Surviving the What Ifs

Let’s face it: we live very comfortable, insulated lives.

Unlike our ancient forebears, we have ready access to everything we need – food, water, shelter, heat - as well as everything we don’t need (think: McDonalds 1/3 pounders with extra cheese, Hummer houses, triple shot caramel macchiatos).

But what if suddenly all those things we take for granted were unavailable? What if our water supply was compromised, or the electrical power grid blew a fuse, or there was no oil to fuel our cars or the transportation that brings the food to our local supermarkets? Then what?

Look, I don’t have any feel-good answers to questions like these, but thanks to The Parent Blogger Network and The Sequoia Survival Company, I do have a back-up plan in the event my car dies on a deserted stretch of highway during a blizzard or if I manage to lock myself into my car sans cell phone for any length of time.

Come to think of it, Sequoia’s Vehicle Survival Kit – a compact nylon bag chock-full of everything from MREs to duct tape – could see me through any number of emergency situations.


This handy little (15” x 7.5” x 10”) 8-pound bag contains more than you think:
* 32-oz. of water
* Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) for two people for one day
* 151-piece first aid kit
* Two thermal emergency blankets
* Two rain ponchos
* Two 6-hour hand warmers
* Two 12-hour light sticks
* Windproof and waterproof matches
* Crank radio/light and cell phone charger
* Multi-function hardware tool (like an army knife gadget)
* Leather work gloves
* Duct tape
* Rope
* Cleansing wipes
* Toilet paper
* Notebook
* Pen
* Playing Cards

I feel comforted knowing this power pack is tucked away in a hidden compartment in my minivan, just in case. God forbid.

I challenge anyone to find a pre-packaged survival kit like this for a comparable cost, and I credit the people at Sequoia for making it easier for insulated suburbanites like me to be prepared, Boy Scout style. Just in case. God forbid.


You can find survival tips and links to emergency resources, as well as other pre-packaged and customizable survival kits at Sequoia’s website.