My Typhoon Survival Kit

Typhoon Ketsana (Philippine Name: Ondoy) recently devastated Manila and nearby provinces. Never in my 30 years of existence have I seen anything like it. Imagine a Typhoon Signal 1 devastating the entire NCR, Rizal, Laugna, Batangas, and other provinces! Watching the news recently has both been heartwrenching and disappointing. People helping out each other, giving the best that they can give, rescuing others, sacrificing their own lives. People being hard-headed, thinking only of what will become of their material possessions if they leave their houses instead of actually evacuating and saving their own lives.

I’m a firm believer in prevention. Yes, everything is so unfortunate and so unexpected. It makes me happy that we’re all helping each other survive this wretched disaster. Yet, there’s that fear that all this might happen again, what with the looming Super Typhoon Parma just kilometers away from the Philippine shores. I’d like to think that Filipinos have become wiser and learned their lessons to always always be ready for the absolute worst. It is better to take drastic measures this time, haul yourselves and your belongings this early to the highest possible place that you can get to, instead of waiting to be rescued. This time, let’s be prepared and rescue ourselves before disaster happens.

On a lighter note, I often wonder why survival kits contain things that you can never really use. If I were to put together my own survival kit, here are things that I’ll be bringing with me:

1. CAN OPENER

Let’s face it. Relief good often consist of noodles and CANNED goods. How the heck am I going to open one if I don’t have a can opener??? This is something a lot of us tend to overlook.

2. CELLPHONE

Fully charged and with a spare battery that’s also fully charged.

3. LOAD

This is for people who are on prepaid.

4. THICK BLANKETS

For those long, cold nights spent who-knows-where. One to wrap around yourself, the second one to lay down on.

5. PLASTIC BAGS

These are multi-purpose. It’s for your garbage, wet clothes, etcetera.

6. ATM

Just in case…

7. WATER

Gallons and gallons of water. Even without food, a person can survive by just drinking water.

8. CANDIES

Sugar can get you through the day.

9. VIENNA SAUSAGES

This is a personal preference because you can eat it straight from the can. The brine it swims in is absolutely disgusting but during desperate times can actually help you survive because it’s salty and salt retains water. So eat your sausages and drink the brine.

10. FLASHLIGHT & BATTERIES

For obvious reasons.

11. CANDLES & MATCHES

To go primitive once the flashlight and batteries run out.

12. SOAP & SHAMPOO

Flood water has tons of germs and bacterias. Staying clean will up your chances of surviving. You’ll be disease-free.

13. VITAMIN C & OTHER MEDICINE

Again, prevention is better than cure.

14. RUBBER SLIPPERS, RUBBER BOOTS

Tons of germs and bacterias enter through our feet.

15. CLEAN SOCKS

A warm feet can help us survive the cold nights.

16. RUBBING ALCOHOL

Germs! Germs! Germs! Aaaaah! Stay away!

17. BAND AIDS or MEDICAL PLASTIC STRIPS

For those nasty cuts.

18. CLEAN UNDERWEAR

Lots of it!

19. T-SHIRTS, SWEATSHIRTS

You gotta keep warm with the kind of rain that we’re experiencing.

20. BABY POWDER

Some people are just sooo cranky amidst a disaster or being stranded. Keeping yourself doused in baby powder will keep you cool, calm, collected, and thinking straight.

21. ANTI MOSQUITO/INSECT WIPES/LOTION

After surviving a typhoon or flood, no one wants to die of dengue!

22. READING MATERIALS

To keep you sane in case you’re alone.

How ’bout you? What do you want included in your kit?

~ by Lorie on October 1, 2009.