all kinds of survival kits

Pretty crazy goings on all along the Eastern seaboard. Hurricane Sandy is unleashing her fury on New York and New Jersey states as we speak, with Atlantic City the hardest hit so far. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has evacuated 400,000 people from Lower Manhattan, and other major cities, including Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, and Baltimore will be hit by the weather system dubbed "Frankenstorm."

So, survival kits. Those people who ride the subway wearing surgical masks to prevent airborne diseases probably have the best survival kits. Not so crazy anymore! But after watching the Red Cross rep on CP24 (Toronto News channel) describe stuff you should have in the event of an emergency situation, I realized that I have very little of said items. Did I rush out and buy a water purification tablets and flares? Nope, but I did grab some bottled water, bottled wine, Smart Food, some pillar candles, a few lighters, batteries, apple and some extra batteries. And a deck of cards. The ideal survival kit is supposed to sustain a person for 72 hours, even though I would argue that the ideal survival kit would sustain a person for as long as they need. So, I suppose the trick is to always have these items on hand, so if any disaster should occur you are prepared. But is there different kinds of kits for different kinds of disasters? Probably. Well, yes. The items required for a nuclear disaster would differ than that from say, a World War II soldiers pack, so how are you supposed to be prepared for all situations at any given time? Well, you can't. But you can go through these survival kits below and whichever you think applies to you the most, run with it! Or make a greatest hits from all the kits (that rhymed) and be ready to take on anything that comes your way:

HURRICANE

Since this one currently applies to about 60-70 million, give or take a dozen, here's some genuine hurricane survival necessities for your kit:

• At least a 3-day and preferably a 7-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day)
• Non-perishable food
• Formula, diapers, and other baby supplies
• Manual can opener
• First aid kit
• Prescription and non-prescription medicines
• Toiletries
• Cell phones and battery-powered cell phone chargers
• Battery-powered radios and flashlights
• Plenty of batteries
• Extra cash
• Blankets, sleeping bags, books, and games 

WORLD WAR III/NUCLEAR DISASTER

First thing… on this kit and all the ones below you need to have food and water. That's a given and if you need to be told that you need food or water to survive I don't think you'll make it through any of these disasters anyways.  Alright, so the main thing with a nuclear incident would be shelter since radioactive fallout can be a cold hearted shrew. Fortunately, the time line for a nuclear strike would be similar to the 72 hours in a hurricane situation (but if you can stay in an extra day or two do it) since the radioactive fallout dusts loses its intensity quickly since it emits so much energy. As a result, after 72 hours the dust is only 1/100 as strong or deadly, however you want to look at it. So bring some Yahtzee (and some food and water. Last reminder) and spend some quality time while you wait for the radiation dust to lose power by the minute!

DETAILS ON TURNING YOUR BASEMENT INTO A NUCLEAR SHELTER

[NOTE: This may seem a little uneven now since the first half was written before the storm and the second half after. Toronto was hit pretty minimally, with power outages, a tree down here, a streetcar delayed there but compared to our friends down in NYC/NJ/Mass/DC we got basically nothing, so just hopefully everyone from Haiti, to the Carolinas all the way up to Quebec City are alright. It is still good to be prepared for any kind of natural or undead crisis. In fact, according to this video, if Mitt Romney is elected then a zombie apocalypse could be inevitable]

END OF THE WORLD 2012

Since the Mayan calendar is coming to an end and December 21 is the last day on earth, a company in Mexico has come up with an end of the world survival kit called "Just In Case." Those cheeky bastards. The kit includes chocolate abuelita, which is dark chocolate lace in cinnamon covered in sugar. Apparently it will make you feel well under any circumstance. Hope they have done their research of potential circumstances. A yellow notebook to track your post-apocalyptic adventure or for those balmy winter evening it can also be used to start a fire. A simple knife is included which is a clean blade knife, with no serrated edges whatsoever. It doesn't seem quite as functional as the Swiss Army blade which has a knife, a nail file, a fork, a spoon, a corkscrew (the wine will still be good right?) and a magnifying glass to burn insects with. There is a pack of black matches to light a fire in style. While the colour of the match pointed out, it failed to indicate whether they are water proof at all. Onto the liquid. There is one litre of basic water that if rationed properly can keep you going up to ten days. When that runs out and there is no hope they were kind enough to include a Mayan Liquer called Xtabentun D'Aristi to tie one last one on. The packaging is sleek, and it actually does look quite fashionable. Unfortunately, I don't think you'd survive too long with this thing other than the warm syrupy Mayan liqueur. 

Some people take the end of the world a little more seriously, going fully McGyver with their kits. US Special Army Forces Cpt. 'Mykel Hawke' has pieced together a killer survival kit, Gary Busey style! Here's his killer list of stuff:

• Small Compass: General direction type
• Emergency Space Blanket: Lightweight, pocket type
• Emergency Poncho: Lightweight, pocket type
• Signal Whistle: Any type will do
• Wire Saw: BCB International
• Signal Mirror: One or three piece type
• Pocket Knife: Folding type w serrated blade
• LED Flashlight: Extra batteries attached to it with tape
• Orange Duct Tape: 30 inches, used for marking trails, first aid bandage
• Magnesium & Flint Fire Starter: Remove the metal striker & use the knife to strike the flint side to start your fires
• Orange Plastic Shelter: This is a 7x2.5 foot trash bag used for leaves that can be cut up and used to make a shelter, rain poncho or for signalling
• Paracord Inner Strands: Minimum 100 ft, use as fishing line, tie down, putting up shelters, snares, traps
• July 4th Roman Candle: Modified, cut down & sealed in wax to keep it waterproof along with 3 "strike anywhere" matches
• Condoms & Purification Tablets: 2 x condoms & 8 x water purification tablets (why are the condoms and tablets listed together?)
• Thick Rubber Bands: When attached together they can be used to make an improvised weapon such as a sling shot, spear gun or cross bow
• Orange Toy Punching Balloon: Can be used when blown up as a signalling device and as an improvise flotation device
• Snare Kit: 12 feet of wire along with 5 mini split rings and/or swivels for making animal traps & snares
• Fishing Kit: 20 feet of fishing line and 6 assorted hooks, swivels, and 5 screw eyelets for making an improvised fishing pole of setting up a trout line
• Cement Nails: Assorted sizes, used to making fishing and hunting spears, arrow heads
• Band Aids: Guess what for?
• Pencil Sharpener: Use it to make "paper thin" tinder sheets for starting fires
• Trick Birthday Candle: Once lit, won't blow out so it's great for starting fires when it's windy
• Wet Ones: For cleaning cut, injuries and can be used for igniting fires as well

You can check out the Cpt. Hawke's (sounds made up) survival website HERE. Pretty intense and paranoid stuff.

ZOMBIE INVASION

I'm actually to the point where I can't tell if people genuinely believe that there will be a zombie apocalypse or just some macabre fantasy taken too far. It started off simple enough, zombies appeared in George Romero's 'Dead' trilogy, the Evil Dead trilogy follow. No one really seemed to care much about at all until the remakes of Romero films came out. Then the zombie walk… followed by Pride & Prejudice & Zombies/World War Z and graphic novels. Zombies are everywhere, and despite the fact that I'm pretty sick of them, in case it does happen here are some key items. There's tons of websites out there devoted to inciting the zombie apocalypse, and even more survival kits to survive it. And, don't really buy a shotgun. I'm 99% sure there will be no zombies but if you are worried about that sort of thing here you go; from the folks over at the instructables.com:

• Shotgun; 300-600 rounds of ammo. Because you never know
• Good comfy backpack: You'll need a lot of storage for your gear
• Sleeping Bag: You will have to sleep sooner or later
• Ear Plugs: To drown out the moaning of the undead
• Red Glow Sticks: Good light source
• Hatchet or Machete: Both make great close quarters weapons & both are excellent survival tools
• Folding Shovel: Another good close quarters weapon & for digging latrines
• Local Map: Preferably a state or provincial map with roads/backroads and bodies of water
• Compass: To work with your map and help you navigate
• Self Powered Flashlight & Radio: You need to see & keep up with current events
• Rope: You'll need a lot, say a few hundred feet and make sure it's of good quality
• 8'x10' Tarp: Makes a good, quick tent
• First Aid Kit: Make sure its not a cheap one & put it in a waterproof bag that gauze won't do any good wet
• 12 Big Thick Garbage Bags: Good for everything from waterproofing your pack to making a poncho, to making a shower
• 2 Rolls of Paper Towels: Good for toilet paper & snot rags
• 2 or 3 Set of Space Clothing: Obvious reasons
• Deck of Cards & a Novel: You will get bored
• 2 Pocket Knives: The uses are endless
• Multitool: Again, they can do anything from opening cans to cutting wire
• Credit Card: Who know when you'll need plastic. And it can jimmy locks
• 4 Burlap Sacks: If you'd like to make a quick foxhole/barricade
• Waterproof Matches/Flint/Steel: You'll need fire

And I don't think any survival kit list would be complete without something from the Survivorman himself Les Stround. This actually isn't a kit of his, but a compiled list of all that handy little gadgets that were featured throughout his shows run. Take a look of Les' best gadgets HERE.

That's pretty much all I have on the survival front. Semi-informative. Semi-stupid. It happens. Anyways, again, hope everyone is coping ok down in the US and the Caribbean, and don't worry, NYC will have 'I Survived Frankenstorm 2012' shirts on the streets in no time... Be safe!