A step-by-step guide for building a personalized 72-hour kit

I made my first 72-hour kit in 1999. I remember it being a big process and somewhat expensive because I went for the “all or nothing” approach. Although I did do it myself, I wish I would have had access to this e-Book, Your Own 72 Hour Kit Plan by Misty Marsh. Putting together a kit does not have to be as big a deal as I originally made it.

A 72 Hour Kit is a group of “grab-and-go” supplies that will allow you to care for your family without assistance for 3 full days. This kit is something you will use in case you need to evacuate your home because of a disaster. Misty breaks the process down into a specialized 26-week course and makes it completely do-able. You will have a functioning kit after just a few weeks and a completed kit in 26 weeks.

You will definitely be a step ahead in an emergency because most people do not take the time to plan ahead at all!

Misty says she went through Your Own 72 Hour Kit Plan book three times before she felt her emergency kits were where she wanted them to be, and she still has some items she would like to update. I agree with her suggestion that you will not get you kit “perfect” the first time through, and that preparedness is something that is constantly being updated and refined. My 72-hour kits always have some items that I think I can add to make it even better. We are never finished being prepared.

My suggestion: start where you are right now and begin. There is no need to max your budget, your wallet or your time. Taking a slow approach can still make a big impact on your emergency readiness.

Each week Your Own 72 Hour Kit Plan gives a few different options for each section. They range from really low cost – to mid-range – to expensive. She’ll point out the pro’s and con’s of each choice and why you would want to use it.

Here’s a sampling of the 26-week course.

Week 1 – Water storage – Add ½ Gallon of Water per Person to Your Kit Supplies.

Week 2 – Water purification – Add Supplies to Make Alternative Water Sources Safe to Drink

Week 3 – Plan What Food You Will Add to Your Family’s 72 Hour Kit Supplies

Week 7 – Add One Change of Clothing per Person to Your 72 Hour Kit Supplies

Week 14 – Add Sources of Light to your 72 Hour Kit Supplies.

Week 20 – Add Anything Your Babies or Young Children Will Need to Your 72 Hour Kit Supplies.

Week 23 – Decide How You Will Package Your 72 Hour Kit.

What I like about the Your Own 72 Hour Kit Plan

You don’t want a cookie-cutter 72-hour kit. Costs lots of money, but you’re not sure that what you will get will be right for your family. If you are looking for a way to get your emergency kits together and make them individualized to your family, this is the course.

If you are brand new to preparing, you are probably overwhelmed! This is the course you can follow to get a step by step approach to planning and gathering your 72-hour kit.

If you have been preparing for a while and need a nudge to get your kits finished, this is the course.

If you already have a kit, this book can still benefit you. I suggest working through the book 2-4 weeks at a time. Read her ideas and suggestions and see if there is anything you could do to improve your kit. The last chapter, “Rotate, Update, Test, and Review” will be particularly applicable to you!

This book is more than a checklist. You’ll learn the how and why, plus what has worked for many of Misty’s readers.

The price at just $9.99 is another bonus.

Misty uses Thrive Life food storage and I do too. If you are interested in building your food storage and emergency kits with freeze dried food read my Why Thrive post and take a look at the excellent choices in freeze dried food.

The Your Own 72 Hour Kit Plan E-book makes 72-hour kits simple by breaking the cost and work down into 26 small and simple steps.