Being prepared for a disaster means having the right supplies. Because not all disasters are identical, neither are emergency kits. Car emergency kits, for instance, address roadside disasters with appropriate auto tools, lighting, and signaling devices. An outdoor emergency kit, on the other hand, is geared toward survival in the wilderness, with food and first aid being paramount.

General disaster emergency kits have all basic supplies for getting through a hurricane, earthquake, blizzard, or similar incident. Being able to sustain yourself for at least three days is important, and disaster kits are designed with this notion in mind. Although kit sizes vary, each contains food rations, water, first aid supplies, and lighting and signaling devices; a radio or blanket may also be included.

Outdoor emergency kits have similar components, only all are geared toward specific wilderness disasters. In addition to food rations, water, and lighting, such emergency kits may contain supplies for gathering food or starting a fire, first aid geared toward insect bites, navigation devices, shelter supplies, tools, and personal hygiene products.

An auto emergency, on the other hand, has its own set of complications – mainly fixing a vehicle and getting help in a dark or isolated area. As a result, car emergency kits cover auto tools, from jumper cables to towing rope to tire repair supplies, and include multiple signaling devices, such as banners, light sticks, a flashlight or lantern, or reflective triangle.

A typical emergency kit is designed to last an individual three days. But what if help takes longer to arrive? To be prepared for such an instance, you need to be ready with your own emergency preparedness kit, one that covers an extensive food and water supply and first aid. Although basic components like a flashlight, radio, and first aid kit can be purchased in one shot, food and water are typically built up over time.

These extreme disaster emergency kits include food storage and a water supply. The latter can come from a water storage tank, in which water is gathered from rain or accumulated over time. Because the water is in a raw state, a filtration or purification system needs to also be available. Food storage, similarly, begins with the basics, such as grains, beans, powdered milk, oil, and sugar, but emergency kits of freeze-dried items can compound to it. While the basic items should certainly be added to your preparedness plan, emergency food kits by Mountain House, Wise Foods, or another manufacturer can provide you with a varied supply of freeze-dried or dehydrated items that last several years, if not decades.