What you carry every day
Preppers call it EDC, for everyday carry. It's nothing special: it's what you already carry, a little better thought out.
- A charged phone and a cable. Even better, a small power bank.
- A small keychain flashlight.
- Some cash besides your card.
- A day's worth of essential medication, such as an inhaler or pills.
- A card with your emergency contacts, allergies and blood type.
- Optional: a small knife or multi-tool, if it's legal to carry where you live.
The get-home bag
If a blackout stops the subway or a snowstorm closes roads, you may have to walk several miles home. A small bag at work or in the car makes it much easier:
- Comfortable walking shoes, if you usually wear dress shoes.
- A water bottle and an energy snack.
- A rain jacket or warm layer depending on the season.
- A headlamp.
- A paper map of your route home and an alternative.
- A power bank and a mask.
Walk the route once, on a nice Sunday: you'll know how long it takes and which way to go.
The car kit
Road safety
- Whatever your country requires, such as a reflective vest and warning triangles.
- Jumper cables or a portable jump starter.
- Flashlight, work gloves and a small first aid kit.
- A car phone charger.
If you get stranded
- Water and food that can handle a hot car, like bars or nuts. Swap them every few months.
- A blanket, ideally wool, and a space blanket.
- In winter: chains or snow socks, an ice scraper and a small shovel.
- Spare shoes and warm clothes.
The habit that helps most
Never let your tank drop below half. In an evacuation or a blackout, gas stations without power can't pump fuel, and lines get huge.
If you're stuck in your car
- Stay inside unless it's dangerous: the car is shelter and easier to spot than a person.
- Run the engine about ten minutes every hour for heat, with the exhaust pipe clear of snow and a window slightly open.
- Text your location and save battery.