When I served in AmeriCorps from 2015-2016, we because certified in Community Emergency Response Training and it really showed me how important it is to be prepared. We have our emergency kits, which are in backpacks, in our entry way closet and we also include extra dog food and our dogs' medical records in case of an emergency!
Karen Perez yes I do one per person though it's only my boyfriend and I. We have the same jugs of water you see in this video and those are not in the backpacks. If you have young children I would just suggest putting the heavier items in your backpack versus there's. :)
After Hurricane Matthew here in NC, we learned a great trick of putting a dollar tree glow stick in a bottle of water to make a nightlight for the kids. The glow stick will last pretty much all night and helps with the pitch dark that comes along with having no electricity!! We were without for 3 nights after Matthew and a pack of glow sticks and two water bottles sure helped make the nights a little more bearable with our two littles.
YES, shoes! A former colleague lost her home in the West Liberty KY tornado in 2012. She and family members barely made it to the basement before everything was leveled except for the chimney. Everything happened so fast that she only had one shoe, and they didn't have any supplies in the basement. Everything was covered in glass, splinters and debris. I've had a kit with the FEMA supplies, clothes, and one month of EXTRA Rx in the basement ever since. I rotate the Rx out with fresh medication every month when I have it filled at the pharmacy. I also keep my folding card table set with 4 chairs in the basement in case we get stuck down there for a while.
Thanks for all the tips and ideas. I learned as a kid in girl scouts, if you put the matches in melted wax, and let dry- it will keep them waterproof. The wax comes off when you strike it. Great for camping or an emergency. Thanks again! Love the Dollar Tree and your family! So precious
Angie Barrera how low does the wax go? I would imagine for those small matches you'd probably get wax on your fingers pretty quickly so is this for kitchen sized matches only?
Oh man - it's been so long since I've made them truthfully. But from what I remember - with one group we only dipped the tips, but with another group, I think we threw the whole match in there and pulled it out with something. The 2nd way, I think would work better so the wood doesn't get wet either. You can always scratch the wax off easily when you need it.
I'm SURE this is the most beneficial video I've ever watched on UA-cam. Thank you so much for sharing! All of you (us) with pets...don't forget about them! They need emergency kits as well. Be blessed!
This is just superb, I've been looking for "emergency preparedness store" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you heard people talk about - Reffailarly Translucent Preparation - (should be on google have a look ) ? Ive heard some amazing things about it and my mate got excellent results with it.
Appreciate Video clip! Excuse me for chiming in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you considered - Proutklarton Crisis Away Plan (Sure I saw it on Google)? It is a good exclusive product for surviving and preparing for a disaster without the hard work. Ive heard some awesome things about it and my mate after many years got great results with it.
You should do an emergency car kit video as well! We take out the wintery items when it becomes warmer. No one wants to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with absolutely nothing!
This video inspired me! when I was shopping for a friend's baby gift, I kept wracking my brain...then it occurred to me the same day of watching this! I made a baby travel and mini emergency kit using some supplies from the DT and CVS: baby shampoo, disposable bibs, small trash bags, boogie wipes, sealable plastic storage box, bulb suction, baby Tylenol, honest lavendar breath easy rub, gas drops, baby wipes. They loved the gift, thanks so much for the ideas!
Nuts are tempting but will go bad (rancid) much faster than other foods. Single servings of almond butter or peanut butter will usually last longer and are easy to add to crackers or whatever. We packed ramen noodles in our bags because while they could be cooked you can also just eat the noodles raw in the brick with some peanut butter spread on it. They are lightweight (in case you have to hike out and can't drive), cheap & last a really long time. Freeze dried meals are also awesome because they have a 20+ year shelf life if unopened so in the long run you are spending less and don't have to change out the food as often. We check our bags every 6 months (Oct and April) and change out clothing (so it's seasonally appropriate) and check expo dates.
Thanks I've been telling my hubby for months that we need an emergency kit. This along with what's going on around us absolutely confirms that I need to get busy putting one together
I live in a rural suburb... Our Dollar Tree is okay, not great. If I drive 40 minutes to the metro area they have like mega Dollar Trees. They're at least twice as big and the selection is insane. Ours only has one or two choices for any type of item. Is there a bigger city you could drive to? It's probably worth the gas if it's not too far away
What I love about this is her experience with dollar tree products. She knows what is good and what isn't like those candles for example. Thanks for the video!
Great idea and super great timing! Just had several tornado warning and watches in Georgia! Hopefully you'll never have to use it but it's so smart to be prepared!!!
Thank you! I just spoke with my husband during your video about an emergency kit and we are going to make one. You may remember that flood a year ago in October where drinking water was a MUST have. Thanks for the extra push to get this done. Everyone needs a bug out bag just in case.
Kathryn, thank you so much for this video! My husband and I live in GA and we had severe tornado warning most of last week. This is so so helpful and budget-friendly. I'm going to start pick up some of the items you mentioned. Be blessed!
Those Betty Crocker scissors are amazing! I could not believe how great the quality was since they are from the Dollar Tree. We have a pair from about two years ago and we use them for kitchen stuff (they cut meat very well, but I would recommend having a second pair just for food), cutting open packages, you name it!
Add a wide marking pen, so if you have to relocate, you can leave a message on the door or wall. Also, what are you going to cook with? Cold canned meals are edible, but there are small butane stoves one can pack. Plates, cups, utensils are also necessary unless you want to eat with your fingers. A whistle is helpful if you want to be heard and need help.
Great video! We have the supplies but they are not in a tote ready to go, I always figured we would be stranded here but it is smart to have it portable too! Have a great weekend Kathryn!
This was a great video! My family and I had to evacuate during the flooding in Louisiana last July (by boat, atv/trailer and then helicopter to a shelter). It is so smart that you put everything in plastic bags. We took what we could but everything was soaked. So smart. Thanks for the tips!
It's really great that you did this video. Even the basics that are essential for a 72 hour period most people simply do not have. Hopefully this gets more people to be prepared and to be safe. Emergencies and things do happen, lights can go out, you could lose your job etc etc. By just making some basic plans and putting in some simple steps, like a 72 hour kit you can reduce the stress, risk and threats that come with any event. Be safe and be prepared.
Love this! One thing to keep in mind is that some water bottles will leak after time. I store my emergency supplies in my laundry room since I don't have a garage in my condo. Guess I kept the water too long and the bottles eventually leaked and I thought I had a leak and called the plumber. We both got a laugh when he found that one of my gallons of water had started leaking! haha!
Great video! Alabama has tornadoes pretty much several times a year. It's so important to be prepared! I know this is a kit for after something has happened, but it's advised to wear bike helmets while waiting out tornado warnings. I've lived in the South all my life and have waited out many warnings. Our state was hit hard in 2011 but thankfully we we were not hit. My husband and son cooked and served meals in the hard hit areas for weeks with a group from our church. Before an emergency occurs, go through the safety plan with your children. They won't be so alarmed and will feel in control . We went through this with our kids. Now they are grown and know what to do in case of emergencies. I don't understand why anyone would give a thumbs down to this video?! They are the ones that need this the most. Tfs!
I've been watching for the last 2 years and this is my first time commenting. Big big Thank You for the quality content and added value. This has been on my To Do list for a long time but this definitely motivated me to get it going. Keep up the amazing work! Btw, I notice you haven't made any video's on the pens at dollar tree. They have some quality pens. :)
sukhum hing thank you so much for taking the time to comment, Sukhum! And for being a part of the DIOAD community-- you rock! They really do have some great pens! Hugs!
You are so smart! Very useful information since I live in Georgia. We've just had two days of tornado, high winds, flood conditions, hailstones, and tons of rain. Thank goodness, we were spared everything except the storms, wind and rain. Everyone should have these kits.
Katherine, Totally loved your video!! Thanks !! One might also consider an "Emergency Weather Alert Radio"... it is not for the emergency kit ... however it is to be used in home 24/7... It is a great safety back up for extreme and emergency weather alerts, especially when those alerts come at night while we are sleeping, and our phones and tv's and other electronics are off or in sleep mode. The EMERGENCY WEATHER ALERT RADIOS will sound off for emergency weather alerts and give advanced warning so that we have time to seek safety for ourselves, families, pets and other loved ones. I lived in Dallas Texas for 4 years and on several occasions my home area was literally surrounded by tornadoes that came within 3-10 miles of me. But I was safely sheltering because I had advanced warning in the middle of the night. I have lived in Florida for several years now and I cannot overstate how much peace of mind I have due to my emergency weather ALERT radio. They can be purchased in big box stores, on amazon etc ... are usually $30-$50, plug into wall outlet and also have battery back up. Wishing you all happiness, preparedness and always safe journeys 🤗👣🕊🌟😊🌈😊
I totally agree. I live in Indiana and tornados and severe weather are very common. We're always prepared, but I hadn't thought about the clothes. Thanks for the great info.
You need 2 gallons of water per person per day, 1 for drinking, 1 for hygiene and medical. You also need extra shoes, high quality shoes that you can walk in. You also are gonna want family medical records and other important document. Family photos are good. Don't forget that you always need an out of state contact. Store the batteries of your flashlight(s) backwards so they don't drain over time. The bleach could be used to purify water. 1 teaspoon to a gallon of water and let the water sit over night. You're gonna need a mirror as well, for signaling. There's a lot of other stuff you missed, as well.
The video is meant to cover emergency items. Things like records and photographs are not essential survival items. If you have only minutes or seconds to get to safety, grabbing a bin( or backpacks as many people opt for) is all one might be able to manage. Focusing on including other non-essential items is not practical. Create a separate bin or container to store those items in order to keep them protected. Better yet, SCAN all your important documents and photographs and store them on a USB which you can keep with you and takes up no space at all.
The hand crank radio is a must! Especially if it has a phone charger on it. We got stuck without power for 3 days, our apartment's garage wouldn't open so our cars were trapped and our phones all died.
My dad is a firefighter/paramedic and he has a lot of medical stuff in our kit. He even has IV needles and saline bags in case someone were to pass out or something. We also make sure to have a lot of gas for our generator and lots of lanterns.
Great video, thanks for making and sharing! Every family should have these kinds of kits ready. Even in a city things happen like kitchen fires, and blown pipes, and storm damage, where we might have to bug out for a couple days. We have always put in 1 or 2 sets of clothing (t shirt, long sleeve shirt, pants, socks, underwear) in plastic bags.
My mother in law gifted us something similar years ago - I've since decluttered most of it since we didn't keep up with it but I love the idea of updating it when you do the smoke detectors.
I'm a Dollar store junkie for a lot of things like band-aids and some medical stuff so I really enjoyed this video. Dollar Tree stuff actually does have alot of things that are great for a just a dollar that can help you save on your kits. Thanks for the video!
This is such a great idea! I live in the south as well and you never know when the sirens are going to go off! This is something I definitely need for my family! Great idea!!!
I am so impressed how organized and precise you are at each detail. It literally makes me want to run out to the dollar store and build a kit. You are so talented! Praise God for your God Given Talents! Sweet video with your precious family!
Thanks for reminding us of this stuff. We all know this, but who literally takes the time to actually do this. Thanks so much, now it's on my "To Do" list.
It's good to have an emergency kit in the home and car. I live in central TX and while we don't get very many tornados, we do experience power outages and flooding from time to time. The emergency car kit is handy in the event your stranded on the side of the road without cellphone service or Heaven forbid a traffic jam that's going to take a couple of hours to clear up. There were times when we had to camp out at a parking lot because the roads were flooding near our home while we were and about and TX DOT was closing roads faster than popcorn popping in a microwave.
a couple of other things you may want to include: - batteries - blankets - books - hand warmers - pencil and paper - chapstick - lotion - soap and shampoo - extra shoes and socks - some ziplock bags - an extra backpack - any specific medicines you or your family may need - tape - feminine products - sewing kit - special keepsakes/photos - an extra phone charging cord - string or rope - a mirror - important documents - a portable charger - hairbrush - toothbrush and toothpaste - playing cards - extra cash i understand that some of these items aren’t completely necessary, but i hope that this helped :)
Thanks Kathryn! This is a must for everyone, whether you think you need it or not. It never hurts to be prepared for whatever calamity may come. Great job in the presentation. I might try that Dashlane myself. TFS and have a wonderful weekend. Hugs to the fam. ~ Josie :)
Thanks for putting this video together. Over the last couple of years we have had lengthy blackouts in the summer in our area. A kit like this would be great to have.
Thanks so much for this video. I have added this to my to do list this weekend. My husband and I moved to the Charlotte area a little over a year ago from New England and these storms are really hard to get used to. We love everything else about it here but the threat of tornados is so scary.
I just spent the last year completing my bug out bag and 72 hour bug in kits. The dollar store is a great place to start, especially if you're on a budget. BUT there are some items worth getting high quality products for. Flashlights, batteries, radios, a camp stove, and first aid are worth spending more money on. You think you'll never need to use it, but when you do you'll want to be sure it's going to work. I recommend The Urban Prepper to get some amazing expertise on this topic.
Just a tip on the water though. You can get a tool called a life straw (that cleans any water) or water tablets. Much easier to carry than big gallons of water :)
I love how high quality, gets to the point, and informational video this is! Very well organized too! I must say that your dollar store is very good and is packed with everything! My dollar tree is not very organized or stored. I had no idea other dollar trees had all those items
this is a great video! I think anyone living anywhere can benefit from this kit. if their problem is not tornadoes like us in the south, it might be power outages due to snow/ice storms or hurricanes etc. this is definitely applicable to everyone.
I was once without electricity for TWO WEEKS after a Hurricane! So, I prepare for Hurricane season (which is June 1st -Nov 30th) NOW to avoid the mad rushes at the stores by those that wait at the last minute! Thanks for some great ideas
Great video. I live in FL and had to evacuate during hurricane Matthew. Lost power for 4 days also. I am going to definitely put together one of these. Also, could not have made it through without a portable cellphone charger. Your family is adorable. Thanks
We don't get tornadoes here (UK) - high winds and lots of rain are a weather feature! I guess our biggest weather problem is flooding! My family live on a hill so we're ok from the local river overflowing its banks! Still this video has got me thinking that a good first aid kit would be beneficial to have! (In work, I'm on the first aid team so no excuses!). Thanks for taking the time to make these videos!
The only thing I would suggest is to put the candles in a zip lock bag because sometimes in the south the garage gets super hot and they melt. If the shelf gets bumped they could spill and ruin your kit. Love your videos!
I'm from England and I can't think we get anything other than flooding but I've been watching loads of American videos and I now know how to survive situations I won't be in
I would invest in a water filter. Sawyer makes a few, or you can get the lifestraw and actually drink from a puddle or stream. Amazon sells the straws. Walmart has the water filters in the camping section. Clean Water is a must. Having cash on hand as well, if electricity is out, ATMs won't work. I have a preparedness channel on UA-cam if you'd like to see some more videos. Glad to see you have a great start!
Dollar stores in America have so much more stuff than the ones were I live! It's so cool how you can buy food, first aid stuff and kitchen supplies there.
Thank you so much for this video! I've never done this before but we moved to Nashville this year and after the recent tornadoes we are going to put a kit together.
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing. I was just thinking about Redoing our emergency kit when we were standing outside in super high winds at the bus stop this morning lol
tfs, very timely. (sorry this is so long! 😉) Here in middle Ga two days this week alone our entire state was under seige from tornadoes, straight wind shears, lightning strikes causing house fires, falling trees, power outages. I used the time while keeping eye on tv weather reports to do a practice run in case we had an emergency. I started packing our 'grab & run' backpacks but soon became overwhelmed and scared. If we dont have to evacuate we're good, but if we have to run then we are screwed. My 88 yr old DH has enough medical gear to fill up our handicap van & is impossible to pre-pack. I'm not leaving my home without my personal valuables - cell phone & laptop with their chargers & headphones, medicine bag, well stocked first aide kit; a secret pouch where i keep checkbook, cash, fave pcs of jewelry, my Bible, planner, ... we keep a deskpad calender on the fridge with our life on it (command central) that would be impossible to pack so i'm trying to figure out how to downsize it to travel size. I went thru every room deciding what is irreplaceable and wrote each one on a list that i will keep copies of in my planner and backpacks. With Dh, myself, two dogs, one cat ALL dependent on just ME to get everything together & all of us to safety is overwhelming. There are different degrees of urgency in emergencies too. If lightning sets the house on fire it only gives us moments to get out without grabbing much of anything. Having an hour warning from the weather reports that tornadoes are coming gives us more time to evacuate with more of our essential gear. If our neighbors giant tree that already leans our way should fall on our house we will have to stay somewhere else and theres certain things we dont want looters to steal, so those items are on my list too. It is impossible to be prepared for every emergency, but every little bit helps.
Luci lights are really great for like, everything. They're solar powered but they actually work, unlike most solar lights I've tried, and most are under $20. They have more expensive ones that you can charge with a USB charger, or you can charge with solar power then charge your devices with them (equivalent to a solar panel and battery pack). Those are like $35. They're all really durable and waterproof or water-resistant and they float, then fold flat when you aren't using them. Seriously they're amazing
Hey chickie....I have thought for a long time now to put together an emergency kit for a "just in case" moment.... Super great idea.... Keep it coming.... Love how the fam is in the videos.... Keep safe and be blessed.
Awesome video - as I listen to the crazy wind we are having today just north of you in VA! We have a kit (though I see I am missing a few items) and replace the food every year... then we just use whatever we took out of the kit before it expires, or donate some to a local shelter if it isn't something we will be using. (One can only eat so much ravioli and canned peaches at a time!) Thanks for this great reminder!
How funny that I ran across your channel. I'm making these for Christmas this year. I would suggest a small hatchet as well as a crow bar. I'm in CA so if we every have an earthquake, a crow bar is strongly recommended to be able to pry yourself out of a room if the door is jammed. So many other items can be stored but this is a great starting point. Thank you for this.
We live in the Midwest, there for get almost every weather condition. We have an emergency kit in our basement in case of tornado. Some food, water, snacks, kid stuff (diapers, clothes, blanket), flash lights, some other things similar to what you have mentioned. Last spring my husband was out of town for work when tornadoes were in our area. At the time I had a 2 year old and 6wk old. I hadn't updated our kit w/ things for our youngest so I was running around trying to grad anything I may have needed for him. I now update our kit every season. Once the kids are older I will probably go back to updating bi yearly or yearly. We also have an paper "evacuate" box, that has important paperwork like insurance info, birth certificates and medical need info. If there is ever an emergency, fire, or national disaster where we need to leave the house asap the box is just a quick grab. We keep it in a central location in our house.
Perfect timing thank you for this! I'm on a military base in Japan and we have a NEO evacuation drill coming up soon and I don't know how long we'll be away from home so I want to be prepared! Awesome video!
Thank you for sharing this, it's informative and a must have for whatever state you live in...emergencies don't care about locations! I love that you did it on a inexpensive budget!
I love this! I'm trying to get prepared for my little family, so this was perfect to see how many things I can grab from the dollar store! You do dollar store videos all the time that I think, "gosh, that's genius!" And then I forget to actually do it haha. So thank you for the reminder every time you do a dollar store video! I'm going out this weekend to get our 72 hour kit set up!!
This is excellent! I was going to spend close to $200 for one 72 hour kit just for food but it seems more economical to make my own and include other supplies.
It might be good to take a few of those cellphone recharge packs, I have two now because of Christmas, I use one and have the other in the supply kit; but leave it in there so although you are only using the phone for emergencies cold/heat can make the phone die quickly and it could be useful!
We went 12 LONGGGG days without power back in 2003! Isabel came through on September 19th. We were lucky enough to have a generator! So,72 hours wouldn't have even touched what we needed. We took my in laws ice(from our fridge)and gave our neighbors a drop cord and they had a fan & a light! Thankfully,we were all safe. We didn't have any property damage....unfortunately,my husband's sister & her husband lost their garage to a HUGE TREE! Again,what is most important is,WE WERE ALL ALIVE AND WELL! Also,don't forget to prep for your pets too. Don't forget your medications. Put ALL important papers (Titles,birth certificates,marriage license,Life insurance policy info)
Thank you so much! We had a power outage last night and all of flashlight batteries were dead and I was in the middle of cooking dinner. Not prepared and went to sleep hungry lol! Putting this emergency pack together this morning!!!!
Thanks for the awesome tips and video!! I am currently in the process of making a kit like this for my family also. spring 2015 we went through the biggest natural disaster in Canadian history, Fort Mcmurray, Alberta wild fire. We were not prepared at all and we were out of our house for 9 weeks. Fire season is upon us so in the unfortunate event something may happen again I want to be prepared!! Thanks again, love from Canada 🇨🇦
When I served in AmeriCorps from 2015-2016, we because certified in Community Emergency Response Training and it really showed me how important it is to be prepared. We have our emergency kits, which are in backpacks, in our entry way closet and we also include extra dog food and our dogs' medical records in case of an emergency!
Good idea with the medical records. Adding that to our kit! Thank you!!
Do It on a Dime absolutely! Thanks for such a great video!
KClark thanks for this tip! do you make one back pack per family member?
I love the backpack idea because it is easier to carry.
Karen Perez yes I do one per person though it's only my boyfriend and I. We have the same jugs of water you see in this video and those are not in the backpacks. If you have young children I would just suggest putting the heavier items in your backpack versus there's. :)
KClark
After Hurricane Matthew here in NC, we learned a great trick of putting a dollar tree glow stick in a bottle of water to make a nightlight for the kids. The glow stick will last pretty much all night and helps with the pitch dark that comes along with having no electricity!! We were without for 3 nights after Matthew and a pack of glow sticks and two water bottles sure helped make the nights a little more bearable with our two littles.
Shoes....everyone forgets extra shoes, household records and photos in case you are separated
Tammie T yes!! Great tips. Excellent idea with a hard copy of a current photo as well.
Tammie T also a sports bra, and emergency can happen at night Webb you are sleeping! Imagine how uncomfortable it would be if you didn't have one on!
YES, shoes! A former colleague lost her home in the West Liberty KY tornado in 2012. She and family members barely made it to the basement before everything was leveled except for the chimney. Everything happened so fast that she only had one shoe, and they didn't have any supplies in the basement. Everything was covered in glass, splinters and debris. I've had a kit with the FEMA supplies, clothes, and one month of EXTRA Rx in the basement ever since. I rotate the Rx out with fresh medication every month when I have it filled at the pharmacy. I also keep my folding card table set with 4 chairs in the basement in case we get stuck down there for a while.
Lesilie Lesilie kkkki
Kayla Dróz
She added that. If you couldn't see, she had some deodorant and things like that in the first aid I think. :)
Thanks for all the tips and ideas. I learned as a kid in girl scouts, if you put the matches in melted wax, and let dry- it will keep them waterproof. The wax comes off when you strike it. Great for camping or an emergency. Thanks again! Love the Dollar Tree and your family! So precious
Angie Barrera how low does the wax go? I would imagine for those small matches you'd probably get wax on your fingers pretty quickly so is this for kitchen sized matches only?
Angie Barrera wow great tip! I never knew that!
Oh man - it's been so long since I've made them truthfully. But from what I remember - with one group we only dipped the tips, but with another group, I think we threw the whole match in there and pulled it out with something. The 2nd way, I think would work better so the wood doesn't get wet either. You can always scratch the wax off easily when you need it.
you can even dip the matches in clear nail polish
I should be ashamed of myself. I've been procrastinating since Katrina. And my family was directly affected. I need to get my kit together!
I'm SURE this is the most beneficial video I've ever watched on UA-cam. Thank you so much for sharing! All of you (us) with pets...don't forget about them! They need emergency kits as well. Be blessed!
Yes, don't forget our furry friends! I was happy to see that FEMA put animals on the checklist. Have a great weekend!
Nora Williams . I have a dollar tree sieres and I plan on a few more videos including pets
Really good
This is just superb, I've been looking for "emergency preparedness store" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you heard people talk about - Reffailarly Translucent Preparation - (should be on google have a look ) ? Ive heard some amazing things about it and my mate got excellent results with it.
Appreciate Video clip! Excuse me for chiming in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you considered - Proutklarton Crisis Away Plan (Sure I saw it on Google)? It is a good exclusive product for surviving and preparing for a disaster without the hard work. Ive heard some awesome things about it and my mate after many years got great results with it.
You should do an emergency car kit video as well! We take out the wintery items when it becomes warmer. No one wants to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with absolutely nothing!
Kenedeigh Goins PLEASE KATHERINE! I agree!
Kenedeigh Bara lol
My parents we gifted to two for Christmas so now we have one per car as well as first aid kits
This video inspired me! when I was shopping for a friend's baby gift, I kept wracking my brain...then it occurred to me the same day of watching this! I made a baby travel and mini emergency kit using some supplies from the DT and CVS: baby shampoo, disposable bibs, small trash bags, boogie wipes, sealable plastic storage box, bulb suction, baby Tylenol, honest lavendar breath easy rub, gas drops, baby wipes. They loved the gift, thanks so much for the ideas!
Nuts are tempting but will go bad (rancid) much faster than other foods. Single servings of almond butter or peanut butter will usually last longer and are easy to add to crackers or whatever. We packed ramen noodles in our bags because while they could be cooked you can also just eat the noodles raw in the brick with some peanut butter spread on it. They are lightweight (in case you have to hike out and can't drive), cheap & last a really long time. Freeze dried meals are also awesome because they have a 20+ year shelf life if unopened so in the long run you are spending less and don't have to change out the food as often. We check our bags every 6 months (Oct and April) and change out clothing (so it's seasonally appropriate) and check expo dates.
So smart to have an Emergency Kit! Seems like an essential every home & even car should have! We need to create one of these asap!
Like back then it be just called common sense stuff to have
Thanks I've been telling my hubby for months that we need an emergency kit. This along with what's going on around us absolutely confirms that I need to get busy putting one together
my Dollar Trees suck!! They do NOT look like yours!
I agree. Ours is nothing like the ones I see in your videos or others. What's up with that!
I live in a rural suburb... Our Dollar Tree is okay, not great. If I drive 40 minutes to the metro area they have like mega Dollar Trees. They're at least twice as big and the selection is insane. Ours only has one or two choices for any type of item. Is there a bigger city you could drive to? It's probably worth the gas if it's not too far away
Lmao
It’s because she’s “rich rich” lol
Try 5 and below
here bc a 7.1 mag earthquake occured in california right now
glad i’m not the only one 😔
me too sis
Same dude
Sameee bro
Prepare guys
What I love about this is her experience with dollar tree products. She knows what is good and what isn't like those candles for example. Thanks for the video!
Wait...wait... Did someone say...
A DOLLAAAA?!?!?!?
SarahAndMore A DOLLA??? A DOLLAAA
WATAAAA.... FO AA DOLLLAAAA???
SarahAndMore lol
For a... DOLLAA
LIZZA YASSSSSSSSSS
Great idea and super great timing! Just had several tornado warning and watches in Georgia! Hopefully you'll never have to use it but it's so smart to be prepared!!!
Stay safe!! Yes-- have it to hope we will never have to use. Have a great weekend
You too girl! xo
Mrs. W I live in South Carolina. I'm a little curious, are you okay?
Mrs. W I also live in georgia wassup
Thank you! I just spoke with my husband during your video about an emergency kit and we are going to make one. You may remember that flood a year ago in October where drinking water was a MUST have. Thanks for the extra push to get this done. Everyone needs a bug out bag just in case.
our family has a kit, we rotate our food and water every year. don't forget your women's hygiene stuff, pads, tampons.
Kathryn, thank you so much for this video! My husband and I live in GA and we had severe tornado warning most of last week. This is so so helpful and budget-friendly. I'm going to start pick up some of the items you mentioned. Be blessed!
Those Betty Crocker scissors are amazing! I could not believe how great the quality was since they are from the Dollar Tree. We have a pair from about two years ago and we use them for kitchen stuff (they cut meat very well, but I would recommend having a second pair just for food), cutting open packages, you name it!
Add a wide marking pen, so if you have to relocate, you can leave a message on the door or wall. Also, what are you going to cook with? Cold canned meals are edible, but there are small butane stoves one can pack. Plates, cups, utensils are also necessary unless you want to eat with your fingers. A whistle is helpful if you want to be heard and need help.
Great video! We have the supplies but they are not in a tote ready to go, I always figured we would be stranded here but it is smart to have it portable too! Have a great weekend Kathryn!
This was a great video! My family and I had to evacuate during the flooding in Louisiana last July (by boat, atv/trailer and then helicopter to a shelter). It is so smart that you put everything in plastic bags. We took what we could but everything was soaked. So smart. Thanks for the tips!
It's really great that you did this video. Even the basics that are essential for a 72 hour period most people simply do not have. Hopefully this gets more people to be prepared and to be safe. Emergencies and things do happen, lights can go out, you could lose your job etc etc. By just making some basic plans and putting in some simple steps, like a 72 hour kit you can reduce the stress, risk and threats that come with any event. Be safe and be prepared.
Love this! One thing to keep in mind is that some water bottles will leak after time. I store my emergency supplies in my laundry room since I don't have a garage in my condo. Guess I kept the water too long and the bottles eventually leaked and I thought I had a leak and called the plumber. We both got a laugh when he found that one of my gallons of water had started leaking! haha!
You should pack a blanket too!
We've been in NC for almost 4 years and your video made me think about being prepared. Thanx for the push to do so. TFS and take care............
Great video! Alabama has tornadoes pretty much several times a year. It's so important to be prepared! I know this is a kit for after something has happened, but it's advised to wear bike helmets while waiting out tornado warnings. I've lived in the South all my life and have waited out many warnings. Our state was hit hard in 2011 but thankfully we we were not hit. My husband and son cooked and served meals in the hard hit areas for weeks with a group from our church. Before an emergency occurs, go through the safety plan with your children. They won't be so alarmed and will feel in control . We went through this with our kids. Now they are grown and know what to do in case of emergencies.
I don't understand why anyone would give a thumbs down to this video?! They are the ones that need this the most. Tfs!
I've been watching for the last 2 years and this is my first time commenting. Big big Thank You for the quality content and added value. This has been on my To Do list for a long time but this definitely motivated me to get it going. Keep up the amazing work! Btw, I notice you haven't made any video's on the pens at dollar tree. They have some quality pens. :)
sukhum hing thank you so much for taking the time to comment, Sukhum! And for being a part of the DIOAD community-- you rock! They really do have some great pens! Hugs!
Thank you Kathyrn for the response and making me feel welcome. Keep being awesome!
Your Dollar Tree is literally the best thing I've ever seen.
You are so smart! Very useful information since I live in Georgia. We've just had two days of tornado, high winds, flood conditions, hailstones, and tons of rain. Thank goodness, we were spared everything except the storms, wind and rain. Everyone should have these kits.
Katherine,
Totally loved your video!! Thanks !!
One might also consider an "Emergency Weather Alert Radio"... it is not for the emergency kit ... however it is to be used in home 24/7...
It is a great safety back up for extreme and emergency weather alerts, especially when those alerts come at night while we are sleeping, and our phones and tv's and other electronics are off or in sleep mode.
The EMERGENCY WEATHER ALERT RADIOS will sound off for emergency weather alerts and give advanced warning so that we have time to seek safety for ourselves, families, pets and other loved ones.
I lived in Dallas Texas for 4 years and on several occasions my home area was literally surrounded by tornadoes that came within 3-10 miles of me. But I was safely sheltering because I had advanced warning in the middle of the night.
I have lived in Florida for several years now and I cannot overstate how much peace of mind I have due to my emergency weather ALERT radio.
They can be purchased in big box stores, on amazon etc ... are usually $30-$50, plug into wall outlet and also have battery back up.
Wishing you all happiness, preparedness and always safe journeys 🤗👣🕊🌟😊🌈😊
I totally agree. I live in Indiana and tornados and severe weather are very common. We're always prepared, but I hadn't thought about the clothes. Thanks for the great info.
Such a great reminder. I think that if a person/family can't do it all at once, they could collect over time. Some supplies is better than none.
punkinpie27 yes 👍
You need 2 gallons of water per person per day, 1 for drinking, 1 for hygiene and medical. You also need extra shoes, high quality shoes that you can walk in. You also are gonna want family medical records and other important document. Family photos are good. Don't forget that you always need an out of state contact. Store the batteries of your flashlight(s) backwards so they don't drain over time. The bleach could be used to purify water. 1 teaspoon to a gallon of water and let the water sit over night. You're gonna need a mirror as well, for signaling. There's a lot of other stuff you missed, as well.
The video is meant to cover emergency items. Things like records and photographs are not essential survival items. If you have only minutes or seconds to get to safety, grabbing a bin( or backpacks as many people opt for) is all one might be able to manage. Focusing on including other non-essential items is not practical. Create a separate bin or container to store those items in order to keep them protected. Better yet, SCAN all your important documents and photographs and store them on a USB which you can keep with you and takes up no space at all.
The hand crank radio is a must! Especially if it has a phone charger on it. We got stuck without power for 3 days, our apartment's garage wouldn't open so our cars were trapped and our phones all died.
My dad is a firefighter/paramedic and he has a lot of medical stuff in our kit. He even has IV needles and saline bags in case someone were to pass out or something. We also make sure to have a lot of gas for our generator and lots of lanterns.
Great video, thanks for making and sharing! Every family should have these kinds of kits ready. Even in a city things happen like kitchen fires, and blown pipes, and storm damage, where we might have to bug out for a couple days. We have always put in 1 or 2 sets of clothing (t shirt, long sleeve shirt, pants, socks, underwear) in plastic bags.
My mother in law gifted us something similar years ago - I've since decluttered most of it since we didn't keep up with it but I love the idea of updating it when you do the smoke detectors.
Loved seeing the whole family at the Dollar Tree together. Precious! 💖💜💙💚💛💚💙💜💖
I would add those hand crank flashlights from IKEA. they're great because no batteries are needed
I'm a Dollar store junkie for a lot of things like band-aids and some medical stuff so I really enjoyed this video. Dollar Tree stuff actually does have alot of things that are great for a just a dollar that can help you save on your kits. Thanks for the video!
This is such a great idea! I live in the south as well and you never know when the sirens are going to go off! This is something I definitely need for my family! Great idea!!!
I am so impressed how organized and precise you are at each detail. It literally makes me want to run out to the dollar store and build a kit. You are so talented! Praise God for your God Given Talents! Sweet video with your precious family!
Thanks for reminding us of this stuff. We all know this, but who literally takes the time to actually do this. Thanks so much, now it's on my "To Do" list.
This is SO great! You've made me realize it doesn't have to be as overwhelming as I've made it in the past- thank you!!
It's good to have an emergency kit in the home and car. I live in central TX and while we don't get very many tornados, we do experience power outages and flooding from time to time. The emergency car kit is handy in the event your stranded on the side of the road without cellphone service or Heaven forbid a traffic jam that's going to take a couple of hours to clear up. There were times when we had to camp out at a parking lot because the roads were flooding near our home while we were and about and TX DOT was closing roads faster than popcorn popping in a microwave.
a couple of other things you may want to include:
- batteries
- blankets
- books
- hand warmers
- pencil and paper
- chapstick
- lotion
- soap and shampoo
- extra shoes and socks
- some ziplock bags
- an extra backpack
- any specific medicines you or your family may need
- tape
- feminine products
- sewing kit
- special keepsakes/photos
- an extra phone charging cord
- string or rope
- a mirror
- important documents
- a portable charger
- hairbrush
- toothbrush and toothpaste
- playing cards
- extra cash
i understand that some of these items aren’t completely necessary, but i hope that this helped :)
Thanks Kathryn! This is a must for everyone, whether you think you need it or not. It never hurts to be prepared for whatever calamity may come. Great job in the presentation. I might try that Dashlane myself. TFS and have a wonderful weekend. Hugs to the fam. ~ Josie :)
Thanks for putting this video together. Over the last couple of years we have had lengthy blackouts in the summer in our area. A kit like this would be great to have.
Thanks so much for this video. I have added this to my to do list this weekend. My husband and I moved to the Charlotte area a little over a year ago from New England and these storms are really hard to get used to. We love everything else about it here but the threat of tornados is so scary.
I just spent the last year completing my bug out bag and 72 hour bug in kits. The dollar store is a great place to start, especially if you're on a budget. BUT there are some items worth getting high quality products for. Flashlights, batteries, radios, a camp stove, and first aid are worth spending more money on. You think you'll never need to use it, but when you do you'll want to be sure it's going to work. I recommend The Urban Prepper to get some amazing expertise on this topic.
Just a tip on the water though. You can get a tool called a life straw (that cleans any water) or water tablets. Much easier to carry than big gallons of water :)
I’ve used Dashlane ever since you created this video. It’s amazing. I no longer have to click forgot my password. Thanks Katherine 👍
I love how high quality, gets to the point, and informational video this is! Very well organized too! I must say that your dollar store is very good and is packed with everything! My dollar tree is not very organized or stored. I had no idea other dollar trees had all those items
this is a great video! I think anyone living anywhere can benefit from this kit. if their problem is not tornadoes like us in the south, it might be power outages due to snow/ice storms or hurricanes etc. this is definitely applicable to everyone.
I was once without electricity for TWO WEEKS after a Hurricane! So, I prepare for Hurricane season (which is June 1st -Nov 30th) NOW to avoid the mad rushes at the stores by those that wait at the last minute! Thanks for some great ideas
My household has solar powered flashlights. We got them at Wal-Mart and we just place them in a windowsill wherever the sun is strongest. I love them!
Great video. I live in FL and had to evacuate during hurricane Matthew. Lost power for 4 days also. I am going to definitely put together one of these. Also, could not have made it through without a portable cellphone charger. Your family is adorable. Thanks
I live in the south also. Thanks for sharing this very informative video & thanks so very much for sharing your beautiful family with us!
We don't get tornadoes here (UK) - high winds and lots of rain are a weather feature! I guess our biggest weather problem is flooding! My family live on a hill so we're ok from the local river overflowing its banks! Still this video has got me thinking that a good first aid kit would be beneficial to have! (In work, I'm on the first aid team so no excuses!). Thanks for taking the time to make these videos!
The only thing I would suggest is to put the candles in a zip lock bag because sometimes in the south the garage gets super hot and they melt. If the shelf gets bumped they could spill and ruin your kit. Love your videos!
Those Betty Crocker scissors are the best!! I have 2 pair and they have lasted for years.
I'm from England and I can't think we get anything other than flooding but I've been watching loads of American videos and I now know how to survive situations I won't be in
I would invest in a water filter. Sawyer makes a few, or you can get the lifestraw and actually drink from a puddle or stream. Amazon sells the straws. Walmart has the water filters in the camping section. Clean Water is a must. Having cash on hand as well, if electricity is out, ATMs won't work. I have a preparedness channel on UA-cam if you'd like to see some more videos. Glad to see you have a great start!
Thanks for the reminder... It's crazy how it is that we forget that disaster do &can happen! it wise to be prepared;) What a blessing you are.
Dollar stores in America have so much more stuff than the ones were I live! It's so cool how you can buy food, first aid stuff and kitchen supplies there.
Thank you so much for this video! I've never done this before but we moved to Nashville this year and after the recent tornadoes we are going to put a kit together.
THIS is my ONE love of the dollar store! I love it for essentials:) I LOVE the emergency preparedness aspect of this video!!! Thanks Katherine! xoxo
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing. I was just thinking about Redoing our emergency kit when we were standing outside in super high winds at the bus stop this morning lol
Excellent video!! As a former new parent educator the best was when you said "real men babywear"!! Kudos to Papa!!
Just a little advice... you'll want to put it all in backpacking backpacks. Like the ones for hiking. Then, if you get in a pinch, you can hike out.
you are inspiring me to minimize time and maximize space. I love your DIY's!
Thank you for sharing this video. I'm definitely going to get my husband on board to get this done. God bless you and your beautiful family.
tfs, very timely. (sorry this is so long! 😉)
Here in middle Ga two days this week alone our entire state was under seige from tornadoes, straight wind shears, lightning strikes causing house fires, falling trees, power outages. I used the time while keeping eye on tv weather reports to do a practice run in case we had an emergency. I started packing our 'grab & run' backpacks but soon became overwhelmed and scared. If we dont have to evacuate we're good, but if we have to run then we are screwed. My 88 yr old DH has enough medical gear to fill up our handicap van & is impossible to pre-pack. I'm not leaving my home without my personal valuables - cell phone & laptop with their chargers & headphones, medicine bag, well stocked first aide kit; a secret pouch where i keep checkbook, cash, fave pcs of jewelry, my Bible, planner, ... we keep a deskpad calender on the fridge with our life on it (command central) that would be impossible to pack so i'm trying to figure out how to downsize it to travel size. I went thru every room deciding what is irreplaceable and wrote each one on a list that i will keep copies of in my planner and backpacks. With Dh, myself, two dogs, one cat ALL dependent on just ME to get everything together & all of us to safety is overwhelming. There are different degrees of urgency in emergencies too. If lightning sets the house on fire it only gives us moments to get out without grabbing much of anything. Having an hour warning from the weather reports that tornadoes are coming gives us more time to evacuate with more of our essential gear. If our neighbors giant tree that already leans our way should fall on our house we will have to stay somewhere else and theres certain things we dont want looters to steal, so those items are on my list too. It is impossible to be prepared for every emergency, but every little bit helps.
Luci lights are really great for like, everything. They're solar powered but they actually work, unlike most solar lights I've tried, and most are under $20. They have more expensive ones that you can charge with a USB charger, or you can charge with solar power then charge your devices with them (equivalent to a solar panel and battery pack). Those are like $35. They're all really durable and waterproof or water-resistant and they float, then fold flat when you aren't using them. Seriously they're amazing
I’m using this this year for hurricane season I have a playlist and yours is the first video 👍🏾
I live in California so this emergency kit will come in handy! 😀
Hey chickie....I have thought for a long time now to put together an emergency kit for a "just in case" moment.... Super great idea.... Keep it coming.... Love how the fam is in the videos.... Keep safe and be blessed.
I love this! We've never thought about doing one before, but now we will! Thanks for this video!
Very important to be ready for any emergency, thank you for sharing. Blessings.
Awesome video - as I listen to the crazy wind we are having today just north of you in VA! We have a kit (though I see I am missing a few items) and replace the food every year... then we just use whatever we took out of the kit before it expires, or donate some to a local shelter if it isn't something we will be using. (One can only eat so much ravioli and canned peaches at a time!) Thanks for this great reminder!
I love your family! You guys seem so happy 💚 bless you and your family😊
How funny that I ran across your channel. I'm making these for Christmas this year. I would suggest a small hatchet as well as a crow bar. I'm in CA so if we every have an earthquake, a crow bar is strongly recommended to be able to pry yourself out of a room if the door is jammed. So many other items can be stored but this is a great starting point. Thank you for this.
We live in the Midwest, there for get almost every weather condition. We have an emergency kit in our basement in case of tornado. Some food, water, snacks, kid stuff (diapers, clothes, blanket), flash lights, some other things similar to what you have mentioned.
Last spring my husband was out of town for work when tornadoes were in our area. At the time I had a 2 year old and 6wk old. I hadn't updated our kit w/ things for our youngest so I was running around trying to grad anything I may have needed for him. I now update our kit every season. Once the kids are older I will probably go back to updating bi yearly or yearly.
We also have an paper "evacuate" box, that has important paperwork like insurance info, birth certificates and medical need info. If there is ever an emergency, fire, or national disaster where we need to leave the house asap the box is just a quick grab. We keep it in a central location in our house.
Perfect timing thank you for this! I'm on a military base in Japan and we have a NEO evacuation drill coming up soon and I don't know how long we'll be away from home so I want to be prepared! Awesome video!
I love how happy she is!!!
Thank you for sharing this, it's informative and a must have for whatever state you live in...emergencies don't care about locations! I love that you did it on a inexpensive budget!
I love this! I'm trying to get prepared for my little family, so this was perfect to see how many things I can grab from the dollar store! You do dollar store videos all the time that I think, "gosh, that's genius!" And then I forget to actually do it haha. So thank you for the reminder every time you do a dollar store video! I'm going out this weekend to get our 72 hour kit set up!!
I love how you don't spend 30923902 minutes on an intro and jump right in! A+!
i join dashlane last year through one of your videos and love it ever since
This is excellent! I was going to spend close to $200 for one 72 hour kit just for food but it seems more economical to make my own and include other supplies.
This is so great! Especially since hurricane season is right around the corner. Thank you
It might be good to take a few of those cellphone recharge packs, I have two now because of Christmas, I use one and have the other in the supply kit; but leave it in there so although you are only using the phone for emergencies cold/heat can make the phone die quickly and it could be useful!
We went 12 LONGGGG days without power back in 2003! Isabel came through on September 19th. We were lucky enough to have a generator!
So,72 hours wouldn't have even touched what we needed. We took my in laws ice(from our fridge)and gave our neighbors a drop cord and they had a fan & a light!
Thankfully,we were all safe. We didn't have any property damage....unfortunately,my husband's sister & her husband lost their garage to a HUGE TREE! Again,what is most important is,WE WERE ALL ALIVE AND WELL!
Also,don't forget to prep for your pets too. Don't forget your medications. Put ALL important papers (Titles,birth certificates,marriage license,Life insurance policy info)
Great info. We did this last year but watching this reminds me to check on the food for expiration dates.
Thank you so much! We had a power outage last night and all of flashlight batteries were dead and I was in the middle of cooking dinner. Not prepared and went to sleep hungry lol! Putting this emergency pack together this morning!!!!
I like the emergency candles from dt. They ate in a box, like 4 in a box. They are super bright.
I was just thinking about making one of these when all those bad storms came through NC! Great Idea! thanks for the tips!! 💟
Love Meg it's been crazy hasn't it? Snow then sun then hail. It's worth it to have for sure. Have a great weekend!!!
Thanks for the awesome tips and video!! I am currently in the process of making a kit like this for my family also.
spring 2015 we went through the biggest natural disaster in Canadian history, Fort Mcmurray, Alberta wild fire. We were not prepared at all and we were out of our house for 9 weeks.
Fire season is upon us so in the unfortunate event something may happen again I want to be prepared!! Thanks again, love from Canada 🇨🇦