a bit bulkier / heavier, but I like them better because they have a door! (-:
.
How About You?
Leave me a comment and tell me what type of shelter you will be adding to your kit. Why? What will you be doing this week?
Skip to:
| Week #7: Clothes | Week #9: Staying Warm | Week #1: Packaging Your Kit | Series Into: Survival Kit Series, A Week by Week Approach |
Becky is a wildlife enthusiast and pet and livestock care expert with a diploma in canine nutrition. With over a decade of experience in animal welfare, Becky lends her expertise to Simple Family Preparedness through insightful info about pets, livestock, bee keeping, and the practicalities of homesteading.
One thing we’ve found while living in Alaska is the value of ground cayenne pepper in a cold weather emergency. It was used on researchers working in the arctic and we’ve found it very helpful at warming extremities and protecting against frostbite. I keep a little pouch with us in the winter in case of emergency where we can’t hunker down with blankets and we just have to move to safety. A little cayenne (too much can burn the skin) rubbed on extremities and covered with socks or mittens draws blood to the area and keeps them warmer. It’s powerful stuff so use only a very small amount but it’s been very valuable for us!
Great tip Cathy! I will add it to the week on warmth too!
We have 2 emergency blankets in everyone’s kit. Currently we have regular old sleeping bags in the garage to grab and go, but we’re looking into getting some lightweight backpacking bags, this weeks challenge will help remind me to get on that!
Since we’re a family of 6 it will take some time to get them all, but I figure if we’re in a true emergency, the little could share a bag which would help create some extra body heat and keep them a little more comforted.
Side note: I live in an area with snow in the winter and a 7 mile drive down a 2 lane highway to my son’s school. After leaving one day in the middle of a blizzard I realized 2 of my 3 kids didn’t have shoes or a jacket. If we got stranded I would have a hard time getting anywhere. When we got home, I got a huge ziploc bag and tossed extra jackets for me and the boys in there along with some blankets to put in the back of the car. I also now make sure the boys put on shoes or at least grab a pair every time we go out. You just never know what could happen and having pasted quite a few people who are stuck on the side of the road, I am trying to be better prepared.
I just found your website and have ordered the backpacks to begin. I’ll be playing catch up for the last few weeks, but starting is better than nothing, right? We will be adding the “space blankets” or emergency space saving blankets/bags, just to get started, and replace them with heavier duty products as more money is available.
Yes, it is always better than nothing! And don’t worry too much about playing catchup. That is why I built the series the way I did. Just jump in on this week’s post and I will cycle through all the ones you missed later. (-:
And ps…thank you for the order!
I have emergency blankets for each of us, plus a spare, but need to upgrade to something better.
Thank you for the helpful tips about making kits on various budgets and on a weekly buildup.
You are very welcome Kira! My Pleasure!
Just found your site and it’s brilliant! We are just beginning to prep, so I don’t even have water yet let alone sleeping gear! We also just moved states so we are also trying to rebuild a household from scratch. I have some back packers packs from our move so today i threw some coins, tooth brushes, soap, plastic bags and the crank radio/touch/phone charger in there that i already had around the house…
SOunds like you’ve got a great start Jenna!
And sorry this reply took so long, I’ve had some issues with the comments on my site the last few days.
Thanks for all the wonderful information provided here. As the wife of an Eagle Scout who lives by the moto Be Prepared we have some of the stuff put together and some of the info is new. I especially like the emergency binder. As far as sleep stuff since we do live where it is cold and does freeze we all have 0 degree bags. we all also have small kits with the boy scout 10 essentials in them which does include the emergency blanket. I am excited to see what next week has. My 17 year old son and I are both CERT certified and have a 72 hour kit in a back pack.
Love that you are CERT certified and live by teh “Be Prepared” Motto. Keep commenting! I’m sure you will have much to add!
And sorry this reply took so long, I’ve had some issues with the comments on my site the last few days.
we have a fairly small budget and I have recently started to put together an emergency kit for the family .. I will be getting the microfiber blanket and emergency Thermal sleeping bags for now. Will add to that as soon as we can afford it
It all makes a difference Shaunna! My kits grows a bit each time I go through it. It was much smaller years ago, but still brought great peace of mind!
And sorry this reply took so long, I’ve had some issues with the comments on my site the last few days.
First – I found the site on Pintrest, and have found it really interesting!
Second – My wife and I have emergency blankets in our backpack kits, and we both keep large, heavy blankets in our cars, which we would have access to if we were to evacuate by car. We live in a relatively warm area where most disasters would make on-foot evacuation more dangerous than waiting, so this works for us.
SOunds smart Steve. I’m glad to hear you’ve enjoyed the site! Welcome!
Sorry this reply took so long, I’ve had some issues with the comments on my site the last few days.
Keeping up with the weekly list. Shopping at our local stores and looking at Bass Pro for items. Thanks again for all the amazing info!
You are welcome Natash!
I found a 15 degree rated bag for 13 bucks last week so u took care if that last week. I need one more for my husband but will wIt full I can guns a deal. We have some old ones that would work fine if anything were to happen in the next few months. But I do want to get some mylar blankets
I meant to type wait till I can find a deal. Gotta love spell correction on phones. 🙂
(-:
$13 is AWESOME! Way to go!
Sorry this reply took so long, I’ve had some issues with the comments on my site the last few days.
Yes. I could not pass up on it. If anyone has an Essex near them. That is where I find a lot if my stuff. It is like a fall of the truck kind of store. So you never know what they’re going to have and you have to look your item over as sometimes items are damaged slightly but most of the time its over stock from other stores it items that “didnt pass inspection” my husbands back pack had one extra strap to strap stuff on the outside that was never sewn on. But instead of 130 bucks I got it for 25. I don’t have to have the extra little strap that doesn’t alter the function really. My back pack is 100 and I got it for 10 in perfect condition. It didn’t have the packaging. We also got a coffee table for half price because it was last years model. I also got a small carry propane camp stove the other day for 17. All that to say if you have an Essex right now they’re getting a lot of camping and outdoors stuff because of the season.
Thanks for the tip!
It doesn’t get below freezing too much here either, but we have wool blankets and emergency blankets in our kits. I really should add some sleeping bags, we are hoping to camp this next year anyway, so it would be a good thing to keep in the car.
Yay for camping!
Sorry this reply took so long, I’ve had some issues with the comments on my site the last few days.
I’m new to all of this, but we live in Alabama where we get hurricanes and tornadoes so it’s been something I’ve felt needs to be done so thank you for putting all of this together!
My husband and I have sleeping bags that could handle cold weather, but now we have a little girl to factor in. I have a ton of fleece blanket and could make her a fleece sleeping bag, but would also like to add a microfiber blanket or two in the future
If she is small enough, she would probably be warmest with you in your bag for a while!
Sorry this reply took so long, I’ve had some issues with the comments on my site the last few days.
i already have 2 emerency sleeping bags, but i would like to add 2 more and some emergency blankets, we have two really warm sleeping bags by our kits if we needed to we could take them with us….i would eventually like to add/upgrade to the blizzard bag
Sounds smart Callie!
Sorry this reply took so long, I’ve had some issues with the comments on my site the last few days.
This week i will be getting 4 new emergency blankets. We have great sleeping bags but the blankets will also keep is dryer and we can use when hiking etc.
I agree Melanie!
Sorry this reply took so long, I’ve had some issues with the comments on my site the last few days.
Just found your site and wow, do I have a lot to do! He is always concerned about our ability to survive if something were to happen. I will have to begin doing double weeks to catch up. But first
We already have sleeping bags from when we used to backpack but not very lightweight. Will have to migrate to the lighter ones once a quarter. Keep up the great work!
Welcome Jenn! And don’t stress TOO much about catching up. I will cycle through each week again!
I’ve got a couple of the emergency blankets that came with first aid kits. We have always made sure we have first aid kits in all our cars, boat, camping equipment and home. I am planning to add 2 fleece sleeping bags.
SOunds smart Brenda!
And sorry this reply took so long, I’ve had some issues with the comments on my site the last few days.
I haven’t pulled the trigger on the sleeping bags yet because they are so pricey, but I know that I need to. If something happened, I know I would just be sick if I was too cheap to spend $ on some sleeping bags! I really like the Kid-X for the kiddos, so I might start with buying those.
I’ve had quite a few customers quite happy with those bags Bridgette.
We’re adding emergency blankets to both of our kits this week. I’m also planning to check the ratings on our sleeping bags and move them next to our kits. For some crazy reason they’re stored in different closets right now! 🙂
Funny the simple things like that you find when you start working on this Stefanie!
I have recently started reading your site/blog and am so excited to be able to be better prepared and oragnized in case of emergency, thanks to your help!
I’m glad to have you here Tara!
I can’t wait to click on the links for the kids bags! We desperately need kid-sized bags because it DOES get cold where we are and dead air space in an adult-sized sleeping bag would be really really cold for the kids. I’m also interested in a microfiber emergency blanket… sounds nice for snuggling with the little ones!
I don’t want to confuse things and enter twice, but as an avid backpacker, I’m leary of non-name brand gear. Do you know how these bags compare to say the Kelty kids bags?
Don’t worry about it Julie! You aren’t messing anything up! And honestly I am unsure of the bags, but I will ask Shelf Reliance’s emergency product expert / purchaser and let you know soon!
Bart (the emergency products specialist) just got back with me on these bags. He said that he would trust his kids using the River Jr bag only indoors. The Kid-X bag is a great bag for roughing it outdoors and will keep your kids warm. It should compare well. I hope that helps!
I am going to start with the small budget items- My plan is to get them in the next week. I already have a few fleece blankets that I can use too. I am going to move 2 into the car to they are there (although right now it’s in the 100’s here in my part of AZ. 🙂 I also have an old sleeping bag that I need to get cleaned so that’s a start.
100 degrees sounds miserable! Yuck.
I just recently found your site and am really excited to get started. Being avid Girl Scouts, my daughter and I have sleeping bags. But I do think that we are going to add a couple of emergency blankets. Thanks.
Yay for Girl Scouts!
So lucky that my former marine husband has all of these sort of supplies and I. A family quantity!!!! One less thing to worry about for the packs, now if I could only get him to find them in the garage 😉
Good luck Jennifer!
My friend shared this website at out RS emergency preparedness activity. I checked it out and it got me really excited to start getting prepared. Thanks for sharing what you know!
You are welcome Rachel! I’m glad to have you here!