This is a comprehensive list of emergency supplies you need to survive in a disaster situation. We focused on adding healthier foods and alternative medicine items for boosting an immune system and staying healthy through difficult times. Even though this list was compiled with van lifestyle in mind, absolutely anyone can use this list.
With recent events of Coronavirus hitting the world and people panicking, buying supplies that are not necessarily that critical (bottled water and toilet paper), I spent today compiling a survival kit list. It’s especially important because my family is a few thousand miles away, and I wanted to share a comprehensive list with them and to also finalize our family emergency plan with clear actions.
I want to emphasize that putting together this list is not a reflection of panicking or fear but, rather, a final completion of my “to-do” task that has been long overdue… and I encourage you to do the same if you haven’t already. Create your own emergency kit and plan with a calm, caring, loving heart and mind. Right now the Universe is pushing us to slow down and reflect on things, treating each other with kindness and respect. This is the time for love and self-care, something that we forget to do in our busy society. Compile your emergency kit but please don’t stress out if you don’t have every single item on this list. Some items are currently sold out or are listed at much higher prices. As long as you have the intention and use this time to start taking action, you will feel more prepared and experience less fear. Let’s admit it, most of us put off this “emergency preparedness exercise” during the times when everything is well and the world is happy. So maybe NOW is a good time to finally do it!
The advantage of living in a tiny house is that we automatically become self-sufficient with our off-grid setup and great at minimizing things down to the most critical supplies. Having solar power and an efficient electrical system allows us to not worry too much about power outages. We also learn how to save water, especially when the water tank is almost empty. When we pack our van with food and supplies to go to a place with no services while having a very minimal storage space, we learn and practice the most important skill of survival – prioritizing what’s truly important.
Below is our list of survival supplies and food. And honestly, for vanlifers who often go off-grid this a handy list for every day in general! Vanlifers already have a minimalistic and critical mindset but we might just have to slightly change our daily practices. Don’t know about you, but we usually almost finish all food and water in the van before getting new supplies. To be prepared for disaster though we have to make sure there is always a separate survival kit and emergency supply of food and water, and that’s what we will be mindful of going forward.
P.S. In regards to bottled water and toilet paper: Instead of buying bottled water, invest money into a good travel filter or personal filter that can safely process water even from a river or lake. If you are staying at home and there is a possibility of losing water, fill up your bathtub or use these bags to store water in the tub. And as far as toilet paper – it seems like in emergency you can always use a reusable personal cleaning cloth (do not share it with anyone) or simply wash off with water. I grew up in Russia when toilet paper was a luxury and – seriously – we got so creative with this, even used newpapers and sometimes tree leaves (just make sure they are safe and don’t have any irritating oils).
Family Action Plan
This is very important so don’t skip this. Also, some family members may want to avoid having this conversation and feel uncomfortable talking about disaster, diseases or death, but you need to find a way to have this conversation without making everyone panicking. Maintain and update this family plan periodically, as needed or as family situation changes.
Have a family meeting to clearly outline the roles on who does what in emergency, and if time allows, do a couple of practice runs.
Prepare a written plan on how to reunite in emergency with an exact place and time to meet.
Exchange a list of important contacts from each person such as their close friends, coworkers, emergency contacts, family doctors, neighbors, etc.
Have an idea what each person in the family wants to do in case that person is in a critical health condition. It is especially important when there are children, pets, property and financial assets or liabilities.
Water:
Plan to have at least 1 gallon of water per person per day.
You need a good water filtration system or at least a personal water filter capable of removing bacteria, toxins, and all harmful substances. We use Berkey water filtration system at home and in a van and recommend you buy this system directly from the manufacturer or authorized distributor to be confident that it is a genuine quality product.
If you are in a conventional house and there is a possibility of losing water, fill up your bathtub or use this water storage kit to store water in the tub.
Temperature control and shelter:
Propane heater.
Rain poncho.
Smart wool clothes and warm socks.
Quality tent that will protect you from wind, sun and fluctuating temperatures.
Sleeping bags or emergency blanket.
Duct tape.
Power:
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Solar charger for phone and small batteries.
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Solar panels and off-grid system.
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Small power generator or a Goal Zero system if you don’t have an off-grid solar setup.
Automotive:
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Extra external fuel tanks and you can mount them using these locks.
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Maxtrax for vehicle recovery if you get stuck.
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Recovery Tow Strap in case the Matrix cannot get you out of trouble.
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Jumper cables or a battery starter. This jump starter is great because it also has a built-in air compressor!
Tools:
Multi-functional pocket knife always great for various tasks you might need to do. Also it’s good to have an additional sturdy fixed blade knife.
Mini shovel can be used to dig roots or plants, make a hole for your poop, and maybe even look for gold if you are lucky
Large camping style backpack in case you need to pack emergency things and go.
Foraging axe.
Basic toolkit with multi-tip screwdriver, crescent wrench, and hammer.
Lighting:
LED flashlight , preferably solar rechargeable.
LED headlamp with a rechargeable battery – honestly, this is our favorite thing for camping and emergencies. We don’t ever have the need for a flashlight or a lantern. It’s good to have one headlamp per person.
Beeswax long-lasting candles. Quality beeswax emits negative ions that actually cleanse the air (instead of other candles that have added fragrance and result in VOCs – volatile organic compounds in your air).
Emergency lights or lanterns with rechargeable batteries that can also store power.
Communication devices:
Emergency whistle and emergency mirror.
Short-wave radio – we don’t have one yet but will be getting one soon. Definitely need to get one with two-communication and also different ways to charge it, including dynamo crank or solar power.
Walkie-talkie.
Personal hygiene:
Anti-bacterial soap and hand sanitizer.
Shampoo.
Toothpaste or tooth oil – tooth oil is amazing for teeth and also less messy when you have limited water (compared to tooth paste). A small bottle of oil lasts a long time. You need to use this toothbrush with it. Just be aware if you have very sensitive teeth, essential oils might make you extra sensitive at least in the beginning. Also, you need to add teeth whitening solution, such as baking soda or charcoal to your routine.
Toilet paper.
Quick drying towel.
Medicine:
Work with your doctor to put together a strong emergency medicine kit. Depending on your family health conditions, you may need to add or remove items from the below list. We always default to preventative medicine and natural remedies that boost the immune system and help the body fight illnesses.
First aid kit with a reference book. Make sure the kit includes wound treatment, patch bandages, butterfly bandages, gauze, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and an ice pack. You might want a general antibiotic in there as well (even though we personally never take antibiotics but in emergency you might need it).
Vitamins and minerals – at a minimum you need to have vitamin C and vitamin D3. We also recommend magnesium and a good quality probiotic. Vitamins C and D3 orchestrate the function of the human immune system and are critical in helping the body fight infections. Consult with your doctor but generally it is safe to double or triple the usual dosage when you are sick. Magnesium has great anti-inflammatory benefits and is great for digestion, allowing food to move through intestines. And probiotic will promote a healthy gut flora and general health during the critical times.
Medicinal organic herbs – these are our top herbs: cayenne pepper, chamomile, echinacea, turmeric, ginger, medicinal mushrooms, elderberry. We usually buy organic herbs in bulk (we use them every day!) and put small quantities aside for our emergency kit. All of these herbs have incredibly powerful qualities in aiding your body to heal itself, to fight off infections and reduce inflammation.
Ginger is all around the most magical plant there is (go read about it now if you don’t already know). You can get it in powder or small dried chunks, depending on how you will use it (powder is great for adding to meals and chunks – for steeping in tea). If you can get a hold of fresh ginger, that’s even better… and it stays fresh for a long time.
Turmeric and cayenne are strong painkillers. I had a surgery a year ago and made turmeric juice and teas while recovering, and I didn’t even have to take any additional medicine.
Chamomile is relaxing and calming for the nervous system or upset stomach.
Echinacea and elderberry are great at boosting the immune system. Don’t take them for extended periods of time to avoid putting your immune system in overdrive mode.
And mushrooms such as chaga, cordyceps, turkey’s tail, lion’s maine, and many others are so good for mental health and energy, detoxifying the body, and strengthening the immune system. We love drinking mushroom coffee and mushroom tea.
Add your own favorite herbs and spices to this list because herbs won’t take much space in your emergency supply kit but the benefits are huge!! Not only these herbs are so good for the body, they will make your taste buds excited and elevate your mood. Add these herbs to your meals and teas.
Immune-boosting and infection-fighting herbal teas that contain any of the above powerful organic herbs such as echinacea, elderberry, blueberry, turmeric, chamomile, mushrooms, eucalyptus, etc. Buy loose leaf teas that contain quality herbs.
Activated charcoal capsules are very useful if you are dealing with food poisoning, vomiting, diarrhea, etc and need to detoxify quickly.
Aloe vera gel works very well on burns and skin problems and you can also use it to make your own hand sanitizer.
Arnica cream for great for trauma and muscle injuries.
Baking soda fantastic for teeth problems, gargling a sore throat (add salt to it too!), and also for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.
Essential oils – lavender, peppermint, tea tree, eucalyptus naturally clean and disinfect the air and surfaces and prevent bugs, bacteria and viruses from spreading. Diffuse them in a diffuser or oil warmer and also use them to prepare a natural cleaner to clean surfaces. We always have a small bottle of each of these oils.
Lavender smells amazing, promotes relaxation and helps with anxiety and improving sleep. It is also one of the most powerful anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory oils. It is completely safe to diffuse around children and pets.
Peppermint is incredible at repelling insects and rodents and eliminating bacteria. This is one of the best antiseptic anti-bacterial oils.
Tea tree is another powerful antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antifungal oil. You can also use it topically as skin care to treat acne and skin eczema.
Eucalyptus is essential for respiratory system issues, sore throat, long-lingering cough and pneumonia. You can diffuse it together with peppermint oil or prepare a chest rub by adding a few drops to a carrier oil (such as olive oil or almond oil). It works best if you put warm water in a bowl and add a few drops of eucalyptus and peppermint, close your eyes, cover your head with a towel over this bowl and slowly inhale and exhale. Make sure to add a few drops of oil only; otherwise, it will be too strong.
Oscillococcinum is honestly our most favorite homeopathic medicine for flu-like symptoms and we always carry some with us. It has prevented us from getting sick so many times! You should use it the first signs of getting sick or scratchy throat.
Propolis spray – we can’t live without it. Spray it at the back of your throat at the first signs of infection. This is the best prevention and relief for a sore throat and feeling “under the weather”. You can also get propolis drops.
Advil or ibuprofen – we always use natural remedies as anti-inflammatory or pain-reliving but it is good to have a couple of pharmaceuticals too, just in case.
Your medication (if you are on medication).
Food – Non-perishables
Make a list of your favorite food items that are high in fat and protein because it is so important to support your body during the emergency or sickness. Try to stick with real and organic food and less of processed food. We usually avoid eating anything canned for health reasons but we actually have a few cans of highly nourishing food in our emergency kit.
This is a pretty comprehensive long list of food and we don’t necessarily have everything on it at all times, although we try to have at least one or two items of each type.
Organic highly nutritious healthy grains and legumes – such as rice, chick peas, green peas, quinoa, kidney beans, lentils, buckwheat, noodles, oats, etc.
Dehydrated or freeze-dry veggies, fruits and meals. REI has an amazing selection of complete camping meals. You can also use your own dehydrator to prepare these in advance.
Canned fruit and veggies.
Canned soups, meals and beans (in addition to dry beans in case there is water shortage)
Canned meats such as salmon, tuna, herring, sprats, ham, chicken, etc
Chicken broth, bone broth, or vegetable broth in shelf-stable packaging.
Jerky – beef, turkey, salmon, etc.
Granola bars.
Ghee, avocado oil, and olive oil – you will need oils for cooking and also to add to meals as nutritious fat.
Lemons (dry or fresh) – lemons have amazing anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. properties. They are also high in vitamin C, which is important for boosting the immune system. They also smell so good and stay fresh a long time. If you can’t store fresh lemons, get dried organic lemon peel.
Ginger – fresh ginger lasts a long time or you can also get dried pieces. Ginger has incredibly strong healing, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral properties and is essential at the time like this at combatting flu, cold, and other viral diseases. Steep ginger tea or simply chew a piece of fresh ginger.
Coconut milk – this is honestly our favorite! Coconut milk is incredibly nutritious and if you ever run out of all other food, you can survive for a while on just coconut milk. There are so many recipes and uses you can find online. Our favorites are 1) making overnight oats and chia seeds in coconut milk with a bit of honey or maple syrup and 2) hot cocoa made from scratch with organic cocoa powder, honey and coconut milk. It will keep you full and feeling happy.
Nuts and nut butter – nuts are highly nutritious and pack an incredible amount of vitamins and minerals, preventing many diseases. A small amount will keep you feeling full and satisfied.
Honey – it is so incredibly rich in anti-oxidants and helps to combat diseases. Combine it with royal jelly, propolis and bee pollen, and you’ve got the most powerful food medicine ever. Use high quality sustainably harvested raw honey. Be mindful of your allergies and health condition.
Mustard (dry or shelf stable), horseradish (fresh root or dry powder), garlic, onion – these are natural remedies against most bacterial or viral illness in so many cultures. I remember my grandmother always put mustard on our feet when we were sick, and we ate garlic and onion until the whole body smelled like it. That would always make cold and flu go away in two seconds!
Chia seeds – they are highly nutritious and so packed with fat and fiber, you would not expect that from tiny lightweight seeds. The trick is to soak them in coconut milk or even water.
Cocoa powder – it is highly nutritious, has a ton of antioxidants and rich in flavanols that fight cell damage. But the best cocoa’s superpower is that it boosts endorphins, making us us feel naturally positive and uplifted, which in the disaster times is extremely important. Make a nourishing hot chocolate or add it to your oatmeal and you will instantly feel better.
Vinegar – you can get apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. It has many digestive and preventative benefits so it is great to add to food. We also use vinegar as a natural cleaner as it removes microbial contamination and cuts grease really well. Mix vinegar with water (ratio of 30/70) to prepare a great veggie and fruit wash; soak for a few minutes and all waxes, pesticides, dirt and bacteria are gone!
Gelatin – it is incredibly nourishing during illness and it’s great to add to meals as thickening agent that will make you feel more satisfied. Gelatin is fantastic for bones, connecting tissue and gut health.
Alcohol – get a little bit of alcohol, preferably clear such as vodka or gin. You can use it to drink in a small amount to warm up, to rub in case of emergency, make your own hand sanitizer, and to disinfect surfaces. Remember that drinking alcohol when the immune system is down will further weaken the immune system and your body will be more susceptible to infections.
Cooking Tools:
Collapsible stove that works with propane fuel.
Extra propane, matches, fire starter.
Potentially firewood.
Stainless steel cooking pots and pans, utensils.
Important documents:
Put these items in waterproof & fireproof safe or a bag.
All original important documents (legal, passport, bank and financial, tax, insurance, medical, life insurance, auto, house, will, etc)
Wallet with credit and debit cards.
Enough cash to survive for a few weeks.
Your hard drives, computer, phone.
Rotate items in your emergency kit every 3 to 6 months – especially foods, essential oils, emergency kit items, and everything with an expiration date.
Please share your tips and items in your emergency kits with the community by commenting below.
Stay safe, healthy, and positive! Remember that the mind is powerful and that we act irrationally when we are stressed or anxious. Have a plan and stay calm! Meditation, reading books you have been putting off, re-connecting with your inner self and your loved ones (even if on the phone or while keeping physical distance) will keep you, your mind and your heart healthy and happy.
Much love!
Here’s ar van camper and traveling-related post you might enjoy!
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