Over the past week and a half, the northeast has been hit hard. Our prayers are surely with all of those without power and especially for those who have lost their homes altogether.
Disasters like these really underscore the need to be prepared for just about anything. We have posted before about emergency preparedness in more general terms, but this time we want to be a little more specific. Take a look at this Family Preparedness Survey. Even though most people believe that they have some of the skills necessary to make it through a disaster, did you know that over half of those surveyed do not own an emergency preparedness kit?
We have seen that any kind of disaster can strike anywhere at any time. Isn’t the cost of maintaining some basic emergency supplies worth the cost? Think of it as insurance. You spend a little bit now and over the course of a long period of time. You always kind of wonder why you spend money on something that you never use, but, boy, when you do need it, whatever you spent seems pretty piddling.
We have an emergency preparedness kit from the American Red Cross. It’s a backpack filled with most everything that you could need. It has a flashlight and a radio with batteries for both, a first aid kit, food and water pouches, duct tape, and even a rain poncho in case you are stuck out in the elements. You might also want to include a few other things in the bag or have them easily available. Some emergency cash, your contact list, a change of clothes, and any prescription medication should be ready to go right into the bag. If you do have to leave quickly, you can grab that bag and those other items and be ready to go at a moment’s notice. You might not be living the good life during a disaster, but you’ll be living.
We strongly encourage every one of our readers to be prepared this winter in the event that heavy snowstorms or downed limbs leave you stranded or without power. To do our part, we are happy to be able to offer one Basic Emergency Preparedness Kit to one of our readers.
Judith says
We get severe winter weather here, and the power frequently goes out – I think the radio (and the flashlight) would leave me most prepared.
Daniel M says
probably the 1st aid kit
Beth C says
flashlight
Margaret Smith says
After being without power for 8 days after Sandy, I have to go with flashlight.
Sarah Harding says
The first aid kit as we don’t have one now
ROB says
the 1st AID kit
Kathy S says
Food and water pouches
Michelle S says
We (people in general) never think about being prepared until AFTER a disaster happens.
Donna L says
I would say the water bag.
angie says
The First Aid Kit
richard morris says
the emergency radio
Jenna P says
Everything but I think the flashlight and first aid
Peggy Probus says
Everyone needs a first aid kit but I think the Comfort Sub Kit would be wonderful to have available.
Danielle says
I think the radio would be perfect!! Always good to know what is going on!!
debbie says
food and water pouches.
Michelle Dehowy says
Radio and Flash Light
Ann Fantom says
The first aid kit would leave us the most prepared
Patricia says
The water.
Sheila K. says
The radio with batteries would be good if we lost power for a long time!
corrie says
we would get the most use from the first aid kit.
Chrystal D says
My choice is the Emergency Blanket.
Diane W says
Water is the most needed item but the emergency radio will help me feel prepared.
Mary OBrien says
The duct tape – it’s so versatile, even fixes clothing in an emergency.
Dorothy Deakyne says
flashlight
Katherine says
The flashlight I cannever find one when I need it
Linda Lansford says
I want the flashlight most
Jennifer Short says
The flashlight. We went over 60 hours without heat or electric last week!
Monique Rizzo says
The first aid kit.
Thanks for the chance.
[email protected]
Jenn M. says
The radio and flashlight would be most helpful when the power goes out.
Anastasia says
The food and water! They seem to be the hardest to find in an emergency 🙂
Whitney at It's Gravy, Baby! says
The radio with batteries would definitely come in handy when we lose power.
Jessica Rose says
The Duct tape! You can never have enough Duct Tape
Christine says
the water bag
Jody Sisson says
The Radio and Batteries.
edq143 says
the flashlight would be great
Pauline M says
The first aid kit would be really nice to have.
Christian Alejandro N. says
The first aid kit! Definitely!
Jess W says
The first aid kit!
Debbie says
Radio and Flashlight are the most important. If you have those 2 items you can solve most of the problems someone will face when in an emergency.
Stephanie Larison says
The water for sure!
S says
The radio with batteries!
beth shepherd says
first aid kit
Jessica To says
The radio with batteries because the only radios I have aren’t battery operated!
elizabeth p says
We went through Hurricane Irene and water was the big issue for us.
sara m ford says
Thats so hard to say just one thing! but the water bag comes to mind first
Kyl Neusch says
water bag
Katharine Davis says
duct tape for sure – fixes most anything in an emergency
Kelly H. says
Probably the first aid kit.
Susan Chester says
The flashlight. I can never find one when I need it.
Claudia says
The food and water.
Suzanne M says
The first aid kit is always useful!
runinboise says
food and water pouches
Cody Anderson says
1st aid kit for sure
Davia says
The flashlight.
tamar says
the flashlight
Racheal S says
I think the first-aid kit is essential because it could potentially come in handy in several situations.
Michael S. says
The food and water packets. I always forget about those!
Jennifer says
The first aid kit!
Ani says
I think the food & water pouches would help me be very prepared.
Desiree Dunbar says
I’d like the First Aid Kit.
Anthony says
The first aid kit
Rnwpbriggs says
The emergency radio! I keep meaning to buy one…
Gianna says
First Aid kit.
Michelle says
The flashlight
Maryanne says
radio or flighlight
Nance Meyer says
The first aid kit!
missy says
I think the radio and food and water pouches would be most useful.This is a wonderful giveaway.Something practical that can keep your family safe.Thanks!
Adrienne says
The radio will be helpful.
April V. says
The weather radio would help us prepare!
Claire says
The radio so we could keep up to date with news.
Alison Wood says
First aid kits are always my first choice.
Melissa VandenBerg says
Such an important giveaway considering recent events! I believe in being prepared….plus with winter on its way there always the risk for power outages.
Julie says
everything is needed thanks
Gennie Lancaster says
Food, water and flashlight.
steve brown says
everything is needed
Jammie says
The weather here can get nasty, the weather radio would come in handy!
shawna says
This would come in handy!
Tanya Bartlett says
flashlight
Shannon says
Great giveaway!
Erica C. says
Everyone could use this!
Taryn Tener says
I have been wanting a kit, but did not know where to start!
Debra Hall says
i dont have any type of emergency kit
Karen says
I live in hurricane country and this would be great. Thanks for the giveaway.
JoAnn F. says
Thanks for the giveaway & Happy Thanksgiving!
jofo120 at yahoo dot com
Richard Hicks says
flash light would be most useful
brich22 at earthlink dot net
Lucy Schwartz says
It would be the flashlight and radio. the back pack is a great idea.
Jennifer Reed says
I think the water pouches would be the most important.
Karen Gonyea says
Food and Water pouches 🙂
Christy Weller says
radio with batteries
cweller752gmail.com
Cristi says
Water and first aide kit.
amy deeter says
The Radio and Batteries.
Nicole Lancaster says
The most important bag content would be the Datrex Food Packets.
dani marie says
probably the food packets… or duct tape.
melina r says
flashlilght, radio with batteries and water pouches
Melissa Nix says
I really would like the water pouches.
amanda whitley says
first aid kit
Charlene says
The first aid kit would be the most useful.
Sonya says
The water pouches and first aid kit!
Vikki Billings says
The radio with batteries
Corey Olomon says
The flash light and radio
KATHY DALTON says
the flashlight
Diane @ Me, Him And The Cats says
I think the radio with batteries. If the power goes out you still need to hear important information!
Sarah says
The food packets
LeAnn v says
I think the flashlight would be most important to me.
debbie jackson says
the emergency radio cuz i need voices
carol lewis says
Radio and food and water pouches.
Melanie Montgomery says
the radio with batteries.
s riches says
The first aid kit
Saver Sara says
The Flashlight and Radio with batteries
Sumer B. says
The first aid kit would be most useful for me.
James Coyne says
The flashlight
Tegan says
The Battery Powered Water Resistant AM/FM Radio
Deborah Wallin says
Probably the flashlight. I don’t have one right now.
Brenda Elsner says
The flash light and radio.
Breanne says
radio
kathy pease says
id most like the radio with batteries
Amy DeLong says
first aid kit and flashlight
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
Angela W says
Emergency Blanket.
Tonya Dean says
The radio! Last time we lost electricity we had no idea what was going on and that would have helped alot.
tdlsfm(at)yahoo(dot)com
Angela Cash says
The most important item for me would be the Battery Powered Water Resistant AM/FM Radio.
Linda says
The flashlight would be most important.
shirley zolenski says
Probably the radio
Tanya White says
The first aid kit because I don’t have one
Julie M says
First aid kit and flashlight.
Cassandra M says
the flashlight but this product is so good and very much needed
Bryan E. says
Thanks for the giveaway… the radio, for news & weather alerts.
Sarah Yurga says
the first aid kit – mine is incomplete