Alone in the Car: 72 hour Kit

I live close to a large railroad hub and chemical factory. I also am fairly nearby to the edge of town.
Approximately 3 miles west of my home is just flat, agricultural-use land. If a tornado decided to sit down and travel east and head my way, there would be little to stop it.

I also have been viewing current photos of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Florida once again got battered by a strong storm. Japan's tsunami is bringing its destruction to America's western shore. Broken parts are appearing here. Clean-up will now begin to protect the beaches for people and the animal kingdom. Mother Nature is a force that rarely can be controlled. Sometimes a human will unfortunately start a catastrophe, but once natural forces have it in their sight, it is theirs to decide what to do.

What would you do if you had just a few minutes to escape tragedy? What would you grab in your home? What do you consider precious? Sometimes we know ahead of time and our safety professionals warn us in advance, giving us 24 hour notice. Then what would you pack in your car before you left?

I belong to a church that emphasizes preparedness. Perhaps it is because of their Boy Scout troop sponsorships. Perhaps it is because of their sense of being practical as well as ecumenical. Certainly it is because of service one to another.

All the ideas here emphasize a 72 hour (3 days' worth) kit for emergencies. I also would think of a few extras. For example, I have picture frames stacked with more than one photo behind the glass. I can grab just a few frames and preserve at least a few pictures of my family.

1. Contact your (my) local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints congregation for details on the kit best designed for your weather, geography, etc. Their women's organization will be glad to assist you.

2. The American Red Cross has a list on their website: http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.53fabf6cc033f17a2b1ecfbf43181aa0/?vgnextoid=537b218c37752210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&currPage=e507d7aada352210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD

3. Here is a list through the Homeland Security/FEMA: http://www.ready.gov/basic-disaster-supplies-kit.

Preparation takes the fear out of a situation. It will give you precious moments to work on other important actions before you leave your home.