How to Make a 72 Hour Kit
72 Hour Kit Instructions
Step 1 – Make sure you have saved 1 milk jug and 3 2-liter bottles per person. Wash them all out with soap and let dry.
Step 2 – Multiply the number of kits you want by the items listed in the shopping list and purchase the food items from Walmart or your neighborhood grocery store. All the food will cost around $8-10.
Step 3 – Purchase a wing stove and fuel pellets from an emergency preparedness store such as Emergency Essentials or if one isn’t available in your area follow the links below to order online. Only one stove is NECESSARY per family, but they are pretty cheap so if you’d like to have one per kit that is fine too. It will make it much more convenient in a true emergency.
Step 4 – Cut straight down the middle of a milk jug diagonal from the handle. Go about 1/3 of the way down. At the bottom of that cut, make a horizontal slice coming from each side but leave about 2 inches of the jug intact. This should make a sort hatch that you can pull open and insert the items in. Watch our video below if you are having trouble visualizing how to do this.
Step 5 – Place the necessary items into each milk jug according to the contents list. Put the Tang and cocoa servings into small zip-lock bags (1/4 c. per serving). If you have extra food left over, stick it in as space permits. Tape the milk jug up. Tape the contents list to the outside of the jug and record today’s date and the family member who will use that kit. VOILA!
Step 6 – Fill your 2 liter bottles with water and store all of the items in an easily accessible place (your car trunk is the ideal place if you have room). Check out our Step 2: Water page for more information on how to properly store the water.
Resources
Printable Shopping List
Printable Contents List
Video Instructions
Purchase Wing Stoves Online
Purchase Fuel Pellets Online
Filed under: 72 Hour Kits, Getting Started
[...] To view the article with pictures, links, and printable lists please visit our blog post at http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2008/06/13/how-to-make-a-72-hour-kit [...]
[...] To view the article with pictures, links, and printable lists please visit our blog post at http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2008/06/13/how-to-make-a-72-hour-kit [...]
Thank you for posting the food shopping list…and the storage idea. Our kits have been complete minus a real food plan for a long time, because I was at a loss at how to really accomplish this part.
Yes, this is the FOOD part of the plan. Make sure to check out the getting started page and print out the emergency plan checklist. That has the non- food items, like flashlights, blankets, change of clothes etc.
Thanks so much for all of the specific details. It may seem small and insignificant to have to mention but for those of us who become overwhelmed easily by the idea of food storage, it certainly is helpful. Thanks for your hard work and efforts and sharing it with us.
Hello! Thank you for this very useful site. I put my 72 hr kits together finally and I am excited to get working on my 3 month supply. I just wanted to let you know that I clicked on the place you said to buy the wing stove and that website is no longer carrying them. I have found them on ebay for about $13 with shipping.
Great idea! I have linked to this idea on my blog…http://giveldsgifts.com/2008/12/gifts-for-the-food-storage-junkie/
I love your blog! Thanks for all the great tips.
Hey Bethany, Your comment slipped through the cracks somehow. Thanks for letting us know! We found the same stove available on the Shelf Reliance website at http://www.shelfreliance.com/product/view/p209 and we have modified the link above. On sale for $3.73 including 3 fuel pellets. Awesome deal!