My family and I keep a sizable stash of emergency gear in our garage in case of a disaster (ranging from extra clothes to canned food to a small butane stove), but that's designed for staying put at home, not when we're on the road. With that in mind, we also have a smaller kit that fits in the trunk of our car so that it's always with us, whether we're at the mall or driving cross-country. Here's what we keep with us at all times, and it all fits inside a single, small backpack.
- ER Bar Emergency Rations - These are cookie-like bricks that provide thousands of calories in each small pack. They don't taste awful and, in the event of an emergency, can keep you alive for a week or more.
- Water Purification Tablets - It isn't feasible to tote enough water to keep a family of four hydrated for a long period of time (I keep several gallons of bottled water in the garage), so I sub in water purification tablets for use with melted snow or river water. There are dozens of brands on the market, and they're very inexpensive.
- First Aid Kit - Make sure you get a good-quality one and check it periodically to make sure the medical supplies have not expired.
- Waterproof Matches and an Outdoor Lighter - It's a good idea to keep multiple means of fire-making. This is critical for keeping warm and for making signal fires. The lighter is windproof and filled with butane.
- Survival Knife and Small Hatchet - These are important for a variety of uses, from preparing food to cutting tree branches for fire.
- Swiss Army Knife - Always handy.
- Emergency Blanket - This is a reflective silver blanket that provides a little warmth but, more importantly, offers a six-by-six-foot square of reflecting material for creating a good emergency signal.
- Plastic Rain Poncho - Simple, good for wet weather when you have to leave the car.
- Flashlight - Just a small but bright Maglite with new batteries. I threw a couple of glow sticks in the kit as well.
- Pen and Paper - Whether leaving a note for rescuers, creating a trail, or getting a fire started, pen and paper are always good to have. Also good for entertaining small children.
- Whistle - For signaling for help.
- Compass - These are often built in to other survival gear, too.
- Wristwatch - If you are on foot, it is easier to measure distance by keeping time than by mileage. ("I'm walking one hour that way.") A windup watch is best.
- Hand Mirror - Primarily for signalling for help.
- Roll of Duct Tape - Better than rope.
- Pair of Gloves - Tough leather ones.
- Small Fishing Kit - Mainly includes some fishing line, some lures, and weights, but weighs just a few ounces.
- Cell Phone Charger - The Clipper Gear Cell Phone Charger uses regular batteries and connects to just about any kind of cell phone. You can also find hand-crank versions (try the Sidewinder), but this AAA-powered gadget is supercheap and tiny.
- Portable GPS - Along with the cell phone charger, the only high-tech item in the kit. I have it loaded with as many maps as it can hold, mainly of areas where I'm foreseeably likely to drive to. Fresh batteries are inside, too. I have a Garmin iQue M5, but you may want to shop around for a good deal on an inexpensive model that you won't feel bad about storing in your trunk.
- Book: "How to Stay Alive in the Woods" - A great resource on survival in extreme conditions. Read it before you pack it in the kit.
This may look like a lot of stuff, but you'd be surprised how compact it is. The duct tape is about the largest thing in the set, and with the exception of the GPS (and the backpack you choose to keep it all in) the entire kit can be built for less than $100. You can add the commonly recommended transistor radio if you'd like, but the hand-crank version I have is way too large for this kit and the car has a radio already.
I'm sure many of you readers have suggestions on what else to keep in a portable emergency kit (emphasis on portable). What else would you add?