emergency car pack

[Laurieks]

I am working on backpacks for all our cars. I am going to the extreme of thought. Not just I got lost in a snow storm and will be stuck in my car for a couple days, but an emp hit and I need to get home. I want to be as ready as I can for all situations.
I have a child that can not walk far or fast, so I know that getting home would take at least 2 days from his school, and 4 or 5 days from our nearest shopping town. The trickiest problem I see is the amount of children I have. If I was just making a pack for me it would be so much easier. I have 8 children but 2 are grown.

Has anyone put together a survival pack.
Here is what I have come up with. I want at least 2 back packs in each car, to help with carring things. A case of water in each car. As of now I have 2 water filters, so you could drink water from any water source.
Glow sticks
Headlamp ( a flash light on your head)
sm flash light
Emergency candle
weather matches
Wind-up radio
Hand warmers
socks
tape
first aid kit
sunscreen
mosquito spray
toilet paper
gloves
Hats
I have bought some Mre's, (dehydrated food packs)
blankets
tarp

that is my thought so far. I am going to go with the pre bought blankets and tarps that are made for emergencies that are packaged real small, because caring things would be difficult.
I figure that I usually am not more than 30 miles from my house. We also have discussed with all of us if something happens, what route we would take, so that we would know where they are and where to find them. Picked routes with farms that have people living in them, which is not many out here. I know I am thinking to the extreme, but what would happen if you suddenly found yourself stranded and had to get home. Are you prepared? I know I am not. But will be very soon. I even thought of putting our large wheeled wheel chair in our van, so we could take turns pushing Christopher.

My oldest son lives across the street from the kids school. I will have packs left at his house too. OK I have read way to many EMp books lately, but I will feel better being ready.
Laurie

[Deleted]

The wheel chair would be a must have, whether for a child or an elderly parent with bad knees. Snacks that your children will eat readily. A hungry child is not very cooperative. If there is room , a change of clothes if not, at least extra socks. Rope-can be used as a tether for very small children. Keeps them out of harms way while you sit down and rest. A knife to cut the rope. Lots of band aids-think blisters and scratches. Bar of soap-it's a good disinfectant. Chap Stick. Benadryl.

Linda

[crazybarnyard]

By EMP are you referring to electromagnetic pulse? Or Emergency Medical Products?
If its the first...... hmmmm.... emp has always freakedme out since my Navy days. That's why I MOVED to the boonies:-)

[Laurieks]

Yeah an electric magnetic pulse. Some say if it happens cars will still work, others say they won't. IF it happens I am hoping our really old tractor would work. Then we could back track and pick people up.
What I read it isn't very expensive for an angry country to EMP us. The government has been preparing in case we get hit for years. I also understand there are different levels of EMP's. There are some nukes powerful enough to take out everything like cars, and weaker ones that wouldn't. But I don't know, I just figure why not be ready. A well packed emergency pack could be used for so many situations. As small as I ran out of gas to an EMP.
Good ideas Linda.

[barefootfarmer]

I was thinking one of those umbrella type strollers for your kiddo who walks slowly. I don't know how old/big your kids are, but I've seen large kids squeezed in them. If you weren't going through rough terrain it would be helpful. I kept one if my car the entire time my kids were young. Just in case the car broke down and we had to walk somewhere. A wheel chair is great- but would never fit in my vehicle. EMP has floated around in my head for a long time, too. Then I just started watching Jericho with one of my kids and it got me thinking about it again.

[Laurieks]

He is big, hes 7 but weighs 100 lbs. I wish I could fit a wheel chair in my car too. I could in our van, but with gas prices, I only drive it when I have more than 5 kids with me. Which isn't very often. I enjoyed Jericho, I just wish they had finished it. Alot of it was so corny, it made us think and laugh at the same time.

[barefootfarmer]

I guess a bike rack with some bikes wouldn't be very gas mileage friendly either?
It is a corny show- but like you said, it does get you thinking.

[kristi]

The rope and knife is a great idea. A compass ( you just never know when you may have to veer off course), a weapon, because if something like an EMP goes off people are going to act crazy and you want to protect your little ones and yourself. Get a copy of any/every important document you have and place it in a ziplock bag and place that inside a PVC tube with capped ends. Even if they're copies people will know there were originals. If you have to leave home quickly or can't get home - title to home, cars, etc. Birth certificates, marriage cert., SSN's, adoption papers, shot records, etc. Anything you can think of that would be a real you-know-what to replace and would be hard to live without. Keep this in every pack you make. That way if one pack doesn't make it for whatever reason at least one set will.

[ladyliberty]

Good walking shoes for all, and make sure they're worn in (not new) so you don't get blisters. Medications, if applicable. Good county maps of the areas you typically drive in. If your MRE's need warm water, you'll need some sort of vessel to heat it over a fire, I think. Do all your kids have school backpacks with them at all times? If so, and you got stranded and had to leave the car, you could divvy up all these supplies and have each carry a little bit.

Glad to know other people are thinking about these things too! Don't feel like such a loon now!

Carol

[Laurieks]

It is us loony's that on a trip to wal-mart think," I hope the EMP doesn't hit right now because I have flip flops on." HAha

[Faith]

I also keep a small bottle of iodine for disinfectent and to purify water if necessary. I read of a missionary in india that would put several drops (not sure on the amount, maybe someome else can chime in) in his water for 10-15 minutes before drinking it and never got sick.

I also keep several packets of Emergen C's in my backpack. You can buy them at Walmart or any health food store. They just give you more electrolytes for tough exercise. A lot of athletes use them and they are totally natural. It is amazing how many times we have used things from our emergency pack but the trick is to be sure to replace them!

[Janene]

A massive solar flare will do what an EMP will do....electronics won't work...meaning the little computer in modern cars (or any car/ATV/ mower/motorcycles, etc with electric starts).
I, too like to be prepared and try to 'think ahead'. To be prepared is better than just sit and wait and hope.

Be sure to put in the backpacks what you can carry if you leave the vehicle. Maybe a folding shovel could be added to your list to put in the vehicle.

I had to laugh at my sons' truck when we brought it back from Ft. Bragg to here last spring. DH is tall, I am short. DH couldn't get the seat moved back; kiddo had packed lots of emergency essentials behind the seat: MRE's, water, shovel and tools included. DH was gripey because we had to move all his "stuff", but I was happy (and proud of kiddo) to have it available if we needed it.
Janene

PS MRE's: I can eat them, but wouldn't want to live off them if I didn't have to!

[kristi]

A multitool, like a Leatherman, can also come in handy. As opposed to just a knife. I've used mine a LOT, and more for the pliers than the blade.

[Laurieks]

I stayed up last night reading an article about the increase in Earth quakes. Had me pretty freaked out, I had to stop reading because my husband and son are on their way to California for a deep sea fishing trip. I wanted to call my brother and family and say MOVE out fast. I grew up in California, and every year we just knew the "big" one was going to hit so I know no one really knows, but late at night your mind can really freak you out....I lived in the mountains and we were always told that someday we would have ocean front property once the big one hit.. HAha...

Great ideas everyone. I think I should name my back packs Bug In Bags, because I want them to get me home, not having to flee my house. Once hubby gets back from his trip we are going to put packs together.

[Janene]

It's really, really easy to get spooked or freak our selves out when reading some 'scenario situations'. I have come full circle and while I still now prep, I go on with what I need to do in daily life.

Living in the WHAT IF fear can really be a downer and make us doomer-gloomers--my DH had to point out how negatively it was effecting me. (Ha and he's the Pessimist, I'm the Optimist).

IF something happens, we have read up on it, and are more prepared than most of the general public. I won't say it will be an 'easy ride'; but we have a clue of what to expect and what needs done.

And honestly, I could prep 24/7 and still not be "ready". I think it's the unknown factor of exactly "what" we need to prep for. If we knew what kind of "issue" we needed to deal with, it'd make prepping much easier!

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. (And 'if' is a small, yet powerful word!)

Janene

PS We have skills---and can adapt as needed. We already know how to get many things done like the "old timers"....even though we know it's slower than modern ways. (Like not being able using a chain saw, or food processor, or electric coffee pot, etc.)