How To Make A Very Good Emergency Kit

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MONEY WELL SPENT | I can’t believe how many people I know who still have not put together a basic emergency preparedness kit. But hey, even with straight- forward easy-to-follow directions on this very website (CLICK HERE for our story on how to put together a survival kit from scratch), up until recently I was among the great unprepared. I wish I could say it was Frugalbits that prompted me to get my kit together, but it wasn’t; it was my dear friend and neighbour who showed me hers, a store-bought version from Costco.

What Comes In A Catastrophe Kit

Costco online sells a four-person / three-day emergency preparedness survival kit for $149.99 and the price includes shipping and handling. It feels like a loss leader item to me, considering everything it contains. The contents break down this way:

Sustenance: This includes water and food rations for four (with a five-year shelf life).

Warmth, Light and Communication: Among other things are thermal blankets, emergency light sticks, a wind-up flashlight/radio/alarm, whistles, a 62-piece first aid kit.

Tools: This includes leather work gloves, crowbar, nylon rope, etc.

Entertainment: Young children’s amusements and playing cards are included (CLICK HERE For the complete list of contents).

The Costco kit comes in a sturdy bag with wheels, a telescoping handle and empty pockets on the outside for adding the other stuff you are going to need.

Extra Stuff You’ll Need: Make sure you have a manual can opener; solid-sole shoes; car and house keys; prescriptions and other special needs items; cash; pet food; copies of passports and insurance policy; contact numbers. —C. Rule

Visit www.costco.ca to see all of their emergency preparedness kits.

Badge: Scouts Canada; photo: iStock

UPDATE: If you’ve checked on the Costco website and cannot find this item anywhere, it’s because stock currently stands at zero. The buyer in Ottawa says the survival kit does well for the company and Costco has no plans to discontinue it, though ongoing disasters such as Hurricane Sandy put a strain on the manufacturer to keep up with the demand. She says if it isn’t on the site when you look, keep visiting because it will pop up again.

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