Quake Country
The last time San Francisco was hit by a major earthquake it was 1989, a 6.9 killing 63 and causing $6 Billion in damage. I’ve preached the importance of my readers being prepared for what ever natural disaster is common in their geographic area. For those reading this in Los Angeles we are way overdue for a large seismic event. Please remember to have water stores as well as the ability to purify water. Have a readily accessible earthquake kit with food, shelter, necessities as well as comfort items. If you have children put some toys, books, coloring books in there. You should prepare for ten days with out any outside assistance. This means one gallon of water per person per day for ten days. And don’t forget your animals in this equation.
While it would be convenient for any type of disaster to happen while you are at your home and have access to your earthquake kit, most likely you will not be. So you need your 72 Hour Bag in your car to give you the three days of supplies needed to get you home. I know you’ve all been procrastinating in getting this piece of the puzzle into place but it’s a crucial part of the equation.
For those of you who’ve lost or need the refresher as to what items I suggest to have in your 72 Hour Bag, here’s the list:
- Backpack
- Hydration Insert (Platypus Big Zip Recommended)
- Dust Masks in 1 gal ziplock baggie
- Micro Rocket MSR Stove
- Fuel for stove
- Fire starter: Magnesium & Steel, Matches, steel wool (at least 3 ways of making fire)
- Potable Aqua iodine pills or a filtration pump
- 9 Volt light + spare batteries (ebay 9 volt light, mine cost $1)
- Compass + Map of LA County
- Small notepad w/pencil, pen & Sharpie
- 100’ 550 Cord (Para or Mason line)
- Toiletries & Medications (personally as needed)
- Small First Aid Kit (Adventure Med Kit .7 Recommended)
- SOL Bivy Sack
- Some type of edged tool
- Wind/Rain Jacket preferably lined for warmth
- Wind/Rain pants, (Frog Togs or heavier if you routinely wear shorts to work)
- Wide Mouth H2O Bottle (the narrow mouth ones are hard to fill in shallow water)
- Bandanna (30 uses, one major use is primary water filter)
- Food, enough for 72 hours at 2000 cal per day
- Datrex 2400 Calorie pack (this is a good on the go snack for 3 days, taste like shortbread)
- Datrex Emergency Water Packets (As many as you can fit, I pack 6 but always have a case of bottled H2O in my trunk that I rotate)
- Gloves
- Spoon
- Multiplier
- Spare pair of thin wool socks (they’re good in any weather, hot or cold)
- Spare Batteries for flashlight (I carry a flashlight on set daily so these are for that. If you can get a light that uses lithium batteries, they have a shelf life of 10 years)
- Cup (large enough to boil water for the size of meals you get, 2.5 cups)
- Poncho that can be used as a tarp tent
- 2” Spare Velcro male & female 6”-1’ (It’s unbelievable what you can do with it)
- Starbuck Singles or Tea Bags (really who wants to start the day without coffee?)
- Duct Tape (Wrap 5-10’ around the Sharpie)
- Whistle
- Signal Mirror
72 Hour Bag • • • - - - • • • 